Harcourt Developments is celebrating three major hospitality awards for The Harcourt Collection, recognising outstanding guest experiences at Lough Eske Castle in County Donegal and Carlisle Bay in Antigua.
Lough Eske Castle has been named Best Five Star Hotel of the Year at the Georgina Campbell Irish Food & Hospitality Awards, while Carlisle Bay has secured the number seven ranking among resorts in the Caribbean and Atlantic in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as its first MICHELIN Key in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide.
The accolades come as Lough Eske Castle and Carlisle Bay forecast combined turnover of more than €37 million in 2026, an increase of approximately 6% on the previous year. Combined spa and leisure revenues are expected to rise by around 20%.
Awards Celebrated at Annual Hospitality Conference
The achievements were celebrated at Harcourt’s Annual Hospitality Conference, held at Lough Eske Castle on the 7th to 8th of October 2026 under the theme “Agility through Adaptability, Impact through Immersion”.
The event brought together colleagues and industry leaders to recognise excellence, exchange ideas and discuss the future of hospitality.
Clement Gaffney, Group Chief Operating Officer of The Harcourt Collection, said: “These three awards are a powerful endorsement of our people and the distinctive experiences they create every day. From the warmth, food and sense of place at Lough Eske Castle to the thoughtful service, wellness and relaxed sophistication of Carlisle Bay, each property is proudly individual yet united by a shared commitment to authentic hospitality, which flows through all Harcourt Hotels. Celebrating these achievements together at our annual conference made the occasion particularly special.”
Pat Power, Managing Director of Harcourt Developments, said: “This awards hat-trick reflects sustained investment in exceptional properties, but above all it recognises the talent, care and ambition of our teams. Accolades of this calibre strengthen the international standing of Lough Eske Castle and Carlisle Bay Antigua and affirm our long-term approach: to protect what makes each destination special, invest with purpose and empower our people to deliver remarkable stays. We are immensely proud of everyone behind these achievements.”
The conference was hosted by Pádraic Gilligan, Co-Founder of SoolNua and Head of Research & Consultancy. Speakers included Sarah Duignan, Director – Client Relationships, STR Global; Fergal O’Brien, Executive Director, Policy, Lobbying & Global Affairs, Ibec; Janice Gault, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Hotels Federation; Barbara Nestor, Director, Culture Transformation & Enterprise Leadership, Bank of Ireland; Aymen Fetouak MIH, Head of Professional Development, Institute of Hospitality; Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist, Institute of International and European Affairs; and Packie Bonner, former international goalkeeper and Donegal ambassador.
Lough Eske Castle: Best Five Star Hotel of the Year
Set amid woodland and formal gardens near Donegal Town, Lough Eske Castle combines historic character with contemporary luxury across its accommodation, dining, spa, wedding and meeting experiences. The Georgina Campbell Award recognises the standards of food, service and guest experience delivered by its team, including at Cedars Restaurant.
Established in 1997, the independent Irish Food & Hospitality Awards are assessed anonymously throughout the year, with businesses unable to enter or nominate themselves. The 2026 awards were presented by Georgina Campbell at a ceremony hosted by hotelier Francis Brennan in Dublin on 22 September. Simon Petka, Director of Sales and Marketing at Lough Eske Castle, accepted the award on behalf of the hotel.
Dónal Cox, General Manager of Lough Eske Castle, said: “The recognition belongs to colleagues across the kitchen, restaurant, housekeeping, spa, front office and events teams, whose professionalism creates memorable stays and showcases the warmth, produce and hospitality of Donegal.”
The accolade follows Lough Eske Castle’s inclusion among the top 10 hotels in the UK and Ireland in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.
Carlisle Bay Antigua: Two International Honours
Carlisle Bay Antigua was voted the number seven resort in the Caribbean and Atlantic in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. More than 296,356 UK readers rated travel experiences worldwide. The accolade recognises the resort’s offering, from its 87 suites, dining and CARA Spa to experiences connecting guests with Antigua’s landscape and culture.
The five-star resort, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, also earned its first MICHELIN Key, a distinction for hotels offering “a very special stay”.
Announced on the 18th of September, the award places Carlisle Bay among the 2,020 One-Key hotels selected worldwide in 2026.
The accolades arrive as Carlisle Bay prepares to unveil Phase 2 of its multi-million-dollar renovation. Matthew Poole, General Manager of Carlisle Bay Antigua, credited the resort’s team for its dedication, care and expertise, highlighting the property’s setting and service as central to its guest experience.