Hastings Hotels has been awarded ‘Hotel of the Year’ for the Culloden Estate & Spa, and the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award was also received by founder and chairman Sir William Hastings at the Licenced & Catering News event in Belfast.
Lifetime Achievement
The annual awards ceremony recognises outstanding talent in the hospitality industry across Northern Ireland, including the Lifetime Achievement Award which is renowned for its prestige and rarity. Exceptionally deserving, Sir William was acknowledged by the trade as a singular individual who, by his own personal effort, has changed the face of hospitality in Northern Ireland.
A fitting location for Sir William as recipient, the event was held at Hastings’ very own Europa Hotel. Once infamous as the most bombed hotel in the world, Sir William has today renewed the hotel and set it on a path to become the magnificent, world-renowned venue it is today.
Indigenous hospitality chain
Over the past several decades, Sir William and his family have also created what has become Northern Ireland’s most successful indigenous hospitality chain. With an annual turnover of more than £40m, Hastings Hotels has not only redefined family-run success, but has also done so much to guide and shape the evolution of the modern hotel sector in Northern Ireland.
Sir William is also the proud recipient of many of the highest honours the country can give him – a CBE in 2004, an OBE in 2005 and, of course, his knighthood in 2011. Academia has recognised him too, with an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster, bestowed in 2002.
Hotel of the Year
The Culloden Estate & Spa was also awarded ‘Hotel of the Year’ for its outstanding service and professionalism.
One of the Judges said of the property: “What a wonderful place to stay – my every need was catered for and the facilities were fantastic. Flawless service delivered by professional and genuinely hospitable staff, I was very impressed.”
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