Meet the leaders at the Georgina Campbell Awards!

After what has turned out to be a record year in many ways for Irish hospitality – with accommodation bookings well up almost everywhere and a dizzying number of new restaurant openings, especially in Dublin – the poor summer weather doesn’t seem to have dampened spirits and there’s definitely a relieved smile on the faces of many hard working hoteliers, restaurateurs, chefs and food producers this year. Irish food and hospitality continues to play a leading role in Ireland’s recovery, and some of the nation’s top businesses and personalities will get again due recognition for their unstinting efforts on Wednesday September, 30^th, with the announcement of the annual Georgina Campbell Awards.

Associated with the respected independent Georgina Campbell’s Ireland guides, and Ireland’s most popular independent hospitality website ireland-guide.com, these are Ireland’s longest-running hospitality awards, and highly respected by the industry.  Unlike all the other predictable, commercially-led awards, the Georgina Campbell Awards always include some unexpected choices and out of the way surprises – and, importantly, they are more than the sum of their parts as each selection is not just an accolade but illustrates a key point, so the collection as a whole gives a valuable snapshot of the best of Irish hospitality today.

Commenting on the Awards, Georgina Campbell said, “Despite being a disappointing summer, travelling around Ireland has been a tonic this year because business has been so much better in almost all areas. Owners who have weathered the recession are now optimistic again and, in some cases, reporting a record season. Visitors from abroad are noticeably up, with the Euro countries especially well represented and a good showing from America and other more distant places, including Asia and Australia. This is especially noticeable on islands and right down the West coast – an area that, despite its beauty, has always being challenging – with improved access through Shannon Airport often cited as a crucial factor, and also the Wild Atlantic Way, although that also has its downsides, including increased ‘nuisance traffic’.”

Top categories to be awarded on the day include : 

Georgina Campbell Award (for an outstanding contribution to Irish food & hospitality)

Hotel of the Year

Restaurant of the Year

Chef of the Year

Pub of the Year

*Several of the top awards go to establishments outside the capital again this year

The awards also cover many other important categories including the ‘Just Ask’ Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by Bord Bia), while more unusual categories include the Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year – which, says Ms Campbell, “will be of special interest to the Irish (who have come to love holidaying at home) and visitors from Britain, who often decide where to travel according to where their dogs are welcome.” Ms Campbell remarks that “Many of the ‘smaller’ awards are especially important as the small owner-run establishments are uniquely able to provide the genuine Irish experience that so many visitors seek – and we are always on the lookout for special Taste of the Waterways places near our wonderful rivers, lakes and canals, where the real Ireland is waiting to be discovered.”

Regarding the selection process, Ms Campbell said “Our rigorous programme of anonymous assessment visits continues all year; the resulting reports are then fed through to the website, Ireland-guide.com, which provides a wealth of information and updates for our printed guide, Georgina Campbell’s Ireland, The Best of Irish Food & Hospitality which is published every couple of years.”

For further information, or a full list of Awards, please contact:

Bob Nixon (086) 385 5716 OR Georgina Campbell (01) 839 5972 (086 226 9727)