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EFQM NEWSLETTER EXTRACT - OCTOBER 2008

Fáilte Ireland the National Tourism Development Authority was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading component of the Irish economy. Within its charter to promote bestpractice in the tourism and hospitality sector, Fáilte Ireland has implemented its own qualit programme, ‘Optimus’, which includes hotel specific initiatives as well as promoting application for the EFQM levels of Excellence.

Top Irish hotels achieve EFQM accreditation

Fáilte Ireland is delighted that the Maryborough Hotel and Spa, Cork and the Clarion IFSC Hotel, Dublin have achieved accreditation from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Both hotels have progressed to this achievement through Fáilte Ireland’s Optimus programme attaining the top level, the ‘Award of Excellence, in 2006 and
2007 respectively.

JULY 2008 AWARDS - FEATURED ARTICLES FROM PROVINCIAL PAPERS

Brehon & Gleneagle Feature Article - The Kerryman July 2008
Crowne Plaza Dundalk Feature Article - Dundalk Argus July 2008
Days Hotel Galway Feature Article - Connaught Tribune July 2008
Harveys Point & Carlton Redcastle Feature Article - Donegal Democrat July 2008
Killashee & Lemongrass Maynooth Feature Article - Leinster Leader July 2008
Landmark Feature Article - Leitrim Observer July 2008
Tower Waterford Feature Article - Munster Express July 2008.
Trident & Quality Clonakilty Feature Article - Irish Examiner July 2008
Slieve Russell Feature Article - Anglo Celt July 2008

EFQM NEWSLETTER EXTRACT - JANUARY 2008

EFQM PUBLISHES GUIDELINES ON GLOBAL ASSESSMENT
In 2007, the EFQM Community of Practice on Assessment on a Global Scale worked to produce a set of guidelines, and an accompanying set of mini-cases, to support those given the task of implementing assessment across countries or regions. The result is a concise document: "Assessing the global company and other large organisations", which provides an executive overview of why the topic is important and relevant, describes common practice in structuring such assessments and indicates how companies should apply for awards on a multi-region basis.

Higher customer satisfaction produces better returns for industry

Optimus is primarily focused on the customer, providing a framework that enables tourism businesses to improve and sustain their customer service. The programme was developed by Failte Ireland in 2004 to support tourism businesses in becoming more profitable, more efficient and more competitive.

Failte Ireland’s Optimus Awards impacts bottom line profitability. Gross profit 27% better than Irish Hotel Benchmark. Staff Turnover down 31%. Over 300 businesses take part in Optimus Awards

Wednesday 5th July 2006: Businesses accredited with Failte Ireland’s Optimus Award have shown a 27% higher gross operating profit than the Irish Hotel Benchmark, according to an independent economic impact study carried out by Hospitality & Leisure Manpower, announced at today’s awards ceremony in Farmleigh. Optimus is a business management model focused on business excellence specifically designed for the tourism sector.

Sunday Tribune Commercial feature - 'Excellence recognised at Optimus Awards ceremony' (17th Dec2006).

Twenty hospitality businesses were honoured at the recent Failte Ireland Optimus Awards. Barry McCall reports.

Defining the uniqueness of their businesses in the marketplace and translating this into a daily lived reality for guests while maintaining and increasing profitability is the ongoing challenge for Irish hotels in a sector where performance measures and standards are being driven by the best hotels in the world.

In partnership with Fáilte Ireland, Jumeirah, the multi award winning luxury hospitality group, recently hosted some of Ireland’s top hotel & tourism managers for a five day benchmarking visit to Dubai.

Fãilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, provides strategic and practical support to develop and sustain Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourist destination. Its mission is to increase the contribution of tourism to the economy by facilitating the development of a competitive and profitable tourism industry.

Optimus Mark of Best Practice Accredited Hotel beats more than 600 hotels in over 100 countries to win Hotel of the Year award

Mary Buckley, General Manager of the hotel, attended the special awards ceremony at the InterContinental Carlton Cannes where Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport also picked up the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Hotel of the Year for the UK & Ireland Division and then, out of all the divisional winners, was also awarded the overall EMEA Hotel of the Year award said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the 2005 EMEA Hotel of the Year award, and are honoured to have been selected from so many hotels.

Optimus Mark of Best Practice Accredited Hotel named among the '100 Best Workplaces in Europe’

Clontarf Castle, along with fourteen other Irish Organisations, has been named among the ‘100 Best Workplaces in Europe’, which was published on Thursday 18th May 2006 by the Financial Times. This is the second consecutive year that the hotel has achieved this ranking.

ANOTHER OPTIMUS ACCREDITED HOTEL ACHIEVES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE

The Clarion Hotel, IFSC, Dublin 1, has been named as the International Clarion Hotel of the Year by Choice Hotels International, parent company of the Clarion Hotel Brand.

Choice Hotels annually present the Hotel of the Year Award to hotels, which demonstrate excellence in all aspects of their service and operations. The best of each brand internationally is selected by the Choice Hotels' International division, which evaluates the hotels on a variety of factors. This year, the Clarion Hotel Dublin, IFSC, was selected as International Hotel of the Year from over 200 Clarion Hotels worldwide.

" Optimus Accredited Hotel scoops another major Award"

The Crowne Plaza Hotel at Dublin Airport has become the first ever recipient of the new AA award of Business Hotel of the Year. The achievement was announced at the AA Hotel Awards which took place at the Gravity bar in Dublin on Thursday 12th October. The event was attended by leading figures in the Irish hospitality industry including Minister John O’Donoghue.

Recognising excellence within the tourism industry (Sunday Tribune Article July 2006)

A number of companies and organisations involved in Ireland’s tourist industry were awarded earlier this week at the 2006 Optimus awards, which took place in Farmleigh in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Wednesday, July 5. Optimus is now an integral element in the provision of quality service, and the rewards for companies which implement the programme are tangible.

'Optimus companies recognised at January 2006 Awards Ceremony'.

Improved competitiveness in the tourism industry can be realised from best practice innovations and need not be separate from improved profitability, Fáilte Ireland’s Director of Enterprise and Skills Development Aidan Pender said today. A total of 14 hotels were honoured at the Fáilte Ireland national Optimus Awards, in recognition of their achievements in pursuing business excellence. Optimus – Achieving Business Excellence.