The AA announce new red-star hotel awards

The AA awarded red stars to nine new hotels at last night’s AA Hospitality Awards, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Two hotels – The Merchant Hotel in Belfast and the Corinthia Hotel in London – were awarded the AA’s most prestigious hotel rating, five red stars.

Gavin Carroll, general manager of the Merchant Hotel, which became the first and only hotel in Northern Ireland to receive five red stars, said: “This award is only achieved by hotels that meet the highest international standards and we are thrilled and honoured to receive the first and only AA Five Red Star Award in Northern Ireland.

“I’m extremely proud of all of our staff that have shown such passion and dedication to meet the first-class standards needed in every area of the hotel to achieve the highly coveted award.”