Ireland Active National Quality Standard Awards for 2020 recognise top Irish Leisure, Fitness & Hotel Leisure Facilities

 Ireland Active, the representative body for the Leisure, Health & Fitness Industry, awarded the top Leisure, Fitness and Hotel Leisure facilities across the country at the National Quality Standard Awards (NQSA) at the annual awards ceremony on 8^th November at Johnstown Estate, Co. Meath.

The NQSA, is the most sought-after and respected accolade in the leisure and fitness industry, and is awarded to facilities that meet the operational standards for leisure and fitness facilities across 250 quality-based criteria. The standard is designed to encourage continuous improvement within the sector and recognises facilities for their remarkable standards in the areas of safety, hygiene, customer service and human resources. The NQSA are the only industry specific award for the leisure, health and fitness sector in Ireland.

Awarded to 98 facilities nationwide this year, the awards are designed to acknowledge excellence in the Leisure, Fitness and Hotel Leisure facilities. The overall winners in five main categories who were recognised for their high standards across safety, hygiene, customer engagement and human resources:

• Portarlington Leisure Centre, Co. Laois- ‘Best Leisure Facility’
• Clann Fitness, Pillo Hotel, Co. Meath-
• WIT Arena, Co. Waterford- ‘Best Fitness Facility’
• Center Parcs, Co. Longford- ‘Best Newcomer Facility’
• DLR Leisure Meadowbrook, Co. Dublin- ‘Most Improved Facility’

The fitness industry has grown hugely in recent years and employs an estimated 9,000 people generating more than €300 million for the Irish economy each year.

Damien English TD, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, who is a keen Marathon runner, opened the awards with the following remarks ‘As people across the country make the decision to get more active, keep fit and lead healthier lives it is encouraging to see the sector respond by continuing to improve the standard of facilities on offer. I am delighted to be associated with Ireland Active in recognising and rewarding their members for their efforts in having the best leisure and fitness facilities for people to enjoy’.

Speaking on the event, Conn McCluskey, CEO, Ireland Active said: “We are delighted for our members receiving their National Quality Standard Award, which is just reward for all the effort they have put in during the year. The awards serve to recognise the deserving recipients for their hard work in setting the bar for the highest level of standards possible in their leisure, fitness and hotel leisure facilities who play such a significant role in the health and well-being of the country. We are thrilled to acknowledge each facility for their outstanding accomplishments in the areas of safety, hygiene, customer engagement and human resources.”

Ireland Active is the national association for the leisure, health and fitness sector and represent over 300 publicly and privately-owned leisure centres, gyms, swimming pools, fitness education providers and recreation facilities nationwide. An estimated 450,000 Irish people are members of leisure, health & fitness facilities right across Ireland. The industry employs approximately 9,000 people generating an estimated €300m to the Irish economy each year.

Winners of the National Quality Standard Awards for 2019:

Award Levels- Level 1: Achieved, Level 2: Exceeded, Level 3: Outstanding

Leisure Awards

Hotel Leisure Awards

Fitness Facility Awards