2015 Award Winners GEORGINA CAMPBELL AWARD 2015

Bill & Isablle Kelly

The contribution that the Kelly family has made to Irish hospitality is extraordinary and, with its special brand of relaxed professionalism, their renowned beachside hotel sums up all that is best about Ireland for many regular visitors. Perhaps it’s because its history in the same family spans three centuries, so there’s not a lot they don’t know about keeping guests happy. It’s known as the ‘hotelier’s hotel’ because so many others in the hospitality industry choose to come here to relax - high praise indeed!

And spring 2014 was a momentous time for the family and for the hotel as the fifth generation of the family, Laura Kelly, returned from completing her post-gradate education at the world famous Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne (as is traditional in the Kelly family) and gaining valuable experience abroad, to take her place beside her parents, Bill and Isabelle, and grandmother, Breda Kelly.

One of the nicest things about their recent history is the way Bill Kelly has supported and encouraged everyone through the recession, urging hoteliers to take heart, be innovative, support local suppliers and keep up standards throughout the difficult years.

And the Kellys took their own advice, through, for example, successfully continuing to market special events like their famous off season hobby breaks - and making the brave move of opening their first venture outside the hotel, the brilliant Kelly's Cafe at Drinagh. In fact this was almost a case of coming full circle for the Kellys, as the original business was a tea room, opened in 1895.

The Kelly family's determination to succeed has not only seen their own business come through the recession unscathed, but is an ongoing an inspiration to many others who are now rebuilding from the bottom up, as confidence grows and visitor numbers increase.

We salute you Bill and Isabelle - and the contribution of all the other Kellys, past and present.