K CLUB AWARDED WITH AA HOTEL OF THE YEAR
The K Club Kildare has just been awarded with the title of ‘AA Ireland Hotel of the Year’ for 2010/2011. This is the most prestigious award in the Irish hospitality industry and is internationally recognised as the ultimate accolade in the hotel and hospitality industry. The award was presented to The K Club CEO and General Manager, Michael Davern by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mary Hanafin at an official awards ceremony.
It is truly fitting that The K Club in Ireland has been awarded with this title in 2010 as it is also the centenary of AA Ireland which has been grading, recommending and acknowledging Irish hotels for 98 of its 100 years. We were the very first Five AA Red Star property in Ireland, a grading we have consistently maintained since it was first awarded to us in 1994. The fine dining restaurant at the hotel, The Byerley Turk was also awarded 3 AA Rosettes, a standard it has maintained since 1993. This restaurant is one of only three 3 AA Rosette holders in the country and under the direction of Executive Chef, Finbar Higgins and his team, the restaurant has continued to offer exemplary and innovative food and menus.
To claim this year’s title of ‘AA Hotel of the Year’ we faced the dual task of demonstrating both excellence and improvement within the last two years leading up to the awards. AA Ireland’s hotel inspectors were impressed by our new initiatives including, ‘Five Star for Families’, which offers a huge range of experiences, activities and outdoor pursuits on our 550 acre estate. Activities on offer include a dedicated Kids Club, fishing, horse back riding, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, walking and cycling for all members of the family to enjoy.
“This is a special year for AA Ireland as we ring in our 100th birthday and we’re thrilled to name The K Club as ‘Hotel of the Year’, says Conor Faughnan, AA’s Director of Policy. “The K Club is rightly world famous and it’s to their enormous credit that they maintain their first class service, whilst also seamlessly adjusting to emergent trends in the Irish hospitality market.”
“Despite the economic challenging times within the tourism industry we are continuing to deliver a world class service and hospitality product,” said Michael Davern, CEO and General Manager of The K Club. “I would like to congratulate our staff and management for their hard work, dedication and uncompromising attention to detail and service. A particular thanks has to go to our customers and members for their continued support. The K Club is internationally recognised for our golf offering, having hosted the Ryder Cup for Ireland in 2006 as well as 13 Smurfit European Opens. This award for The Kildare Hotel not only recognises our high international standards but also pays tribute to our continuous innovations. Michael Davern went on to say, “when Dr. Michael Smurfit first opened The Kildare Hotel and Country Club he had a clear vision, to deliver a world class, Irish owned resort and a flagship hotel for Ireland.
Indeed, Dr. Smurfit has been and continues to be a great ambassador for Irish tourism and hospitality, representing Ireland with great passion both at home and abroad. He was the main motivator in delivering the Ryder Cup to Ireland, an event which was attended by over 260,000 people and watched by over 1 billion people around the globe. The event itself injected almost €150 million directly into the Irish economy at the time.
The Kildare Hotel and Country Club, located on the banks of The River Liffey, is a multifaceted resort and incorporates a 69 bedroom hotel, two Championship golf course, a Resort Spa and several restaurants and bars. The magical setting of the hotel, the magnificent grounds and stringent attention to detail has made the property a firm favourite with families, spa goers and wedding couples.