Ashford castle now the crown jewel of the worlds hotel
NESTLED majestically in the West of Ireland on the shores of Lough Corrib, the magnificent recently-restored Ashford Castle is not just the crown jewel of Ireland’s hotels, but now of the world’s, having been named as the World’s No.1 hotel at the annual Best of the Best Awards in Las Vegas during Virtuoso Travel Week.
Virtuoso is an invitation-only luxury travel network composed of 9,000 travel specialists from around the world. The prestigious annual Best of the Best Awards recognises the world’s most outstanding properties and hoteliers, which this year took place at the impressive Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Acquired in 2013 by the Tollman family, owners of the Red Carnation Hotel Group, the newly renovated Ashford Castle was officially reopened in April 2015 after an extensive 2 year, multi-million restoration project. The fabulous Ashford Castle estate spans across 350 acres of West of Ireland countryside, and along with its 82 guest rooms, the newly renovated Castle now boasts a 32-seat cinema, a breath-taking soon-to-launch Spa and Ireland’s very first School of Falconry.
Once owned by Lord and Lady Ardilaun of the Guinness family, the castle has welcomed royalty, celebrities and heads of state across its illustrious history including George V (then Prince of Wales), Ronald Reagan, Brad Pitt, John Wayne, Fred Astaire, Barbra Streisand, John Travolta and many more.
Speaking from Las Vegas after accepting the phenomenal award, Ashford Castle General Manager Niall Rochford commented: “On behalf of Ashford Castle and Red Carnation Hotels we are thrilled to have been awarded one of the luxury travel industry’s top awards, Virtuoso Hotel of the Year.
'It is fantastic recognition of the exciting journey Ashford Castle has been on over the last few years and all the hard work that has gone into the $75 million restoration by the Tollman family and all the team at Ashford.
'The three-year programme, much of which was carried out by local craftspeople, has seen Ashford Castle restored as one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels as well as one of the best in the World. It is also an endorsement of the training, development and investment in staff which has enabled us to offer even greater attentive and highly personalised service.”