Ocean Sands Hotel wins coveted Georgina Campbell Award

THE Ocean Sands Hotel in Enniscrone continued in their winning ways, securing a prestigious national title at the Georgina Campbell Awards earlier this week.

They were crowned Pet Friendly Destination of the Year at a gala event held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Guest speaker was none other than Francis Brennan, the well known hospitality guru. A comprehensive citation was read out and praised the Ocean Sands saying: 'Clear arrangements, suitable accommodation, good walking on the doorstep and the ability to dine together transform a break for dog owners.'

The citation complimented the hotel in a broader sense, saying: 'The hotel has family accommodation, spa facilities and a choice of dining, with chef Marcin Szczodrowski bringing a strong focus on local and quality produce to the kitchen. The beach, sea and surrounding Sligo landscape provide natural attractions a-plenty and great outings.'

Speaking at the awards, Georgina Campbell warned that the personal connection traditionally associated with Irish hospitality is under pressure as businesses increasingly turn to technology, automation and digital transactions. “In many places we visited we could see how warm human interaction is being replaced by cold digital transactions,” said Georgina Campbell. “The very qualities that once defined good hospitality such as knowing a guest’s name, offering a cup of tea, or simply taking the time to have a conversation are becoming less common.”

This is very much not the case at the Ocean Sands Hotel who pride themselves on a personal connection with guests and on genuine hospitality.

Now in their fourth decade, these are the longest-running awards of their kind in Ireland, recognising excellence across the country, with winners selected through independent, year-round assessments by a team of experts who book anonymously and pay their bills like any other guest.