*Bernard Cahill, Head of Impact and Brand- Armada, Frank Minogue, GM – Armada, John Feeney, Chief Executive of Corporate and Commercial Banking at Bank of Ireland, Noralynne Murrihy – Director of Rooms- Armada. Photograph: Julian Behal
THE ARMADA HOTEL in Spanish Point has been named as the local business of the year at the Irish Times Business Awards.
Community impact, resilience and commitment to sustainability as Ireland’s first B Corp-certified hotel were among the reasons why the Armada took the accolade. Winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges chaired by Anne Sheehan, Executive at Microsoft.
Owner of the Armada John Burke spoke of the meaning behind the award in demonstrating the resilience of hotels to overcome challenges and the hospitality industry’s creativity and innovation in navigating adversity.
Burke stated, “At the Armada, we take immense pride in what we achieve every day, but we also see endless potential to further develop and enhance our standards. We are deeply rooted in a community we are proud to belong to, and we recognise that without the support of this community especially in the early days we wouldn’t be where we are today”.
He said, “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Armada team. We are fortunate to have a talented and diverse team of over 200 people, with 80% living locally and actively contributing to the social and economic vitality of the area”.
As Ireland’s first B Corp certified hotel, The Armada has been enabled to set new standards in hospitality. The B Corp certification emphasises environmental sustainability and social impact. “We chose the B Corp framework because it challenges us to go beyond profitability and focus on creating a positive impact on our community and environment. We feel it holds us accountable while encouraging transparency about areas we are still working to improve,” John explained.
A standout aspect of the hotel’s B Corp journey has been its contribution to local economic development. 80% of its staff residing within ten kilometres of the hotel and 76% of its 248 suppliers located within a 100 kilometre radius. Burke commented, “Our people and place are what make us unique. I believe our team’s warmth and their dedication to go above and beyond for customers are some of the reasons our guests return”.
Its commitment to the community was evident during Storm Éowyn when it offered accommodation to vulnerable individuals, provided showers to over 500 people, and created a welcoming lounge and leisure space with refreshments for the local community.
The Irish Times Business Awards are held in association with Bank of Ireland. The award was presented at a prestigious ceremony in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin.
Recently, the Armada secured first place across all categories of Irish hotels for sustainability at the Gold Medal Awards for the Irish hospitality industry. It took second place among Ireland’s four-star hotels, and third place for casual dining with its Ocean Bar.
