News Blog - Hotel and Catering Review

Embracing the Future of Business with ‘Hybrid Events’ at Castlemartyr Resort

As businesses continue to adapt to the current climate and look to reduce their carbon footprint, hybrid on-site and remote virtual conferences are set to become increasingly popular in the coming years. The team at Castlemartyr Resort plan to embrace this trend with the introduction of ‘Hybrid Events’ at the 5 Star Resort in East Cork. Situated on 220 acres of grounds and woodlands, utilized by [...]

The Mustard Seed in Ballingarry, Limerick has a new “remote working” package

Bring your Briefcase! Tired of working from your home? Relocate your desk to a deluxe suite and work from our home at The Mustard Seed. Combine your working day with countryside walks, early morning birdsong and relaxing seclusion. And when your working day is done, enjoy post work/pre dinner drinks on the terrace while we work to make a memorable gourmet treat for you. Without [...]

The Montenotte Hotel Wins Best Hotel at the Cork Business of the Year Awards 2020

The Montenotte Hotel in Cork has been named Best Cork Hotel at the 2020 Cork Business of the Year Awards. The prestigious Cork Business of the Year Awards are organised by the Cork Business Association (CBA) and recognise the outstanding contribution to Cork City of businesses in various sectors. The awards took place virtually on Saturday 17th April in a specially commissioned Taste of the [...]

Craft Cocktails Completes the Collection

Three new flavours added to the Irish company’s colourful range of bottled cocktails. Craft Cocktails are adding three new flavours to their popular range of premium bottled cocktails in May. The Banana Old Fashioned, French Martini, and Whiskey Sour join bestsellers like the Tommy’s Margarita, Mai Tai, and Pornstar Martini to complete the Irish company’s colourful range of ready to drink cocktails. Craft Cocktails are [...]

Currarevagh’s Lakeside Sauna

Currarevagh House, Connemara, Co. Galway. Have recently constructed a brand new lakeside sauna, overlooking Lough Corrib. The sauna not only looks over the lake, it is actually on the lake within a boathouse so guests get the full exhilaration of jumping from the hot sauna in to the cold lake for a dip and swim. Currarevagh also have their own boats so guests can row on [...]

Save the Date – 13 May 2021

Chef Network presents a practical approach to reopening - Panel Discussion The first of the COVID Recovery Programme sessions will take place on 13th May and will feature practical advice and learnings from some of our NI and UK colleagues following the reopening of hospitality across Northern Ireland and the UK. Registration opening soon! Check out www.chefnetwork.ie for more details..

The five-star Culloden Estate & Spa has joined the elite Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), becoming the luxury collection’s only hotel in Northern Ireland.

SLH is a prestigious list of boutique, independently owned hotels from across the globe and has over 500 properties covering 90 countries in its exclusive membership The portfolio prides itself in uniting a diverse, hand-picked selection of independently spirited hotels in the best locations, which boast the most beautiful designs and personalised service for luxury travellers. “We are delighted to be joining such a renowned [...]

The ‘New’ Spa at The Johnstown Estate

Elemis and Gharieni flagship spa is twice the size of the original spa, with new Indoor and Rooftop Thermal Experience and large in-spa restaurant The Johnstown Estate has invested €3.5m in creating a new spa experience which is nearly twice the size of the existing spa and introduces a variety of new experiences to enhance every spa customer’s journey. The Spa at The Johnstown Estate [...]

Make a Coffee Date at The Busy Bean Coffee Trailer Faithlegg’s Newest Addition

Faithlegg are delighted to introduce - The Busy Bean - Faithlegg’s new coffee trailer which has taken up residence at the front of the hotel overlooking the 1st Tee of the golf course at the country manor house hotel in Co. Waterford. Already a welcome spot for walkers, visitors to Faithlegg along with golf members back to the course can now pick up a coffee, [...]

New UCC Research Reveals How Ireland’s Tea Consumption Affects The Environment

Research investigates how teabags affect the environment after they are discarded Ireland is a nation of tea drinkers, but many perhaps don’t realise that their favourite cuppa could impact the environment for centuries. Scientists in University College Cork (UCC) conducted new research to better understand the effect that Ireland’s tea drinking habits is having on the environment. The research, commissioned by Lyons Tea, independently investigated [...]

Poachers Takes Top Prize in 2021 Spirits Business Global Masters Series

Ireland’s leading premium mixed drink brand, Poachers Drinks has been announced as the overall winner of the inaugural Tonic and Mixer Masters 2021 in The Spirits Business Global Masters Series The top accolade of the competition, the Taste Master (best of the best) was awarded to Poachers Wild Tonic with Irish Elderflower, a careful blend of hand-picked Irish elderflower, fresh lemon and natural quinine, a light refreshing drink [...]

Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel reopens this summer after an extensive 2 year, multi-million euro refurbishment

A new chapter in the centuries-old story of Carton House begins this summer, when the extensive two-year, multimillion-euro, complete refurbishment will be unveiled. The renewed splendour of the great estate will be uncovered following a magnificent refurbishment of the original house, surrounding hotel and stunning grounds. For more than 250 years, Carton House has been the finest Georgian estate in Ireland. It now reopens its doors as a [...]

Dublin City Brewing Company Announce April Edition of Dublin City Brewing Tasting Club with Andy Noonan of Baste BBQ on Clanbrassil Street

Dublin City Brewing Company Announce April Edition of Dublin City Brewing Tasting Club with Andy Noonan of Baste BBQ on Clanbrassil Street With two sold out shows now behind them, Dublin City Brewing Co. are very happy to share details of the April edition of their new monthly online event, Dublin City Brewing Tasting Club.Taking place on the last Thursday of the month at 7.30pm on Zoom, it [...]

IN CONVERSATION WITH…Jumoke Akintola, chef and co-owner of Beach House

The Waterford-based chef talks about trusting your gut and swapping Dublin for Tramore Where does your interest in food come from? Was it an important aspect of family life growing up? I was lucky to grow up in a household where we ate freshly cooked meals prepared with fresh ingredients on a daily basis. Although I was born and raised in London my family are [...]

Developing Leaders for Hospitality and Tourism

In February 2021, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, launched two national upskilling programmes for employees in the hospitality and tourism sector, which were developed by SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), Failte Ireland and the Regional Skills Fora (RSF). The Hospitality sector, valued at upwards of €7.9bn to the economy, has been [...]

Marlfield House in Gorey launched the Pond Suites in December

Designed by Laura Bowe of Marlfield House, the building works for the new suites began in February & opened in November 2020. Located in their own grounds, each individual suite has glazed French doors leading to a large terrace looking onto woodland gardens & a duck pond. They represent true escapism in a heavenly setting. Noonan Moran Architects Dublin, brought the design to life with the [...]

Hotels in Urgent Call to Government Seeking Emergency Tourism Budget

Latest IHF industry survey reveals 60% drop in revenues in 2020 and bleak start to 2021 9.5 million bednights lost last year as annual room occupancy plummeted to 30% Additional sectoral supports critical to safeguard industry and restore employment Thursday, 7th January 2021: The latest survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) reveals a €2.6 billion drop in hotel and guesthouse revenues during 2020 compared to the [...]

Bewley’s reveals the top coffee trends for 2021 and beyond

The introduction of exotic coffee flavours, molecular coffee labs and coffee fermentations are predicted as the top trends for the Irish coffee industry Raditionally known for its love of tea, in recent years Ireland has evolved as a nation of coffee enthusiasts, with coffee culture growing every year. With an increase in demand for speciality coffees and a rise in more refined tastes in the [...]

Bewley’s have announced a partnership with dairy-free category leader Alpro

Bewley’s, Ireland’s leading coffee and tea company, has announced a partnership with plant-based and dairy-free category leader Alpro, offering new plant-based menu solutions for Bewley’s operators nationwide. Ireland’s first bean-to-cup, plant-based coffee dock has been installed by Bewley’s in the N4 service station, MACE Ballinalack, and plans are in place to roll out plant-based stations across Bewley’s c-store operators over the next 12 months. The [...]

Cork ETB and the Irish Hotels Federation team up to launch Leadership programmes for Hospitality and Tourism employees

Fiona Sneddon- Further Education and Training Centre Manager for Cork ETB The Cork Training Centre operating under the remit of the Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) has teamed up with The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) to launch two new upskilling programmes for employees in the hospitality and tourism sector to help support recovery and growth As a major employer in Ireland, the hospitality [...]

Sustainable Food Systems and Ireland’s 2030 Agri-Food Strategy 2.30pm on Wednesday, April 21

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has partnered with the RDS on a series of four online National Dialogues on Ireland’s Food System. These Dialogues form part of Ireland’s engagement for the United Nations Food Systems Summit which will be held in September, and also build on the work of the RDS to promote climate-smart agriculture. The four Dialogues will coincide with the [...]

Virgin Media answers the call to upgrade remote Galway hotel with superfast broadband

Connemara Sands Hotel has dedicated 200MB broadband internet connection installed to benefit guests and hotel management systems Virgin Media Business has teamed up with Connemara Sands Hotel in Mannin Bay, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway to implement a dedicated superfast Wi-Fi broadband network across the hotel’s 22 boutique bedrooms and 10 self-catering holiday cottages. Previously supplied with an insufficient ADSL broadband connection, the now future-proofed hotel can [...]

Minister Martin and Fáilte Ireland announce new Outdoor Dining Scheme in partnership with Local Authorities

Grants available for tourism and hospitality businesses . Funding for Local Authorities to develop permanent long-term outdoor facilities Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD and Fáilte Ireland have this morning (March 31st) announced details of a new €17million Scheme for developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide. The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme comprises two parts and will be delivered in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities across the country. Part One of the Scheme will provide funding for individual tourism and [...]

The Ultimate Irish Wedding Industry Report

Weddingdates.ie recently surveyed 1,000 engaged individuals in the Republic of Ireland to bring you the very latest data on the key drivers in hotel and venue wedding sales. Understand Key Industry Changes Get analysis on where couples book their ceremonies and receptions; total wedding budgets and spend per guest; and the factors behind planning or delaying weddings. Increase Your Close Rate Discover what couples look [...]

Lockdown is encouraging restaurateurs and chefs across the country to get creative with their spare time, Bringing joy back to eating

Bringing joy back to eating Around this time last year, I did an interview with Joyce Timmins, Catering Manager at Marymount Retirement Home in Lucan. In the piece, Joyce spoke of the pride she felt in preparing dishes for people with dysphagia issues. She also talked about the Executive Chef role she previously held in the Rotunda and the video of lunch being served [...]