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The Europe Strikes Gold Five Star Killarney Hotel Awarded Irish Hospitality’s Highest Honour

THE EUROPE HOTEL & RESORT, the chic five star resort on the shores of Lough Lein in Killarney, has been crowned the champion of Irish hospitality. The hotel, owned by the Liebherr Group, took top honours when it was awarded the Irish hospitality industry’s highest accolade, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2012 at a gala ceremony in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel on Tuesday, 25th September. The luxurious Kerry hideaway triumphed ahead of hundreds of its peers in the Irish hospitality industry who competed in the 24th Annual Gold Medal Awards this summer. Run by leading hospitality industry magazine, Hotel & Catering Review, and judged by an independent jury of experienced hospitality practitioners, the Gold Medal Awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious and coveted awards in the business. As well as the supreme award, a total of 17 category awards were presented at this year's black tie ceremony, which was attended by over 400 leading hoteliers, restaurateurs and caterers from across Ireland. (See Editors Note for full list of award winners.) The Europe Hotel scooped the top title after winning the hotly-contested Gold Medal Award for Best Five Star Hotel, sponsored by Edward Dillon & Co, earlier in the night.

Sarah Grennan, editor of Hotel & Catering Review and chairperson of the Gold Medal Awards Jury, explains why The Europe was the natural choice for Ireland’s most prestigious hospitality prize: ‘The Europe isn’t just the best hotel in Ireland. In our opinion it is one of the best hotels in Europe, wowing with its sleek surroundings, breathtaking views, top-notch facilities and warm and caring staff. While

the multimillion euro investment by the Leibherr Group ensures that the hotel is one of the most stylish and luxurious in the country, it is the team at The Europe which really make this hotel special. They are committed to ensuring that every guests’ stay is a memorable one and they go that extra mile to make sure their guests’ every need is cared for.’ The resort’s general manager, Michael Brennan, also credits the team at The Europe for the hotel’s success at the Gold Medal Awards, where, as well as winning the supreme Gold Medal Award for Excellence and the Gold Medal Award for Best Five Star Hotel, the hotel was also short-listed as a finalist in the Best Spa and Best Bistro & Brasserie categories. ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded two of the most prestigious awards in the Irish hospitality industry,’ commented Michael. ‘They are testament to the outstanding contribution made by each member of the team at The Europe Hotel & Resort.’ Running for 24 years, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards are intensely competitive, drawing entries from hundreds of hotel, restaurant, guesthouse, club, spa and catering businesses every year. 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 the Ireland’s greatest purveyors of hospitality. -ENDSFor further information and images/logos from the event please contact: Sarah Grennan, Hotel & Catering Review T: 01 764 2700 M: 087 686 1272 E: [email protected]

CAPTION: The Europe Hotel & Resort scooped hospitality’s highest accolade, the Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Awards for Excellence 2012, at the 24th Annual Gold Medal Awards in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel on Tuesday night (25th September). Sarah Grennan, editor of Hotel & Catering Review presents the prestigious award to The Europe team. From left: Nicole Barry, spa manager, ESPA at The Europe; Grace O’Brien, front office manager, The Europe Hotel & Resort; Marilyn Murphy; Michael Brennan, general manager; Sarah Grennan, Hotel & Catering Review; Sebastian Ernst, Brasserie Restaurant manager and Alex Nahke, head chef.

Full List of Gold Medal Award Winners, Finalists & Sponsors A total of 88 businesses were nominated as finalists in the 17 Gold Medal Awards categories this year. From the elite collection of 17 Gold Medal Awards winners, one business, The Europe Hotel & Resort, was voted ‘the Best of the Very Best’ and presented with the coveted Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2012. The 2012 Gold Medal Awards winners and finalists are: Gold Medal Award for Five Star Hotels, sponsored by Edward Dillon & Co Winner: The Europe Hotel & Resort Finalists: Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Co Laois Culloden Estate & Spa, Belfast, Co Antrim Dromoland Castle Hotel & Country Estate, Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare The Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney, Co Kerry Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork The K Club, Straffan, Co Kildare The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow ***** Gold Medal Award for Four Star Hotels, sponsored by Digiweb Winner: The Lodge at Castle Leslie Estate Finalists: BrookLodge Hotel & Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co Wicklow The Brehon, Killarney, Co Kerry Carton House, Maynooth, Co Kildare The Lodge at Castle Leslie Estate, Glaslough, Co Monaghan Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin 8 The River Lee Hotel, Cork Waterford Castle Hotel, Waterford Wineport Lodge, Glasson, Co Westmeath ***** Gold Medal Award for Three Star Hotels, sponsored by Tourism Ireland Winner: Downhill House Hotel Finalists: Downhill House Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo Killeen House Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry Quality Hotel & Leisure Club, Clonakilty, Co Cork The Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, Co Clare The Old Imperial Hotel, Youghal, Co Cork Temple Bar Hotel, Dublin 2

Gold Medal Award for Country Houses, sponsored by Aon Winner: Lough Inagh Lodge Finalists: Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Connemara, Co Kerry Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co Kerry The Castle at Castle Leslie Estate, Glaslough, Co Monaghan Dunbrody Country House Hotel, Arthurstown, Co Wexford Lough Inagh Lodge, Connemara, Co Galway Mount Falcon Country House Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo Moy House, Lahinch, Co Clare Rathsallagh House & Golf Club, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow ***** Gold Medal Award for Townhouses, sponsored by Aon Winner: Ariel House Finalists: Ariel House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Castlewood House, Dingle, Co Kerry Pembroke Townhouse, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 No.1 Pery Square, Limerick ***** Gold Medal Award for Fine Dining Restaurants, sponsored by Churchill in association with Bunzl McLaughlin Winner: Restaurant Forty One at Residence Members Club Finalists: La Bohème Restaurant, Waterford La Fougère Restaurant at Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo The Dining Room at Gregan’s Castle, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare The House Restaurant at The Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford The Lake Room Restaurant at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney, Co Kerry The Munster Room Restaurant at Waterford Castle, Waterford Restaurant Forty One at Residence Members Club, Dublin 2 The Strawberry Tree at BrookLodge Hotel & Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co Wicklow ***** Gold Medal Award for Bistros & Brasseries, sponsored by Champagne Pannier by Classic Drinks Winner: Aldridge Lodge Finalists: Aldridge Lodge, Duncannon, Co Wexford An Port Mór, Westport, Co Mayo The Ballymore Inn, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare The Brasserie Restaurant at The Europe Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry The Exchange Restaurant & Cocktail Bar at The Westin, Dublin 2

Lord Kenmare’s, Killarney, Co Kerry O’Grady’s on the Pier, Barna, Co Galway The Tavern Bar & Restaurant, Murrisk, Co Mayo Verres en Vers at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin 8 ***** Gold Medal Award for Casual Dining, sponsored by Gleeson incorporating Gilbeys Winner: The Cornstore, Cork Finalists: Clodagh’s Kitchen at Arnotts, Dublin 1 The Cornstore, Cork The Cornstore, Limerick Ely Bar & Brasserie, IFSC, Dublin 1 Harrigan’s Bar & Restaurant, Newbridge, Co Kildare Harte’s Bar & Grill, Kildare Town The Pins Bar Bistro at The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co Galway The Old Imperial Hotel, Youghal, Co Cork ***** Gold Medal Award for Ethnic Restaurants, sponsored by Cobra Winner: L’Arco Italian Restaurant Finalists: Chakra by Jaipur, Greystones, Co Wicklow L’Arco Italian Restaurant, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare Royal Spice Indian Restaurant, Kilkenny Spice Indian Restaurant, Wexford ***** Gold Medal Award for Cafés & Tearooms, sponsored by Bunzl McLaughlin Winner: The Tea & Garden Rooms Finalists: Blas by Café Noir, Limerick Brown’s Bar & Café by Carton House at Brown Thomas, Dublin 2 Café Noir, Castletroy, Limerick The Harvest Café at The Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath Mitchell’s Café at Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Co Galway The Silver Restaurant at Newbridge Silver Visitor Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare The Tea & Garden Rooms, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare White Tea Rooms, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin

Gold Medal Award for Spas, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland Winner: Monart Destination Spa Finalists: Angsana Spa at The Brehon, Killarney, Co Kerry Escape Salon & Spa at The Imperial Hotel, Cork ESPA at The Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney, Co Kerry Monart Destination Spa, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford Oceo Spa at Seafield Spa & Golf Hotel, Gorey, Co Wexford SeaSpa at Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare, Co Wexford The Spa at Aghadoe Heights Resort, Killarney, Co Kerry The Island Spa at Inchydoney Island Lodge, Clonakilty, Co Cork ***** Gold Medal Award for Member Clubs, sponsored by Tech Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Winner: Carton House Finalists: Carton House, Maynooth, Co Kildare Fota Island Golf Club, Fota Island, Cork Residence Members Club, Dublin 2 ***** Gold Medal Award for In House Catering, sponsored by Keelings Winner: ARAMARK Ireland at Oracle Finalists: ARAMARK Ireland at Oracle, Santry, Co Dublin BaxterStorey at Paddy Power, Clonskeagh, Dublin 24 BaxterStorey at RTE, Dublin 4 Seasons (ARAMARK Ireland) at Guinness Storehouse, Dublin 8 Sodexo Ireland at Amgen, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Sodexo Ireland at Coca-Cola, Drogheda, Co Louth Sodexo Ireland at Dell, Cherrywood, Dublin 18 ***** Gold Medal Award for Institutional Catering, sponsored by IFSA (Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance) Winner: Haven Bay Care Centre Finalists: ARAMARK Ireland at the University of Limerick The Central Production Unit at Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, Co Westmeath Cluain Lir Care Centre, Mullingar, Co Westmeath GMIT Catering Company, Galway Haven Bay Care Centre, Kinsale, Co Cork Masterchefs Hospitality at Moffetts Restaurant, National University of Ireland, Galway

Gold Medal Award for Wine Experience, sponsored by Gleeson incorporating Gilbeys Winner: The K Club Finalists: Aghadoe Heights Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry The Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Co Waterford Ely Bar & Brasserie, Dublin 1 Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork The K Club, Straffan, Co Kildare Residence Members Club, Dublin 2 The Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co Galway ***** Gold Medal Award for Customer Experience, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland Winner: BrookLodge Hotel & Macreddin Village Finalists: Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Co Laois Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Connemara, Co Galway Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co Kerry BrookLodge Hotel & Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co Wicklow Culloden Estate & Spa, Belfast, Co Antrim Druids Brasserie at Druids Glen Resort, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow Harvey’s Point, Lough Eske, Co Donegal Killeen House Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry ***** Gold Medal Award for Best Newcomer, sponsored by BWG Food Service Winner: Masterchefs Hospitality at The Pavilion Finalists: Clodagh’s Kitchen at Arnotts, Dublin 1 Masterchefs Hospitality at The Pavilion, University of Limerick, Limerick Red Cliff Lodge, Spanish Point, Co Clare The Restaurant at Kilkenny Design Centre, Kilkenny ***** Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Excellence 2012 The Europe Hotel & Resort -ENDS-