Mayo golf club recognised at Employer Excellence Awards

IRELAND’S leading tourism businesses have been recognised at the Fáilte Ireland Employer Excellence Awards 2026.

Carne Golf Links in north Mayo scooped the top award for  Best Employer in the activity category.

The awards celebrate businesses who are setting the standard for employee engagement and workplace culture through their participation in Fáilte Ireland’s Employer Excellence Programme.

Speaking at the awards, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said: “The tourism sector is powered by its people, and the Employer Excellence Programme is playing a critical role in ensuring our people are supported, valued and given the opportunity to thrive. The progress we are seeing across the sector, from improved employee engagement to stronger workplace practices, is very encouraging.

“These awards recognise businesses that are leading the way, and I congratulate this year’s winners for their commitment to building a more sustainable and attractive tourism workforce and protecting and promoting our Céad Míle Fáilte.”

Caroline Bocquel, chief executive of Fáilte Ireland, said: “Tourism is, at its core, a people industry, and the quality of our visitor experience is directly shaped by the people who deliver it. The Employer Excellence Awards recognise those businesses that are placing their people at the centre of their success.

“The results we are seeing across the programme are clear evidence that a sustained focus on employee engagement, leadership and workplace culture is delivering real benefits, not only for employees, but for business performance and the wider tourism sector. It is particularly encouraging to see the strong re-engagement from businesses and the continued uplift in results across all levels of organisations.”