Mrs Beatrice Tollman, President and Founder of Red Carnation Hotels, is delighted to announce the company’s acquisition of the five-star luxury hotel Ashford Castle in the west of Ireland.

The South African-born hotelier, last year’s recipient of the Hotelier of the Year at the European Hospitality Awards, commented: “We are thrilled to have Ashford Castle as part of our collection and welcome the whole team to the Red Carnation family.  Like the rest of our hotels, Ashford Castle is an iconic property, in a unique location and with a reputation for luxury and excellence, and we are delighted that we will be bringing some of Red Carnation’s signature touches to it.”

Red Carnation Hotels’ Managing Director Jonathan Raggett continued: “We look forward to working with Ashford’s General Manager Niall Rochford and his excellent team, and also to seeking the best local talent to grow the workforce.  We will be working with local suppliers and partners on a refurbishment programme that will restore this illustrious hotel to its former glory, and build on the fine reputation that the hotel already enjoys.”

Red Carnation Hotels is an award-winning collection of five and four star family-run boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Geneva, Florida, South Africa and now Ireland. Each property has its own individual character and unique location that reflects the local environment, culture and cuisine. They all share the qualities that win Red Carnation so many prestigious awards – splendid luxury, generous hospitality, inventive and traditional cuisine, private art collections, passionate service and loyal staff committed to creating richly rewarding experiences for all their guests.