It’s a double celebration for Select Hotels of Ireland, Ireland’s biggest independent hospitality marketing group, as two of their member hotels, The Ardilaun Hotel, Galway and the County Arms Hotel, Birr are to celebrate 50 years in business!

Five decades of strong tradition in Irish Hospitality, quality luxury accommodation and excellent service were marked by General Manager of Select Hotels, Una Young, as the two independent Irish family run four star hotels were awarded a special plaque, to an audience of their twenty six Select hotel members on Wednesday last.

The celebrations are set to continue throughout the year, as both hotels have exciting plans to provide a host of special events and activities for their loyal guests and hotel visitors.

Commenting at the event, Una said “The constant endeavour to provide Irish Hospitality, with excellent service and accommodation, to understand the needs of their customers, to re-invest in their Hotels, to look after their staff, these are the attributes that have stood the test of time. I am really honoured to mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary of these two wonderful Hotels. As Select hotel members are independent Irish Hotels, they preserve their own individual personalities, with some fascinating history between them, while coming together under the Select Hotels brand to promote that history of good Irish Hotel keeping.”

Since those early days, there have been many developments at both The Ardilaun Hotel and the County Arms Hotel, Birr including bar extensions, reception area adjustments, ensuite bathrooms fitted, and the introduction of a Conference Centre and Leisure Club.

Select Hotels Chairman and Managing Director of the Ardilaun Hotel, John Ryan is looking forward to what the future will bring to the hotel, “I am very proud of the history at our hotel, which started off as an original townhouse in 1840. On St Patrick’s Day back in 1962 when my parents Breda and Patrick brought the property, they did extremely well in including modern amenities, while retaining the original character of the hotel.”

In 1962, Michael and Margaret Loughnane brought the County Arms Hotel,Birr, which began as a Georgian House in 1809. Now their son Willie Loughnane owns the hotel and since then has continued to enhance facilities and expanded the hotel every decade, including brining the accommodation to 70 four star standard rooms and adding a Leisure Club.

Willie stated, “Joining Select Hotels and being part of such a large marketing group helps individual hotel owner’s punch above their weight. As long as we continue to deliver value while retaining our excellent service we will continue to be successful. Now in our 50th year, my goal for the next decade is to continue developing our business and looking after our customers and staff.”

Select Hotels of Ireland has a collection of 26 hotels throughout Ireland and was established 11 years ago as a marketing platform for independently owned hotels, all with a recognised rich tradition of Irish Hospitality and premium 3 and 4 star establishments.  The group offers independent hotels that fit its strict criteria, strength in numbers, giving hotels the opportunity to promote in much wider markets, which would be prohibitive to a standalone business. For further information on Select Hotels of Ireland’s 26 member hotels, visit www.selecthotels.ie