Lough Erne Resort announces plans to re-open on July 20

The resort’s newly appointed General Manager, Joanne Walsh, said the opening date would be subject to official guidance from The NI Executive and clarification on the level of services that would be permitted.

Ms Walsh said the resort had experienced ‘significant’ enquiry levels since the announcement by Economy Minister Diane Dodds that accommodation providers could open to the public from July 20.

“We’re delighted to announce Lough Erne Resort is working towards re-opening for business from 20th July 2020 and we are now accepting bookings for accommodation and golf with future bookings for dining and events, including weddings,” said Joanne.

“There is no doubt there is a strong pent-up demand for leisure breaks after such a prolonged period of lockdown. Lough Erne Resort occupies a unique 600-acre countryside location where visitors can escape, indulge and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. We believe this – coupled with our new, heightened focus on guest wellbeing – will make us a strong choice as a very different summer holiday location over the coming months.”

Lough Erne Resort has also announced it is set to unveil a new range of experiential packages that continue to focus on Golf, Wellness and Wellbeing. Guests will also be encouraged to go outdoors and embrace the outstanding natural beauty surrounding the resort, whilst in the kitchen, award-winning executive chef, Noel McMeel has created a range of new menus that reflect his long-standing commitment to seasonal local produce.

A new guest care and wellbeing ‘Promise’ has also been created to give staff and guests confidence around social distancing and resort hygiene.

Within the promise are commitments around:

· Staff and Guest temperature checking

· Advance check-ins and express check-outs

· The introduction of a new Guest Care and Wellbeing Team

· The provision of single-use items like menus and condiments, as well as heightened hygiene systems and availability of hand-sanitiser units throughout.

· One-way flow systems for food and beverage services

· Limitations on the use of elevators

Joanne Walsh – who was one of the original management team when Lough Erne Resort opened its doors in 2007 - said she believed Northern Ireland was poised for a strong uplift in Staycations.

She added: “Lough Erne Resort has always retained a strong staycation market and our view is that 2020 will truly become the year of the Staycation for the market as a whole. In the past 24 hours we have received bookings for a three week stay in one of our suites, two five day stays in our luxury self-catering lodges and a number of other enquiries around multiple night stays from guests throughout the island of Ireland. So far, it’s been very encouraging.

“Our wedding business, which is a crucial element in our overall offering, has retained its bookings and is also showing strong signs of recovery with several weddings secured following ‘virtual tours of the resort’ during lockdown. Golf membership enquiries have risen too. We realise these are early days, but these are nonetheless very positive signs for the resort, Fermanagh and our industry as a whole.”

For information on Lough Erne Resort log on to www.lougherneresort.com

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you