New standard for quirky tourist options

Fáilte Ireland have launched a quality standard for quirky, innovative or unusual tourist accommodation like glamping, lighthouses, pods, and log cabins.

The new ‘Welcome Standard’ has been introduced in recognition of significant changes in both consumer tastes and the range of accommodation types now available in Ireland.

According to Fáilte Ireland, the benchmark will bring more tourism operators into the industry’s “approved” family as complimentary additions to existing traditional tourism accommodation stock such as hotels and B&Bs.

Businesses which are judged to have attained the Welcome Standard will be allowed to display the standard’s logo on their property and marketing material. These businesses will also be featured prominently in Fáilte Ireland marketing activities, including the Discover Ireland website. Eighty operators have already signed up.

Chairman of Fáilte Ireland Michael Cawley said the new standard was for businesses that provided a high-quality offering to tourists but who do not fit within the current quality standards offered by Fáilte Ireland.

“Through an easy-to- understand set of criteria focused on what the business has chosen to offer its guests, the approval process provides a robust and rigorous examination of all aspects of the customer journey to ensure that the business in question is providing a top-class service,” he said.

Emilia, aged 5 and Sam, aged 6, Walsh from Dun Laoighaire

Launching the new standard, Tourism Minister Michael Ring said it would reassure tourists that the service they were getting was of the highest standard.

“The Welcome Standard will provide added reassurance to tourists when making their plans to come here through a simple and recognisable symbol guaranteeing quality, professionalism, friendliness and comfort.

“The standard will also encourage many new types of accommodation providers to examine their offer and ensure it meets the standards expected by the modern tourist.”

Examples of businesses which have qualified under the new scheme include:

• Caravantasia — a new glamping (“glamorous camping”) site in Tipperary on a 23-acre farm in a very quiet spot in the bottom of a valley, with views of the Galtee mountains.
• Clover Cabin — a luxurious, Scandinavian styled, self-catering log cabin available to rent in Gowran in Kilkenny set in a beautiful, peaceful, three acre woodland garden.
• Rock Farm — a boutique campsite and outdoor activity centre based on an organic farm on the Slane Castle Estate.
• Pod Umna Village — a glamping site arranged as a village where guests stay in wooden ‘Pods’ in the town of Portumna in south-east Galway.