Celebrations in Ashford Castle with double win at prestigious Catey Awards

THE Red Carnation Hotel Collection, which encompasses Ashford Castle and sister hotel, The Lodge at Ashford in Mayo, has scooped two awards at the Cateys in the UK, a prestigious award ceremony for the hospitality industry.

Now in their 40th year, these awards have been described as the hospitality industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, with recipients nominated, selected and awarded by industry peers through The Caterer magazine.

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection was the only business to take home two Cateys on the night, winning both the Best Employer and Sustainable Business Awards.

Ailish Keane represented the Ashford Castle Estate and collected the awards on the night.

“These awards are among the most long-standing and respected in the hospitality industry in the UK, and this is a fantastic achievement for the Ashford estate as well as the other 18 exceptional properties that are part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection,” said Niall Rochford, general manager, Ashford Castle.

“We are very proud to be part of such an incredible group and it is wonderful to see its sustainability efforts recognised, an operational priority for many years.

“At Ashford, we have a dedicated sustainability committee to oversee these efforts and ensure action is taken and we have made significant progress in reducing our carbon footprint with everyone on the estate contributing to the ideas and the outcomes.

“We are also thrilled that Red Carnation has been recognised for its dedication to employees with the Best Employer Award. We are proud to be part of a group that is committed to fostering a culture of training and development and diversity and inclusion. Many people talk of the family feeling and culture at Ashford, and it’s something we really value as do our guests.”

The ceremony was held in London's iconic Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.