Dublin, IRELAND - The winners of the 2015 Irish Responsible Tourism Awards were announced last night at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. The award categories and the shortlisted businesses are (* indicates ATTA members):
Best Tour Operator for Responsible Tourism
- GOLD: Connemara Wild Escapes (Co. Galway)*
- SILVER: Cycle Inishowen (Co. Donegal), Whale Watch West Cork (Co. Cork)
- GOLD: Hotel Doolin (Co. Clare)
- SILVER: Pure Camping (Co. Clare), Ard Nahoo Eco Retreat (Co. Leitrim), Tory Bush Cottages (Co. Down)
- GOLD: An Taisce Green Schools Travel and Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark Partnership (Co. Clare)
- SILVER: Cycle Inishowen (Co. Donegal), Rock Farm Slane (Co. Meath)
- GOLD: Dolphin Watch (Co. Clare)
- SILVER: Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours (Co. Kerry) and Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre & Nature Reserve (Co. Kerry)
- GOLD: Loop Head Peninsula (Co. Clare),
- SILVER: Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark (Co. Clare), Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative (Co. Cork), Mulranny, Co. Mayo (Co. Mayo)
- GOLD: Cnoc Suain (Co. Galway)
- SILVER: Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange & Knowth) (Co. Meath), Mizen Head Signal Station & Visitor Centre (Co. Cork)
- GOLD: Archways B&B (Co. Wexford)
- SILVER: Burren Smokehouse (Co. Clare), Orchard Acre Farm (Co. Fermanagh)
GOLD: Atlantic Sea Kayaking and Wild Atlantic Walks (Co. Cork)*- SILVER: Life Adventure Centre (Co. Down), Boyne Valley Activities (Co. Meath)
Judges for the awards include:
- Catherine Mack (Travel Writer, responsibletravel.com)
- Kevin Griffin (DIT tourism lecturer and former-EDEN awards judge)
- Ruth Morgan (Environmental Policy Officer, NITB)
- Paddy Mathews (Fáilte Ireland)
- Peter Krahenbuhl (former Tourism for Tomorrow judge)
- Annabel Fitzgerald (Coastal Programmes Manager An Taisce)
- David Owen (ex-UNEP Tourism)
- Catherine Fulvio (Ballyknocken House & Cookery School)