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AA Hotel & Hospitality Services is proud to announce the launch of its new initiative, hotel spa awards that recognise and celebrate the standards of 174 hotel spa facilities across the UK.

Following a careful selection process, the AA inspectors have identified the best spas across the country. Hotels with an AA Best UK Spas stand out as exceptional and exemplary spas delivering outstanding wellness experiences while those with an AA Recommended Spa award demonstrate a quality spa provision with high standards of customer care and cleanliness. By spotlighting exceptional spa offerings across the UK, the AA’s spa awards provide consumers with a definitive guide to the highest quality and rejuvenating hotel retreats the country has to offer.

Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, said: "We are thrilled to unveil this scheme, which not only celebrates the best spas in the UK but also benchmarks the industry. Joining the spa award is an opportunity for hotels to showcase their excellent spa facilities and attract guests seeking the utmost in relaxation and luxury."

The full curated collection of the finest spas including all AA Best UK Spas and AA Recommended Spa awards can be viewed on the AA’s travel website at ratedtrips.com/best-uk-spas. There’s so many to enjoy over the festive period and New Year and well into 2024.

What makes a spa best or recommended?

The AA’s aim is to showcase member establishments that have noteworthy spas worth visiting and are a key part of the hotel experience. These awards are supported by the annual inspections and experience of the UK hospitality landscape. Inspectors’ quality assess elements such as: reception, changing rooms, wet areas, gyms and treatment rooms, where quality and condition of these areas is the key driver.

Spas come in all different shapes, sizes and styles however all featured spas will have the following standards:

· Dedicated reception and staff 

· Several treatment rooms and a broad range of spa treatments 

· Its size should be appropriate to the hotel

· Dedicated changing rooms

· Towel and robe provision

· Variety of areas which may include but not all: pools, hot tubs, hydrotherapy pools, thermal suites, relaxation lounges, outdoor space, food and beverage, gym, studios and wellness activities

· Sustainability policies advertised and demonstrated 

· Accessibility guide published for spa areas 

· Effort made to include accessible needs in spa facilities/design/layout.

AA Recommended Spa Award in addition looks for:

· High quality spa provision

· High Standards of guest care

· High standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

AA Best UK Spa Award also looks for:

· Exceptional and luxurious facilities

· Signature features

· An exemplary spa experience

· A high-quality food and beverage offering

· A distinct retail offering

· Quality consultancy offering for all aspects · Wellness facilities and activities · Outstanding customer service · Dedicated relaxation space/room.

Galgorm has been recognised with an impressive six awards at 2023 World Luxury Awards, including Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort and named Best Destination Spa 2024 in the recent Conde Nast Johansens Awards. 

 Galgorm Resort has been recognised by two global platforms, winning an unprecedented six awards at the prestigious 2023 World Luxury Awards hosted in Athens, and securing the Best Destination Spa 2024 title at the recent Conde Nast Johansens Awards in London. 

Galgorm’s internationally renowned retreat, has been widely commended for its sustained commitment to excellence and its outstanding achievement within the wider international luxury spa and wellness industry, adding a string of new awards to its growing collection.

Located in the heart of Northern Ireland and set within 450 acres of gardens and woodlands, Galgorm has carved out a reputation as one of the world’s premier, luxury destinations. Following investments worth more than £60 million since 2010, Galgorm is also investing a further £30 million to further expand and enhance its resort and spa facilities by 2027, embedding its position as a world-class international tourism destination of choice for travellers from across the globe. 

Tara Moore, Head of Spa Operations for Galgorm said: “We are thrilled to have enjoyed such incredible success on a global stage as part of the World Luxury Awards and the Conde Nast Johansens Awards in recognition of our significant investment, our focus on delivering an unrivalled customer experience, not least all the hard work and dedication of our talented team at Galgorm.”

“To receive recognition on this scale against such strong international competition not only reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in every area but also to enriching the tourism industry of Northern Ireland.”

Named Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort, the resort’s famous Thermal Spa Village also took home the top awards for Best Luxury Resort and Best Luxury Spa Resort in Northern Europe; Best Luxury Riverside Resort across the continent; Best Luxury Resort Spa and Best Luxury Golf Resort Spa in the UK; and the Best Destination Spa 2024 at the Conde Nast Johansens Awards. 

Committed to working towards a sustainable future, protecting the environment and reducing its carbon footprint through its Green Policy 10-Point Plan,  Galgorm recently became the first hotel in Northern Ireland to achieve gold in two top sustainability accolades from Green Tourism, in recognition of its “exceptional commitment to sustainable practices”, while earlier this year, the Galgorm Collection became the first hospitality group on the island of Ireland to achieve official ‘Great Place to Work’ certification, based on exceptional employee experience.

NI’s award-winning collection of luxury hotels and restaurants becomes the first hospitality group on the island of Ireland to achieve official certification based on exceptional employee experience.

Major Northern Ireland employer Galgorm Collection has become the first hospitality group on the island of Ireland to achieve official Great Place To Work certification across its entire portfolio of award-winning luxury hotels and restaurants.

The prestigious endorsement by Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture and wellbeing, was awarded following an extensive independent employee survey which engaged Galgorm Collection’s workforce of around 1,000 team members.

Employees voted across all six properties - including the globally renowned Galgorm, AA Hotel of the Year The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, Ireland’s Blue Book recommended property The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, and its collection of restaurants Fratelli and Parisien in Belfast city centre - and concluded that their workplace is a great place to work.

The only hotel group on the island of Ireland to achieve the exceptional standard, the distinguished certification rewards outstanding employers who demonstrate a high-trust, ‘people-first’ workplace and cultivate a culture which embodies values such as credibility, fairness, respect, camaraderie, honesty and pride.

Laura Millar, HR Associate Director at Galgorm Collection said:

“What makes this accreditation so important to us is that it’s based on authentic employee feedback which is rigorously analysed using data-driven methodology and can be confident that staff feel trusted, valued and supported in their roles and enjoy the many benefits of working with the region’s premier hospitality group.

Our success has always depended on our great people. From chefs to bar tenders, spa therapists and managers, to facilities staff, housekeepers, drivers and night porters, our people are what makes us famous for our warm welcome and unforgettable hospitality experience. Through our dedicated People Strategy, we work hard to ensure we offer the most competitive benefits and lead in the development of skills, training and career development opportunities.”

Based solely on rigorous and validated employee feedback gathered by Great Place to Work – the global authority on workplace culture – the accreditation signifies that employees have a consistently positive experience in the workplace.

“At the heart of every organisation are its people, and looking after their wellbeing should be a priority for every employer,” Great Place to Work managing director Benedict Gautrey said. “We know when employees feel genuinely contented and at ease within their roles, they are much more engaged and productive, which leads to better results for everyone.”

A major local employer, Galgorm Collection has dramatically scaled up its hospitality footprint and workforce over the last decade following a £90 million investment into the ongoing expansion and refurbishment of its flagship property Galgorm, with its latest investment project aiming to add new accommodation types and spa facilities by 2027.

Since 2020, Galgorm Collection has acquired and opened two major new hotels, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick and The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn, growing its workforce by 30%.

“Galgorm Collection’s award-winning customer excellence and reputation for first-class hospitality is down to the dedication, skills and professionalism of our team and that’s why we continually invest in our workplace culture, training and development and in enhancing career prospects for everyone to make this a great place to work. We’re thrilled that our team voted with their feet to endorse what we do, and we are grateful for the superb work they deliver for our customers and the group every day,” Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston said.

As an officially certified Great Place to Work, Galgorm Collection will automatically be entered into the prestigious Best Workplaces ™ list which recognises organisations which demonstrate an effective management culture that focuses on the individual, their strengths and potential. All of this promotes innovation in the company and their associated economic success.

With sustainability at the heart of its business, Galgorm Collection last year announced a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, with a bid to become the first premier hospitality group on the island of Ireland to go fully green.

A year earlier, Galgorm Collection has also committed to the rollout of an enhanced benefits package for all eligible team members, including a £1 million investment into premium private health care cover over the next five years as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in its people.

In March 2021, Galgorm Collection announced 180 new roles across its range of hotels and restaurants to meet anticipated post-pandemic demand and announced its investment of more than £5m in annual wages in creating the new roles. For more information on current roles available across Galgorm Collection, and to apply, visit

galgorm.com/work-with-us.html

Galgorm is celebrating its success in Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Chamber Business Awards. The organisation won the Equality Trailblazer category.

Galgorm was awarded for promoting inclusion within the workplace, customer base and local community. This category recognises organisations which champion diversity and promotes inclusion. Corporate law firm A&L Goodbody was highly commended in the same category. As the Northern Ireland winner of this category, Galgorm will now go forward to the British Chamber Awards along with the winners of eleven other UK regions, where an overall National winner will be crowned. National winners will be announced online from Monday 17 October.

The Chamber Business Awards highlight the role of business in delivering growth and prosperity for the UK and local communities. With eight categories, the awards recognise and reward Northern Ireland’s leading exporters, green business initiatives, high-growth businesses, community engagement, entrepreneurs as well as companies which prioritise diversity, inclusion and workforce development.

Regional winners of other categories include Henderson Retail (The Community Champion); Alchemy Technology Services (The Game Changer); Almac Group (The Global Player); Shoosmiths (The Planet Saver); Encirc (The Problem Solver); Viberoptix (The Rapid Riser); and TODD Architects (The Workforce Developer). Highly Commended awards were also claimed by Encirc (The Community Champion); ShredBank (The Game Changer); MJM Marine (The Global Player); Atlas World (The Problem Solver); BLK BOX (The Rapid Riser); and Musgrave NI (The Workforce Developer).

Gillian McAuley, President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said:

“Each year our judges are impressed by the calibre of entries, and this year was no different. I would like to wish all of our member businesses who were regional winners and highly commended my sincere congratulations. We wish Galgorm every success as they represent Northern Ireland at the British Chamber Awards.”

Northern Ireland’s newest luxury hotel The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, part of Galgorm Collection, was named Hotel of the Year Northern Ireland 2022 at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards this week.

Coming back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the glittering awards ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London was hosted by Gabby Logan, celebrating the UK’s top hotels, restaurants, and pubs and the people behind them. 

One of the industry’s most prestigious and highly anticipated events, the AA Hospitality Awards span 15 categories, honouring the best hotels, restaurants, and spas across the UK, and celebrating individuals with awards such as the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chefs’ Chef Award and more.

Opened in June 2020, the Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, a 33-bedroom boutique hotel and spa located in Templepatrick, has been dramatically transformed to include a £2 million Relaxation Burrow spa area which completed construction last year.   

Perched by the edge of a stunning lake, the spa area offers total tranquillity, boasts unique attractions including Swedish sauna, an aromatherapy steam room, halotherapy salt chamber and Roman inspired bath and hot tubs, and has recently unveiled a range of bespoke spa treatments ranging from an IMAGE Skincare personalized facial, or a herbal green tea massage, to a full body ritual inclusive of skin exfoliation, scalp relaxation and leg energizer.

The Rabbit is also the first hotel in the island of Ireland to offer a heated lakeside beach complete with a Lake Bar, sunken lounge and plush cabanas for a laid back, luxurious experience. A Day Spa package with full spa access, lunch, and 60-minute spa treatment is launching on 1st October.

In addition to the accommodation, spa and bar and restaurant offering, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat also boasts a unique banqueting suite and wedding venue - The Loft - offering unabridged luxury in a magical setting, with high vaulted ceilings, chandeliers adorned with foliage, marble dining tables, dramatic fireplaces and a stunning romantic lake view from the spacious outdoor terrace.

Lynsey Gordon, General Manager at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat said:

“We are proud and honoured to be recognised by the AA at these most prestigious awards.  This is a fantastic endorsement of all the hard work that has gone into the extensive redevelopment at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat.  

This award reinforces our unwavering commitment to delivering an outstanding experience and recognises our team's talents, dedication and efforts. We are incredibly grateful to all our guests for their support and we look forward to creating many more memory-making moments at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat.”  

Galgorm is renowned for creating world-class hospitality experiences throughout their award-winning properties in Northern Ireland. Galgorm has received numerous awards and accolades for their stellar service and offering, including receiving the Four AA Red Star Award for excellence in quality and hospitality last year, as well as previously holding the coveted title of Global Luxury Spa Hotel of the Year. 

Since opening, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat has been included in numerous prestigious listings including the Irish Independent’s #Indo50 Top 50 Hotels to visit on the island of Ireland.

For more information, please visit 

https://www.rabbithotel.com/

For further information about the AA Hospitality Awards 2022, please visit: 

https://aahospitalityawards.com

Northern Ireland's premier luxury destination collects hat trick of awards for excellence across its accommodation, spa and restaurant offering

Galgorm has scored a hat trick of awards for excellence at this year’s World Luxury Hotel Awards, cementing the Resort’s status as Northern Ireland’s premier luxury destination and elevating the region’s tourism credentials to the global stage.

Recognising Galgorm’s globally renowned, award-winning golf course, which has played host to the Irish Open and is home of the ISPS Handa World Invitational, the Resort was crowned ‘Best Luxury Golf Resort’ in Europe whilst also collecting the title of ‘Best Luxury Golf Resort Spa’ for Galgorm’s award-winning and internationally acclaimed Thermal Village & Spa.

The Resort’s 3 AA Rosette restaurant, The River Room, was also celebrated for its exceptional food, with Head Chef Chris Rees winning the accolade of ‘Best Head Chef’ in Northern Europe, a testament to his commitment to outstanding quality and culinary excellence.

The 15th World Luxury Hotel Awards were held this year in Mauritius and celebrate the best in world-class hotel service excellence, representing the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry.

This year, Galgorm was one of only five resorts around the globe to receive the prestigious regional title and one of only three hotels in the island of Ireland to be officially recognised by the awards.

Galgorm Collection Managing Director Colin Johnston said;

“We are thrilled to be recognised by the World Travel Awards for our sustained commitment to excellence and outstanding achievement in the international luxury hospitality industry and to receive three highly coveted awards across our accommodation, spa and restaurant offering.

As the region’s premier luxury tourism destination, we are committed to further developing our world-class hospitality provision and we have invested heavily in the Resort in recent years to expand our accommodation and spa offering and offer an unrivalled, luxury experience.

The awards offers us a chance to showcase our unique offering to a global audience and gain worldwide recognition for our best-in-class facilities and service, competing with some of the world’s most acclaimed hotels, and promoting Northern Ireland as a must-visit destination.”

Voted by guests, travellers and industry players alike through an online public vote, the awards reflects the hard work and dedication exhibited by the exceptional team at Galgorm and its unparalleled service offering.

Attended by guests from across the globe, the awards took place at a prestigious ceremony in Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, Mauritius, on Saturday 9 October.

World Luxury Awards Marketing Director, Michael Hunter-Smith, said;

“We congratulate this year’s winners. True luxury is not easily attained. It takes highly efficient and dedicated staff who are willing to go the extra mile and stop at nothing to ensure that every guest feels cared for and that no challenge goes unresolved. This is the definition of luxury. It is what makes the winners shine.”

Over the past ten years, Galgorm has invested more than £60 million into its facilities and has plans for further expansion of over £30 million by 2027. The investment has helped lead to a string of accolades for the Resort as it takes its place on the world-stage as a luxury spa destination, beating competition from some of the world’s most iconic spa retreats.

Since 2019 Galgorm has dramatically transformed its offering, expanding its hotel and lodging accommodation. This included the upgrade of standard rooms to superior, additional cottage suites and the introduction of three residencies all with private hot tubs, sleeping between 10 and 12 guests.

The award-winning Thermal Spa Village has also been extended across three acres. A £2 million investment into the Resort’s Thermal Spa Village in 2020 included the opening of a new Palm House bar, vitality pool, additional relaxation areas, saunas, hot tubs and a brand new salt cave to accommodate spa visitors. Galgorm was also recently named Best Spa Experience within the UK and Ireland at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2021 and crowned Resort Spa of the Year at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2020.

The Resort has also played host to a range of global events including the World Luxury Spa & Restaurant Awards, host to the R&A and patrons of the 148th Open Championship and host to the 21st National Golf Tourism Conference and 2018 Gala Irish Golf Awards.

Launched in 2012, the World Spa & Wellness Awards recognise and reward the work that Spas do around the globe, honouring Hotel and Resort Spas in all regions. One of the leading honours in the industry, the awards acknowledge excellence of care, and service and standards, aiming to inspire Spas around the world and raise global industry standards.

Launched in 2012, the World Spa & Wellness Awards recognise and reward the work that Spas do around the globe, honouring Hotel and Resort Spas in all regions. One of the leading honours in the industry, the awards acknowledge excellence of care, and service and standards, aiming to inspire Spas around the world and raise global industry standards.

The prestigious awards ceremony, a firm favourite within the spa calendar, which for the first time was held virtually on Monday 16th November 2020, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, saw spa professionals from across the world tune in to celebrate excellence within the industry. 15 spas and wellness resorts were crowned winners, with Galgorm, situated in Ballymena, Northern Ireland – walking away with the much-coveted Resort Spa of the Year accolade.

Prior to this Galgorm was also the recipient of another recent award, that of Best Spa Experience in UK and Ireland with the consumer facing Condé Nast Johansens UK, Ireland, Europe & the Mediterranean, Awards for Excellence 2021.

The Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across their recommended properties and are a trusted mark of quality recognised by consumers and travel professionals alike.

"We are absolutely delighted to have won not one but two prestigious awards, not least amidst such a devastating global pandemic. As Northern Ireland’s premier luxury spa hotel, we are continually innovating to bring guests and visitors the best possible Spa experience”.

“Over the past ten years, Galgorm has invested more than £60 million into its facilities and has plans for further expansion of over £15 million over the next five years. The investment has helped lead to a string of accolades for the Resort and we are delighted to be crowned winners of the Best Spa Experience across the UK and Ireland at The Condé Nast Johansen’s Awards for Excellence as well as Resort Spa (Western Europe & Scandinavia) at the World Spa & Wellness Awards, building on our reputation within industry and within the minds of our consumers, for superb facilities and outstanding service”.

“Earlier this year we revealed a new, dramatically enhanced Thermal Village and Spa provision, boasting a suite of new attractions for spa guests, including a 10 metre vitality pool on the shores of the River Maine, a Palm House bar and relaxation area and a brand new Salt Room for halotherapy experiences”.

Colin Johnston – Galgorm Collection, Managing Director

Northern Ireland's Luxury Spa Resort Crowned Best in Northern Europe at World Luxury Hotel Awards

Galgorm has been crowned winner of Best Luxury Spa Resort in Northern Europe at the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

The awards, which were held in Finland, celebrate the best in world-class hotel service excellence and represent the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry.

Over the past ten years, Galgorm has invested more than £50 million into its facilities and has plans for further expansion of over £15 million over the next five years. The investment has helped lead to a string of accolades for the Resort as it takes its place on the world-stage as a luxury spa destination, beating competition from some of the world’s most iconic spa retreats.

After last year’s Global Luxury Hotel Spa of the Year win, which firmly cemented Galgorm’s position as a world-leading hotel and spa resort, Galgorm continues to gain worldwide recognition for its brand and best-in-class facilities and service. This year, Galgorm was one of eight resorts around the globe to receive the prestigious regional title and one of only three hotels in the island of Ireland to be officially recognised by the awards.

Commenting on the win, Colin Johnston, Galgorm Managing Director, said; “We are thrilled to win Best Luxury Spa Resort for the Northern Europe region and to continue to be recognised for our sustained commitment to excellence and outstanding achievement in the international luxury hospitality industry. The World Luxury Hotel Awards offers us a chance to showcase our unique spa facilities and wider destination offering to a global audience and cements our reputation as a world-leading spa destination. In recent years we have invested heavily in upgrading our spa facilities and providing an unrivalled customer experience and we’re delighted to add this award to our burgeoning list of accolades.”

Voted by guests, travellers and industry players alike through an online public vote, the accolade reflects the hard work and dedication exhibited by Galgorm’s exceptional staff and its unparalleled service offering.

Attended by over 300 guests from across the globe, the awards took place at a prestigious ceremony in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, on Saturday 12 October.

World Luxury Awards Marketing Director, Michael Hunter-Smith, said; “We congratulate this year’s winners. True luxury is not easily attained. It takes highly efficient and dedicated staff who are willing to go the extra mile and stop at nothing to ensure that every guest feels cared for and no challenge goes unresolved. This is the definition of luxury. It is what makes the winners shine.”

Galgorm is celebrating after receiving the prestigious AA Four Red Star Award for its excellent levels of quality throughout the Resort and outstanding levels of hospitality and service, presented at a glittering ceremony at Grosvenor House in London this week. 

Galgorm is celebrating after receiving the prestigious AA Four Red Star Award for its excellent levels of quality throughout the Resort and outstanding levels of hospitality and service, presented at a glittering ceremony at Grosvenor House in London this week. 

Each year, AA inspectors select the best hotels within each star rating, representing the very best in the British Isles and are known as 'Inspectors' Choice' hotels. Galgorm is the only Northern Irish hotel to receive the prestigious accolade. 

The award complements the Resort's existing three AA Rosettes award for culinary excellence at fine-dining restaurant, the River Room. Led by Chef Chris Rees, the River Room is one of only four establishments in Northern Ireland to hold such a coveted title and is awarded to outstanding restaurants that 'demand recognition well beyond their local area', and that demonstrate excellence in timing, seasoning and judgement of flavour combinations, as well as boasting a select wine list. 

Colin Johnston, Managing Director of Galgorm, said: "We are delighted to accept this award which is testament to the continual hard work and dedication of our fantastic staff. Their commitment to delivering excellence across all our offerings at Galgorm is unparalleled, from luxury accommodation, to famous golfing greens, a world-renowned spa offering and an award-winning fine dining restaurant. 

In 2015 we were honoured with the triple AA Rosette award for our River Room restaurant and we are delighted to build upon this with the prestigious AA Four Red Star Award. We are very proud to be the only hotel in Northern Ireland to receive this rating and to be recognised officially for the high quality service and hospitality offering which Galgorm is renowned for."