Business & Tourism Award win a 'hugely proud moment’ for Johnstown Estate
Winning one of the top accolades at last year's Meath Business and Tourism Awards was a "hugely proud moment" for the 300 strong team of staff at Johnstown Estate Hotel and Spa in Enfield.
That is according to Marketing Manager Cassandra Conway who says that winning the Best Customer Experience award going on to win the Overall Excellence in Tourism Award was a major boost for the entire hotel.
"When you look at a normal small business winning an award, a lot of times it is about the owner, it something they have always strived for but when it is something like a hotel that wins it feel like it is recognition for all of the staff," said Cassandra.
"We have over 300 people working in the hotel so everyone from the gardeners to people who work in the spa to the people in back of house, to people who serve your meals were all recipients of this award," she added.
"It is huge team effort and winning something like this really touches everyone and gives everyone a boost, we can say we have something to be proud of."
The marketing manager credits the hundreds of staff at the prestigious hotel for winning the Best Customer Experience award.
"It meant the world to over 300 people who felt proud that they had been recognised for that," she said.
"It drives our team on and gives them that push to continue to go the extra mile, it makes them proud to go to work everyday as leaders in our field."
Cassandra says that the group who took over Trim Castle Hotel last year and are in the midst of buying Mount Juliet in Kilkenny have a vested interest in communities in Meath and winning an award locally meant "everything."
"We were in categories with amazing businesses like Emerald Park and huge competitors in this area so for us to win was massive," said Cassandra.
"Is it a huge honour to win an accolade like this within your community and within your county," she added.
The event held in partnership between Meath Chronicle with Meath Co Council and Boyne Valley Tourism the MBTAs is the highlight of the business social calendar with dozens of entrepreneurs, firms and organisations set to be in the running for awards.
This year, the glittering ceremony will take place on in Knightsbrook on Friday 8th November.
Speaking at the launch of the 15th Meath Business & Tourism Awards last month in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Sharon Tolan said:
“These awards recognise the amazing work and contribution that businesses make to our region, be it a new business starting off its journey offering a local service or an established business exploring export opportunities.
“Companies in Meath continue to display remarkable agility, adaptability, and courage in developing and expanding their businesses. These awards celebrate their commitment and hard work in striving for business excellence. The variety of categories allows businesses of all sizes and sectors to get involved – from sole traders and ‘solopreneurs’ to SMEs and multinationals, all businesses are encouraged to enter – there really is a category for everyone.”
Representing the Meath Chronicle, John Donohoe said that in the decade and a half since the awards were first established, the world has certainly changed.
“We could not have foreseen the turmoil that would hit a decade later. While we were just finding our feet again after the economic crash, along came a once in a century epidemic, and a return to wars in Europe and the Middle East.
“We still live amidst that uncertainty, more reason to look forward and try to overcome those difficulties as best we can, and celebrate our business leaders who take great risks.”
He said that looking back at previous winners of these awards, a theme emerges, showing what we are good at in the Royal County – constantly evolving and diversifying, but with that rootedness in the land, the family farm, food production, and the building up of strong family businesses.
Closing date for entries is this Friday 20th September.
Click here to enter