October 2013
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SLIEVE DONARD CROWNED SUPREME WINNER
Nora Hanna, Events Manager and Howard Hastings, Managing Director delighted at their accolade.
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SLIEVE DONARD CROWNED SUPREME WINNER AND BEST 4 STAR HOTEL IN IRELAND awards. The Hastings Hotels Group has invested heavily in their properties over the years and it is good to see the company get recognition for their commitment. The Slieve Donard has been transformed in recent years with the addition of a superb spa and new bedroom stock. To win the overall award for excellence and the four star category is a great accolade.”
The Slieve Donard Resort & Spa is celebrating after it was recently crowned the supreme winner of Irish hospitality at the glittering Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal awards ceremony in Dublin.
Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2013.
Howard Hastings said: “We are delighted to have won two prestigious awards including the Gold Medal Award for Excellence which is The stunning 4-star resort, took the highest honour in Ireland’s the top honour at the hospitality industry. We are the prestigious 25th Annual Gold first hotel in Northern Ireland to Medal Awards. Judged by have been bestowed this industry experts, the honour, which is not only a independent awards fantastic testament to the recognise and reward hard work and dedication of excellence in hotels, all the staff at the Slieve guesthouses, restaurants, Donard Resort and Spa, but a spas, clubs and catering tribute to the shining star that operations across the island is the Northern Ireland tourism of Ireland. The Slieve Donard industry.” Resort & Spa won the Gold Medal Award for Four Star Janice Gault, Chief Hotels sponsored by Bunzl Executive of the Northern McLaughlin and was then Ireland Hotels Federation said: awarded the overall “It is great to see local supreme winner with the hotels winning such prestigious
Now in its 25th year, The Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards are intensively competitive drawing entries from hundreds of hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, spas, clubs and catering businesses from across Ireland. Each entrant is rigorously assessed by members of the Gold Medal Awards jury who travelled over 20,000 kilometres across the island this summer to search for Ireland greatest purveyors of hospitality. Stay at the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa this Autumn from only £70 per person sharing. For more information click here or call 028 4372 1066
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Grand Designs Makeover for Ballygally Castle
The Ballygally Castle, will undergo a six month refurbishment programme which will see eight of its current bedrooms removed and replaced with 18 new ‘5 star coastal view’ bedrooms including six family and inter-connecting rooms. The River Room, which currently accommodates events for up to 120 people, will be redesigned and extended to cater for an additional 100 people. Howard Hastings said: “Ballygally Castle is a charming retreat located on the stunning Antrim Coast. In recent years we have experienced an increase in weekend breaks, weddings and leisure tours to the Castle and we believe this £3m investment will help us continue to appeal to this
growing market. “The North Coast continues to attract an increasing amount of visitors every year and the fact that the hotel lies at the foot of the stunning Causeway Coastal Route is something we are aiming to make the most of,” Howard said. “As the Castle will be closed for the six months the refurbishment is taking place, we have relocated the staff around our other five hotels. Once the work is complete, we will carry out a full training programme for existing and new employees before we reopen.” The £3m investment in Ballygally Castle follows a £1m investment by Hastings Hotels in the 5-star Culloden Estate & Spa earlier
this year, both of which are part of the group’s ongoing investment programme in its six hotels in Northern Ireland. “We are very excited about this massive investment in Ballygally Castle and look forward to welcoming our guests when we reopen the doors in April 2014,” Howard concluded. Ballygally Castle will close on the 13th October 2013.
For further information and to stay up to date on the refurbishment progress please visit www.rebuildingballygallycastle.com
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New Appointments
Helen Caters has been appointed as General Manager of the Culloden Estate and Spa. Helen joins the company after working for Malmasion and brings with her a wealth of experience working in the Hospitality industry.
Stephen Meldrum has been appointed General Manager of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa. Stephen has worked within the Hastings Hotels Group for over 10 years having previously managed the Culloden Estate and Spa, Ballygally Castle and the Everglades Hotel.
Deborah Maxwell has been appointed Spa Manager for the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa. Deborah previously managed Lough Derg, one of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions as well as the country’s most ancient place of pilgrimage.
Competition Corner WIN a pair of tickets to fly to London with Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus operate three flights daily from Belfast City Airport to both London Heathrow and London Gatwick. Book at www.aerlingus.com. For your chance to win please send your answer to the following question to info@hastingshotels.com. Q: How many flights a day do Aer Lingus run from Belfast to London? Competition closes on 30th October. T&Cs apply.
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Who made my tea? We believe that the Afternoon Tea experience is among the finer rituals of life and we wouldn’t want to leave any detail to chance. That is why we work with Ross and David Thompson, from Thompson Family Teas, and trust their expertise to bring you the finest selection of speciality teas available! The Thompson family passion for tea blending was born in Belfast in 1896, and continues today. Third generation blenders Ross and David Thompson are responsible for the entire range including the iconic Punjana blend, and the Great Taste Award-winning Irish Breakfast and Pure Green teas. You can try world’s finest teas and herbal infusions when you enjoy afternoon tea in any of our hotels.
Ribeye & Rioja Treat yourself to our latest Autumn dining promotion. Enjoy an award winning 8oz Irish Ribeye Steak from Hannan Meats, dry aged in a unique Himalayan salt chamber for the ultimate in taste and tenderness. Garnished with Rocket Salad and a 175ml glass of Torres Ibéricos Rioja Crianza. For only £15 Available in La Scala at the Stormont Hotel, The Cultra Inn at the Culloden Estate and Spa, Percy French Inn at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, The Grill at the Everglades Hotel and the Causerie at the Europa Hotel.
Digitalk 2013
Pictured: Hannah McKee, Hastings Hotels, Dr Una McMahon-Beattie, Univeristy of Ulster and Julie Hastings, Hastings Hotels
The Digitalk conference was organised by Hastings Hotels and the Ulster Business School, to give local business and students the opportunity to find out more about this dynamic market including digital marketing strategy, the adoption of tactics and the legal implications of social media. Speakers included eading journalist, broadcaster and author, Conor Pope, digital expert Krishna De and Gareth Walls of law firm A&L Goodbody. Over 160 delegates attended the conference which took place in the Stormont Hotel.
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MYNI
We were delighted to have paired up with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to run a photograph competition called MYNI. We have included some of our favourite pictures! To view all enteries and find out more please visit www.myni2013.com.
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Christmas at a Hastings Hotels is magical! A time to celebrate and enjoy, a time to relax and treat yourself and your nearest and dearest to something special.
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Online New Years Eve Gala Ball at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa 31st December 2013 Overnight and Gala Ball £180 per person sharing (£30 single supplement) Hogmanay Gala Banquet only - £95 per person To book: 028 4372 1018
Christmas Elvis Show with All-American Buffet at Europa Hotel. 27th & 28th December Looking for something different this Christmas? Get “all shook up” with our Elvis Christmas Show! Tickets £25 per person and now on sale from Ticketmaster or the hotel reception by calling 028 9027 1066
Nathan Carter Live in Concert at the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa.
Flash Harry at the Culloden Etsate and Spa. Friday 15th November
Tickets will be available from the Hotel Reception.
For one night only “Flash Harry” will recreate the magic of Queen, live at the Culloden Estate and Spa. It’s a guaranteed great night out! To book please email conf1@cull.hastingshotels.com Comedy Cracker Lunches at the Stormont Hotel 12th/19th &20th December An alternative to the boring work Christmas Party. Enjoy an afternoon of entertainment from comedy greats Gene Fitzpatrick and Noel McLarnon. For more information please email conf@stor.hastingshotels.com
Nathan Carter Concert at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa 22nd January 2014
Wedding Shows
Segway Tours Segway NI is now available at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa! You can enjoy an afternoon of fun and entertainment as you wizz along the promenade in Newcastle with friends and family! For more information please click here.
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Stormont Hotel 7th November 6-9pm Stormont Hotel 12th January 1-5pm Culloden Estate and Spa 19th January 1-5pm Slieve Donard Resort and Spa 26th January 1-5pm Europa Hotel 9th February 1-5pm