Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa - Reintroduces €10,000 Wedding Competition for 2011
The Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa has just announced that it plans to run it's €10,000 wedding competition again, for the third time for couples getting married in 2011. The Hotel admits that it was persuaded to run the competition again by the sheer demand by couples booking their wedding in 2011.
All you have to do to be with a chance to win your €10,000 reception at the 4 Star Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa for up to 200 guests is to book your wedding for 2011 at the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa. You will then be entered into the draw to win the wedding reception reception of your dreams worth €10,000. Deposits are non refundable and must be paid in full before entries to draw is valid. For further information, contact our wedding co-ordinator on 00353 (0) 74937 8146 or e mail sales@ballyliffinlodge.com
Magherafelt Couple Win €10,000 Wedding at Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa
Magherafelt couple Deirdre Scullion and Bryan Mc Cann are celebrating today after being drawn as the 2010 winners of the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa €10,000 wedding competition.
Deirdre, the bride to be said, “Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa was the first and only hotel that we looked at to book our wedding. We fell in love with the location being set on the coast and the hotel itself is a stunning venue. Breda made us feel very welcome and comfortable when we had our appointment and we knew that the staff of Ballyliffin would look after us and our guests on the big day!!
She added, “Neither Bryan or myself have ever had any luck in competitions before so we hadn’t even discussed what winning would mean to us as we never imagined that we would have a chance with so many couples entering the draw! When our names were called out we were both in complete shock, as you might see from the photographs. Winning this draw has been such a fantastic help to our wedding plans, we have both been saving so hard for our dream day and to have Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa pay for our reception is a dream come true. We are even more excited about our wedding day now, thanks to the generosity of the Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa Hotel. It is just fantastic. A dream come true.”
The couple who got engaged in Las Vegas in September 2008, plan to wed on 8 October 2010 at the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa.
Cecil Doherty, Managing Director of the 40 bedroom hotel said, The Ballyliffin Lodge opened its doors in June 2005 and quickly established itself as one of the leading hotels in Donegal. We have had wedding enquiries from around the world but in the past two years we have come to understand more the greater financial concerns for couples getting married so we decided to introduce new €35 menus and our €10,000 wedding reception competition.
He added, “ The response to the competition has been such, that we have decided to re-introduce it for 2011 wedding couples. This will be the third year for the competition but we have found from talking to couples, that there is nothing quite like it out there and couples are requesting we continue with it. So book your wedding for 2011 and you will be entered into the draw to win your wedding reception worth €10,000. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all our sponsors, without whom this competition would not be possible.”
For further information, please call Siobhan on 00353 74 937 8200 or e mail sales@ballyliffinlodge.com.
Wedding Menus from ONLY €35 pp
The hotel prides itself on being one of the best wedding venues in Ireland, offering only one wedding per day to ensure all our couples get the attention and the service they deserve on the biggest day of their lives.
The Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa have just launched our New Wedding Menu from ONLY €35.00 per person leaving the average price for a wedding for 200 persons at only €7000. Terms & Conditions Apply. Prices are applicable from 1 January 2010. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.
Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa Executive Chef Takes home 2 Gold & 1 Silver Medals from Catex 2009
Executive Chef at the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa, Kwanghi Chan, is celebrating again after winning 2 Gold’s and 1 Silver Medal at Catex 2009, one of the world’s most prominent culinary competitions. Over 700- chefs from around Europe competed in the 3 day competition in the RDS last week for Gold, Silver, Bronze and Certs of Merit, giving this show real international relevance and recognition.
Irish culinary team captain and executive chef at the Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa Kwanghi Chan said: "We were proud to represent Ireland at this prestigious event. The competition was stiff – we were competing directly against teams from Britain, Scotland, Germany, Wales and Ireland. The standard is high with a judging panel consisting of every nationality. The team performed magnificently under pressure producing a display buffet and serving a three course lunch for 70 covers using fresh Irish produce in the Restaurant of Nations We wanted to assist in Promoting Irish pork – instilling confidence back in to the public so we decided that our main course dish consisted of Irish Pork."
In the end, Kwanghi and the Irish team went on to win the overall gold in the hot kitchen, which led to the overall winner of the restaurant of nations competition and also wining the overall hygiene award from EIQA (excellence Ireland quality association).
Kwanghi added, ‘It is great that we are progressing as a team and we are already planning ahead for our next competitions in 2009 and 2010 which include Moscow, Russia Luxemburg,(the culinary world cup) and maybe Chicago ,USA and Chile, before making our way back to the culinary Olympics in Germany in 2012.
................
13 October 2008 PRESS RELEASE
Donegal Chef off to 2008 Culinary Olympics
Kwanghi Chan, Executive Chef at the 4 Star Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa will join chefs from more than 40 different countries to take part in the 2008 Culinary Olympics in Germany next month.
Organised by the German Chefs Association, the IKA Culinary Olympics is the largest culinary exhibition in the world with one of the biggest international cooking contests. This competition includes a hot kitchen section (or live cooking) where participants have to prepare an elaborate meal with several courses and a cold platter show, an art form that is virtually exclusive to competitions. The participants in the culinary contest vie against one another in various disciplines and categories, as a team or individuals, in national or regional teams, as junior chefs or chefs of any age. The national team contest is without doubt the highlight.
This year Kwanghi and 24 others who make up the Irish team will head off to the IKA Culinary Olympics in search of a gold medal. Although only 31, Kwanghi is no newcomer to the international cooking arena having already achieved a Silver Olympic Medal as a junior, and placed 2nd in the world in the culinary world cup in Luxembourg in 2000, and the over all junior grand prix winner in hotelympia culinary competition London.
After achieving a BSC degree in International Culinary Arts from TVU London, Kwanghi has not only worked in a number of quality food establishments but has also trained for the past 10 years with the Irish culinary team in order to achieve a level to compete on an international stage as a senior team member.
Kwanghi says, ‘I’m 31 years of age now so I really have another 2 chances to achieve an Olympic gold medal before retiring from competing on an international level. Our team of five chefs, (including myself who will be making the main course), will be cooking a 3 course meal menu for 110 people from scratch in a glass kitchen, with the best chefs in the world walking in and out of the kitchen judging every single technique and work practices. Having to concentrate on what you are doings whilst also recognising that you are representing your country is what I call working under pressure.
He added, ‘We are really prepared and looking forward to success this time in Germany. There has been great support from the team management and sponsors in making this possible, from equipment to product source to make sure that every thing is well organized. I am also extremely grateful to the Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa hotel for their support and I look forward to bringing my experience to my home “Donegal both at the Lodge and the Sandy bay resort in the future.
Today the chef' parade in Erfurt symbolises more than just a cookery contest. It is a stage for international culinary art, a platform where know-how is exchanged, information about training and further training passed on and where chefs from all over the world, have the opportunity to meet personally.
.........
BALLYLIFFIN LODGE AND SPA CELEBRATES WHITE FLAG AWARD
Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa is celebrating again today after being awarded the coveted white flag award for their state of the art leisure centre making it the only leisure centre in Inishowen and Derry to hold such a quality award.
The White Flag Award is the only comprehensive Quality Award for Leisure Facilities in Ireland which recognises high standards of excellence in health and leisure facilities in Ireland. The award which was set up and regulated by ILAM, the Irish Leisure Industry body for all Sports, Fitness, Aquatic, Outdoor, Health Spas and Associated Facilities is the must have award of all leisure facilities if they wish to provide a premium product and service to their customers.
Now in its 8th year, it has established itself as the ‘quality mark’ that all leisure facilities must strive to achieve and is endorsed by Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation.
Killian Fisher, Chief Executive of ILAM commented: "The White Flag Award has become an essential mark of quality within the health and leisure industry.
A leisure facility can reach a very high standard, offering the best possible service, without resorting to major structural changes. The White Flag Award ensures key criteria are maintained and that high standards are met.
Awards were presented last week by FAI Technical Director Packie Bonner, Eamonn Quigley, ILAM President and RTE's Michael Lyster at a gala awards ceremony in The Strand Hotel, Limerick.
Tara Mc Connelogue, Leisure Centre Manager at the Lodge Fitness club, pictured receiving her award from Packie Bonner and Eamonn Quigley, said,' ’There are over 100 public sector and 500 private sector facilities throughout Ireland and yet only 17% have attained a White Flag Award for 2008/2009. We are all delighted that we have received the White Flag Award for the Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa. All the months of hard work has paid off and now we just plan to keep up the high standards we have set since opening the premises 3 ½ years ago so that we offer all our customers a first class product and service every time they visit the club.
.............
Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa achieves 4-star award
Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa staff are celebrating today after the hotel received official confirmation of its '4 star' grading from Failte Ireland Notification of the new rating comes just two years after the hotels official opening and is the result of a 4 year, €10 million investment programme, which will continue to support the improvement of the facilities and services offered in the hotel
The 40 bedroom luxury hotel and spa opened in June 2005 and quickly established itself as one of the leading hotels in Donegal, renowned for its character, charm and exceptional service. Designed and built to luxury four star hotel standards, Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel & Spa with its fabulous Spa and Leisure facilities and award winning restaurant brings an unrivalled blend of attributes which continues to attract visitors to Donegal from around the world
The Four Star rating is acknowledgement by Failte Ireland of the superior levels of service provided at the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa as well as the superior grade of furnishings, general decor and concierge service.
General Manager, Tony Mc Dermott comments on the award: ‘I am thrilled that we have finally received notice of our award. It has been a long journey for both myself and my staff and I am really proud of the way in which every single member of the team has risen to this challenge, and embraced the changes we made to satisfy the inspectors’ requirements and meet the rigorous criteria.’
He added ‘The star ratings basically reflect the overall quality of the experience that each guest receives. It has always been our objective to guarantee a minimum 4 star approach to everything we do at the hotel, and this will continue.’
The Ballyliffin Lodge and Spa, which is located on the Inishowen coastline has spectacular panoramic views of the golden sands of Pollan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. taking in the world famous Ballyliffin Golf Club; It is a popular choice for Spa breaks, weddings, corporate functions and golf breaks with large numbers of guests visiting from Europe and America to experience Irish hospitality at its best.
