HotelClub announces winners of the Best Hotels at the Great Britain and Ireland Inaugural Awards

It was a big night for both London and Ireland as the results were announced in the inaugural HotelClub Hotel Awards for the best hotels in Great Britain and Ireland last June 21, 2007.

The awards ceremony was hosted by online accommodation experts HotelClub and Insight Guides at Vinopolis during a ceremony opened by Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism, Shaun Woodward.

Hotels in Ireland (http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Ireland.htm) took home two of the top three gongs with The Gresham in Dublin and Radisson SAS Hotel & Spa in Galway both winning awards in the Three best hotels in Great Britain and Ireland category. Ireland also took home two niche category trophies with Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa in Rosslare winning Best Family Hotel and Culloden Estate and Spa in Belfast taking home Best Business Hotel.

England’s capital is celebrating too, with hotels in London (http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/London.htm) making a clean sweep in the Best Hotels in England category. The Dorchester, The Ritz and Hilton London Metropole Hotel were all honoured as was Claridge’s which won the coveted award for Best Service.

The HotelClub Hotel Awards are a ‘people’s choice’ awards ceremony. Earlier this year 10,000* consumer voters nominated more than 22,000 of their favourite discount hotels online at www.hotelclub.com. All winning hotels are also guaranteed a place in the ‘Great Britain & Ireland's Best Hotels’ guidebook, to be published by Insight Guides in early 2008.

Igor Jovicic, Country Manager UK and Ireland for HotelClub.com says the results are truly based on a people’s vote and provide an honest evaluation of the places people in the UK and Ireland like to stay.

“These results show London is as popular as ever with our customers looking for a city-break experience. Competition is strong and hotels are meeting and exceeding expectations.

“The strong showing for Ireland demonstrates people are holidaying closer to home. It’s now fashionable to travel in your own backyard and more people are discovering just how much Ireland has to offer.”

Other winners on the night include The Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, which was awarded the title of Best Country House and Hilton won Best Chain, with the most nominations for its hotels overall. England took out category of Best Destination, with British Airways being selected as the UK and Ireland’s favourite airline.

‘Great Britain and Ireland’s Best Hotels’ is part of HotelClub.com & Insight Guides ongoing partnership. The first book to be jointly produced was ‘Asia’s Best Hotels & Resorts’ in 2003, with a 2nd edition produced in 2005, followed in 2006 by ‘Australia & New Zealand’s Best Hotels & Resorts (including Pacific Islands). The guide to ‘Great Britain & Ireland’s Best Hotels and Resorts is due for release in early 2008.

The other winners in the HotelClub Hotel Awards 2007 are:

Three best hotels in Great Britain and Ireland
The Dorchester – London, England
The Gresham – Dublin, Ireland
Radisson SAS Hotel & Spa – Galway, Ireland

Three best hotels in Scotland
The Balmoral – Edinburgh
The Gleneagles Hotel - Auchterarder
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa – Edinburgh

Three best hotels in Wales
The Celtic Manor Resort – Newport
Hilton Cardiff Hotel – Cardiff
St David’s Hotel & Spa - Cardiff

Three best hotels in Northern Ireland
Culloden Estate & Spa – Belfast
Europa Hotel – Belfast
Slieve Dornard Resort & Spa - Newcastle

Three best hotels in Ireland
The Gresham – Dublin, Ireland
Radisson SAS Hotel & Spa – Galway, Ireland
The Slieve Russel Hotel - Cavan

Best Hotel in the Channel Islands
Pomme d’Or - Jersey

Best Service
Claridge’s – London

* Source: ‘Hunt for the Best Hotels in Great Britain & Ireland’ survey conducted between 15January – 31 March 2007.