Seven Consecutive Years at the Pinnacle of Luxury Hospitality as Ashford Castle retains its Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ranking
“We’re in seventh heaven but will never take a top Forbes ranking for granted,”said Ashford Castle’s Managing Director, Niall Rochford, on hearing the news that Ashford Castle has retained its Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ranking for a seventh successive year.
Mr Rochford added that the whole team was overjoyed to learn that Ashford Castle is now the only property in the UK and Ireland to hold a five-star Forbes rating for both its hotel and spa.
The annual Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards (FTG) rates the world’s most luxurious properties and is regarded as the only truly independent global rating system.
A Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ranking is the top rating possible and the gold standard in global hospitality. While all elements of a property are evaluated, there is a huge emphasis on service because, according to Forbes, how a hotel makes you feel is what you will remember most.’
The Only UK and Ireland Property with Dual Five-Star Recognition
In 2020 Ashford Castle became Ireland’s first hotel to achieve a Five-Star ranking in the annual honours list. This was followed in 2023 by another first when The Spa at Ashford Castle received Ireland’s first – and remains Ireland’s only – hotel spa to hold a Five-Star FTG ranking. Forbes described The Spa as a ‘modern oasis designed to pamper you like royalty. The Spa at Ashford Castle is the only spa in Ireland to offer the world-renowned Augustinus Bader spa treatments to guests.
Niall Rochford said,
“A Forbes Five-Star ranking is earned through the collective passion, pride, and commitment of our people and I know that the recognition is personal to each member of the Ashford Castle family
“Such a distinguished acknowledgement speaks to the extraordinary and consistent care the team brings to each guest experience and retaining such a prestigious accolade reflects the warm and professional hospitality that defines Ashford Castle.”
The Rigorous Standards Behind the Five-Star Rating
FTG’s ratings are objective, independent and data driven. Incognito inspectors pose as everyday guests – checking in at hotels, taking in spa treatments and dining at fine restaurants. They test hundreds of exacting standards that emphasise exceptional service, which accounts for 70% of a property’s rating. The quality and condition of the facilities account for the remaining 30%.
Beyond these metrics, inspectors assess the intangibles behind a truly remarkable guest experience and whether all of the elements added up to a stay that was unforgettable.
When Forbes Travel Guide’s expert inspectors visit a property, they anonymously test it against up to 900 rigorous standards. While both service and facilities are inspected, Forbes’ Star Rating system places an emphasis on service, for which the staff at Ashford Castle are widely recognised.
Ashford Castle is part of an elite group of luxury hotels in Ireland and around the world that have earned a much-coveted Five-Star Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) ranking. The hotel is set in a spectacular 350-acre estate in Cong, Co. Mayo and is part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection.
