16 awards presented to participants in Employer Excellence programme
Tourism businesses leading in employee engagement and workplace culture have been recognised at the Fáilte Ireland Employer Excellence Awards 2026. The awards celebrate businesses creating great workplaces that attract and retain talent, supporting a strong and sustainable tourism sector.
The Outstanding Commitment to Employer Excellence award was presented to Great National Hotels and Resorts, recognising sustained dedication to embedding best in class people practices and consistently high levels of employee engagement over time. The Excellence Breakthrough Award was presented to Talbot Hotel Cork, recognising the most significant improvement in employee engagement in a single year and highlighting the impact of focused leadership in strengthening workplace culture and employee experience in their business.
Since its launch in 2022, Fáilte Ireland’s Employer Excellence Programme has supported over 300 businesses and positively influenced more than 30,000 employees nationwide, helping to strengthen employee engagement, improve retention and enhance workplace practices.
The 16 winning businesses are:
| Award Name | Winning Business | County |
| Best Employer - Activity | Carne Golf Links | Mayo |
| Best Employer - Attraction | The National Wax Museum | Dublin |
| Best Employer: Communication and Involvement | Talbot Suites at Stonebridge | Wexford |
| Best Employer: Culture and Work Environment | The Hoban | Kilkenny |
| Best Employer: Dublin | Aspect Hotel Park West | Dublin |
| Best Employer: Employee Development | The Gateway Hotel | Louth |
| Best Employer: Fairness | PREM Group | Dublin |
| Best Employer: Food and Drink | Orso Kitchen & Bar | Cork |
| Best Employer: Hotel / Venue | The Bedford Townhouse | Limerick |
| Best Employer: Ireland's Ancient East | Smithwick's Experience Kilkenny | Kilkenny |
| Best Employer: Ireland's Hidden Heartlands | Slieve Russell Hotel | Cavan |
| Best Employer: Management and Leadership | Aspect Hotel Park West | Dublin |
| Best Employer: Travel Company | Vagabond Tours of Ireland | Wicklow |
| Best Employer: Wild Atlantic Way | Hotel Woodstock | Clare |
| Excellence Breakthrough Award | Talbot Hotel Cork | Cork |
| Outstanding Commitment to Employer Excellence | Great National Hotels and Resorts | Clare |
Speaking at the awards, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said:
“The tourism sector is powered by its people, and the Employer Excellence Programme is playing a critical role in ensuring our people are supported, valued and given the opportunity to thrive. The progress we are seeing across the sector, from improved employee engagement to stronger workplace practices, is very encouraging. These awards recognise businesses that are leading the way, and I congratulate this year’s winners for their commitment to building a more sustainable and attractive tourism workforce, and protecting and promoting our Céad Míle Fáilte.”
Caroline Bocquel, Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland said:
“Tourism is, at its core, a people industry, and the quality of our visitor experience is directly shaped by the people who deliver it. The Employer Excellence Awards recognise those businesses that are placing their people at the centre of their success. The results we are seeing across the programme are clear evidence that a sustained focus on employee engagement, leadership and workplace culture is delivering real benefits, not only for employees, but for business performance and the wider tourism sector. It is particularly encouraging to see the strong re-engagement from businesses and the continued uplift in results across all levels of organisations.”
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Fáilte Ireland Employer Excellence programme
A programme to strengthen employee engagement and workplace culture across tourism businesses, with management upskilling and HR support.