They look after fabulous properties and have a keen eye for detail, service and style, so where do some of Ireland’s top hoteliers and general managers holiday? Read the second in our four-part series and bookmark their recommendations for your next trip …
John Brennan, Dromquinna Manor, Co Kerry
Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly, lies 30 miles off the Cornish coast in the English Channel. It is an extremely special place; it’s an island but think Chelsea. The “hotel” consists of over 40 houses – from the outside all typicalbisland houses, but properly luxurious on the inside. There are five restaurants scattered around the island in idyllic locations beside soft golden beaches. It’s also very accessible with bicycle routes and endless paths for meandering through marram grass or to the famous Tresco Gardens; a spa and food store that would give Fortnum and Mason a run for their money! Surrounded by the most spectacular turquoise water, I recommend you kayak, snorkel or take a boat to one of the neighbours for lunch. All that and there’s very little rain as the clouds pass over the low island. Even the Chelsea set escape from their tractors as it is a petroleum-free island. Bliss! @johnbrennankenmare
Eamonn Casey, Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa, Co Wicklow
As a student at Shannon College of Hotel Management, I spent a year as a professional trainee in a five-star hotel in Montreux, Switzerland. The town boasts easy access, with direct flights from Dublin to Geneva and efficient train connections to Montreux, known as the Swiss Riviera and home to the renowned Jazz Festival. Its culinary scene is influenced by its neighbours, France and Italy, though I always opt for an authentic Swiss dining experience, exploring at least one local restaurant! I stay at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, an historic Belle Époque hotel, established in 1906. Its lake-view rooms offer stunning views of Lake Geneva’s shores, and the majestic French and Swiss Alps. From the misty dawn over the lake to the stunning sunsets, Montreux’s scenery always leaves an indelible memory. @powerscourthotel
Adriaan Bartels, Cashel Palace, Co Tipperary
If we are travelling to a particular area, we walways try to find a Relais et Châteaux property, if there is one at the destination. Our most recent standout visit was when we explored the Amalfi coast and visited Borgo Santandrea, Caesar Augustus in Capri and stayed in Il San Pietro in Positano. All three Relais properties offer three very different experiences, yet all were sublime.
As I was born in Kenya, I have a soft spot for two places that we stay in every time we return – Sanctuary Farm in Naivasha and Medina Palms in Watamu on the coast. Both offer a very authentic local African experience – the former brings you into very close contact with the local game and nature, while the latter is an oasis of calm on the Indian Ocean. @adriaan.bartels
Brendan O’Connor, Adare Manor, Co Limerick
My preferred escape is to the incredible Borgo Egnazia hotel in Puglia, Italy. This was an accidental discovery for me when I attended a business event in southern Italy last year. I was as impressed with this region of Puglia as I was with the hotel. I have subsequently returned on a personal visit this summer. The region is accessible with direct flights from Dublin to Bari, and scenic driving routes are abundant, with spectacular coastal towns and beaches. Visits to Polignana a Mare, Lecce (called the Florence of the South) and Monopoli are a must, as is Matera and Sassi for a sunset stroll. @theadaremanor
Fergal O’Connell, Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin
I love New York, having lived there in the 1990s. You can’t beat the hospitality and welcome you get at Fitzpatrick’s Manhattan hotel, where Shane and Chris O’Sullivan always extend a Céad Míle Fáilte. I also like the Pendry Hotel on the West side, a beautiful contemporary hotel located in the Hudson Yards district. The Standard hotel downtown is also a great hotel in a very cool area. This year we explored Dumbo in Brooklyn which has so many great bars and restaurants and, of course, the iconic view of the Brooklyn Bridge. @fitzwilliamhotel
PART ONE: This Is Where Ireland’s Top Hoteliers Stay On Holiday