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Donegal hotel spas to be classified 27.03.07

Inishowen’s three hotel spas are to categorised under a Failte Ireland scheme to set down formal criteria in the growing ‘Health and Wellness’ tourism sector.
The Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa, the Inishowen Gateway Hotel’s Seagrass Centre and the Carlton Redcastle Hotel and Thalasso Spa, are among 140 spas in Ireland earmarked for classification in four new categories – health farm, destination spa, resort spa or hotel spa.
The move is part of Failte Ireland’s €540m tourism strategy that includes measures for regulation of the growing spa industry.
The State tourism authority, concerned that consumers don’t know what to expect from Irish spa resorts, has appointed consultants Hospitality Design Associates to conduct a full review of the country’s‘Health and Wellness’ retreats.
Redcastle Hotel and Thalasso Spa
A Failte Ireland spokesperson told InishowenNews.com the new system was being introduced because of the huge growth in the number of spa resorts around Ireland in recent years.
A tourism industry working group was formed last year to work with Fáilte Ireland on a new brand positioning for the ‘Health and Wellness’ sector and the development of a new categorisation system.
The new system will help consumers differentiate between what each resort is offering in terms of facilities and treatments.
It will also create a foundation for defining ‘clear standards’.
Every spa in the country will be assessed in the coming months. When assessments are complete, a brochure and website will be prepared, containing a list of all spas by category. This will then be used in all marketing and promotional activities at home and abroad.
While the scheme is voluntary, it is expected that most of the industry will sign up to it. In so doing, they can avail of a special spa marketing budget paid for under the Failte Ireland scheme.
A spokesperson for the luxury Carlton Redcastle Hotel and Thalasso spa on the banks of Lough Foyle, said: “We welcome the new spa categorisation initiative as it will allow the customer to differentiate the spa offering nationwide.”
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