The year that was 2015. A year which marked the end of NASA’s 9 year mission to reach the dwarf planet Pluto, the year of historical advancement in Saudi Arabia which granted women the right to vote… and not forgetting the year which released the long awaited Star Wars episode 7, The Force Awakens. 2015 has been a year to remember for Tara Lodge also. True, we may never pull in the same crowds as George Lucas or J.J Abrams but we do know how to pull together an amazing team and you can sleep well knowing you’ll never be served or greeted by a ‘Jar Jar Binks’. Thankfully we stick in people’s minds for all the right reasons!
Hitting our 8th year at the top, Tara Lodge is still Belfast’s No. #1 hotel on
Tripadvisor, a tirelessly coveted accolade.
We continue to be inundated with 5* reviews from our amazing guests affirming
that what we do, we do very well. Our
guest recognition means the world to us, it keeps us driving forward every day
to keep being the very best hotel in Belfast. 2015 has witnessed Tara
Lodge honoured by the hospitality industry also; regionally, nationally and by
the greater Belfast business community. It really has been a phenomenal
12 months!
The
hospitality award season kicked off with the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation
Housekeeping Team of the Year 2015. Tara Lodge were top spot winners on the
night in the under 90 room’s category, for no less than the 3rd time in 4 years! Our faultless
Housekeeping Team received their well-deserved accolade at a prestigious Gala
Dinner on Wednesday at the Holiday Inn. Renowned for being fiercely
competitive, we were over the moon to have this one in the bag!
The next
big celebration was being chosen as the winners of Guest Accommodation of the
Year for Northern Ireland 2015 at the AA B&B Awards.
. This prestigious award was
presented to our General Manager Nora Douds and owner Conor O’Donnell at a
glittering ceremony in the Landmark Hotel in London in May of this year. The AA
inspect and rate over 2300 guest accommodation properties throughout the
country and the award recognizes and rewards the excellent service provided by
the UK’s very best establishments. This award was the accumulation of many
years’ hard work and determination. The whole team were filled with
pride!
Following
the AA awards our team attended the NIHF Reception Team of the Year awards. At
this stage we were unsure if it was possible do the NIHF double! Internal
competition pressure from the Housekeeping Team (always good humoured) was
forever present. Letting the side down was not an option. We
needn’t have worried though… receptionists from throughout Northern Ireland
gathered at the gala awards ceremony in the La Mon Hotel & Country Club on
20th May. The team category title of ‘Hotel & Guesthouse Reception of
the Year 2015’ went to Tara Lodge. Naturally shocked & delighted in equal
measures we celebrated in style with a night to remember!
The month
of May was starting to look like our month. The Belfast Chamber of
Commerce Business Awards with Tara Lodge nominated in the very prestigious
category of ‘Hotel of the Year’. Up against The La Mon, the Ramada & the
Merchant, this was going to be a tough one. We were absolutely
flabbergasted to be awarded a Highly Commended, coming 2nd to The Merchant Hotel …not a bad position to
be in by any means!
A
gorgeous sunny June evening set the scene for a glittering evening at The Europa
Hotel for the Licensed & Catering Awards, with diamonds being the theme for
2015! Tara Lodge was nominated for Guest Accommodation of the Year & Nora
Douds, our General Manager, for Manager of the Year. We were hopeful but
by no means disappointed when we lost out to very worthy competitors. (To
be honest we had ran out of wall space to display anymore!) To be
nominated at all in one, never mind two categories was nothing short of a
triumph for Tara Lodge. Needless to say we helped the winners celebrate
to the wee small hours…praying for the sake of our livers that this was the
last party of the Season!
In November 2015 we were delighted to receive the news
that we have been included in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2016. The
influential guide has seen the vibrant and trendy Queens Quarter of Belfast
city attain not one, but two illustrious Michelin endorsements. As well
as our own listing, our partner restaurant Deanes at Queens has been awarded a
Michelin 'Bib Gourmand'!
November topped off the
award ‘season’ in earnest with our Front Office Manager, Pauline McCullough,
being nominated as in Women in Business Finalist in the Best in Customer
Service Category. Following an exclusive 2 day retreat in Edinburgh, the
glittering awards ceremony was held on the 19th November with all 30
finalists attending in their finest evening attire. Pauline was not the overall winner in her
category but could not have been more proud to be included in such a
prestigious group of 30 amazing women!
Tara
Lodge has always had a gold standard reputation but 2015 gave us the industry
recognition for years of dedicated hard work and service. The awards,
along with the forever appreciated feedback from our amazing guests, has truly
made 2015 a year to remember!
Why not come and see what all the fuss is about and take a luxury break at the
fabulous Tara Lodge! Make your base our multi award winning, 4 star
boutique hotel. Book an overnight stay
in Tripadvisor’s official number 1. Hotel in Belfast. We have a wide range of
Belfast hotel deals, offers & packages available to suit all. Tara Lodge is one of the very few Hotels in
Belfast with parking, totally free & on-site.
Our rates are all-inclusive
& include free high speed Wi-Fi, our mouth-watering a la carte breakfast
& that all-important free Belfast City Centre Parking! Simply click on the following link to check
out the best boutique hotel in Belfast, as voted by Tripadvisor reviewers! https://www.taralodge.com/. Or
contact our reservations team on 02890 590900 or email us at info@taralodge.com