Tourism Ireland welcomes news that Ireland has been named ‘Best Luxury Newcomer Destination’

A luxury travel magazine, Connoisseur Circle, has named Ireland the winner of the ‘Best Luxury Newcomer Destination’ at the Connoisseur Circle Hospitality Awards 2023. The announcement was made during the recent ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market) in Cannes.

Connoisseur Circle is a well-established luxury travel magazine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Luxury hotels and destinations around the world are put to the test and evaluated for luxury travellers by a jury of respected travel journalists and industry experts who decides on the nominees and winners; in addition, Connoisseur Circle readers can vote for their favourites in the "Readers' Choice" categories. These awards were established in 2006 and are now among the most prestigious awards in the luxury travel industry. 

Accepting the award, Louise Finnegan, Tourism Ireland’s Acting Central Marketing Director, said: “I’m really delighted that Ireland has been named ‘Best Luxury Newcomer Destination’ in this year’s prestigious Connoisseur Circle Hospitality Awards. It is particularly good news, as we’ve just unveiled our new luxury proposition: ‘Ireland, where luxury comes naturally’. Our message is that whether you’re relaxing in an outdoor spa pool on the shores of a lough, enjoying delicious oysters in Connemara or even riding horses on a beach at sunset, there is no better place than the island of Ireland to revive the spirit and refill the heart.

“Luxury travellers have tremendous choice and the highest expectations, which makes it more important than ever for us to ensure that the island of Ireland stands out from other luxury destinations. This award gives Tourism Ireland another wonderful hook to highlight Ireland as a world-class luxury destination. Working in partnership with our industry partners at home and with our luxury travel buyer partners overseas, we look forward to inspiring luxury travellers to choose the island of Ireland in 2024 and beyond.”

Louise Finnegan, Tourism Ireland (left); accepting the award for Ireland from Simone Dressler, Connoisseur Circle, in Cannes.