2022 Finalists

Representatives from tourism businesses and organisations across Northern Ireland gathered on Thursday 6th October to recognise the efforts made by the industry over the last two years, celebrate excellence and look to the future.

Staged in the Grand Ballroom of the Slieve Donard Resort, Tourism NI’s inaugural Giant Spirit Awards, which have replaced the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards, were sponsored by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and received a record number of entries.

The full list of shortlisted entries for this year’s NI Giant Spirit Awards, including winner and highly commended results, is below:

Please see finalists listed under each category below –

Accommodation Categories

Best Hotel

Finalists:

  • Winner – Best Western Plus White Horse Hotel, Derry~Londonderry
  • Highly Commended – The Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint
  • Finalist – Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry~ Londonderry
  • Finalist – Clayton Hotel, Belfast
  • Finalist – Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

Best B&B / Guest House

Finalists:

  • Winner – Blackrock House Luxury B&B, Portrush, Co. Antrim
  • Highly Commended – Brook Lodge Guesthouse, Magherafelt
  • Finalist – Kiltariff Hall Country House, Rathfriland, Co. Down

Best Self-Catering

Finalists: (Medium / Large)

  • Winner – Dunamoy Cottages and Spa, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim
  • Highly Commended – Larchfield Estate, Lisburn, Co. Antrim

Finalists: (Small / Micro)

  • Winner – Keenaghan Cottage, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh
  • Highly Commended – Quarry Hill Church, Strangford, Co. Down
  • Finalist – Aurora North Coast, Bushmills, Co. Antrim
  • Finalist – Coastguard Boat House, Whiteabbey, Co. Antrim

Experience Categories

NI’s Best Tourism Experience

Finalists: (Medium / Large)

  • Winner – Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, Co. Down
  • Finalist – Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry
  • Finalist – Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, Co. Down
  • Finalist – National Museums NI – Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh
  • Finalist – The Spa at Galgorm, Galgorm, Co. Antrim
  • Finalist – Titanic Belfast, Belfast

Finalists: (Small / Micro)

  • Winner – Cranfield Alpacas, Kilkeel, , Co. Down
  • Highly Commended – Portrush Surf School, Portrush, Co. Antrim
  • Finalist – Bakehouse, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry
  • Finalist – Carlingford Lough Ferry, Greencastle, Co. Down
  • Finalist – Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Water Sports, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh
  • Finalist – Lough Neagh Artisans, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry

NI Best Food and Drink Experience

Finalists: (Medium / Large)

  • Winner – Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh
  • Finalist – Fish City, Belfast
  • Finalist – Friels Bar & Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry
  • Finalist – Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, Co. Down

Finalists: (Small / Micro)

  • Winner – The Chocolate Manor, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry
  • Highly Commended – Taste and Tour, Belfast
  • Finalist – NearyNógs Stone Ground Chocolate, Kilkeel, Co. Down
  • Finalist – NI Food Tours Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Killinchy, Co. Down
  • Finalist – Walled City Brewery, Derry~Londonderry

Innovation

NI’s Most Innovative Business (Open to All)

Finalists: (Medium / Large)

  • Winner – Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry
  • Highly Commended – Visit Derry, Derry~Londonderry
  • Finalist – Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry
  • Finalist – Further Space, Northern Ireland wide – multiple locations
  • Finalist – Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

Finalists: (Micro / Small)

  • Winner – The Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down
  • Highly Commended – Banana Block, Urban Scale Interventions (USI), Belfast
  • Finalist – Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Water Sports, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh
  • Finalist – NearyNógs Stone Ground Chocolate, Kilkeel, Co. Down
  • Finalist – Paul Cunningham Mourne Larder, Co. Down
  • Finalist – Tumble Circus, Belfast

Individual

NI’s Most Promising Student

This is a new category – open to any tourism or hospitality business with an individual on student placement or work experience undertaken through further/higher education establishments. This will be a joint award presented to the winning student and employer.

 

2022 Shortlisted Finalists:

  • Winner – Titanic Hotel – Jordan Sloan
  • Finalist – Hastings Hotels – Marisa King
  • Finalist – The Bakery by Yellow Door – Emma Jayne McCartney

Local Spirit Award

This category is designed for an individual tourism and hospitality professional in Northern Ireland. Entries are both self-nominated or nominated by Industry, Stakeholders and Councils.

 

2022 Shortlisted Finalists –

  • Winner – Mary McGee – Mid Ulster District Council
  • Winner – Mick Boyle – Killeavy Castle Estate
  • Finalist – Jamese McCloy – Mid Ulster Cluster Group
  • Finalist – Jamie Hamill – Coleraine BID