Search begins for Northern Ireland’s best holiday lets as new Showcase Awards launch to celebrate the finest properties across the UK and Ireland

Holiday homeowners in Northern Ireland are being invited to enter a new awards scheme launched this week by leading holiday letting agency holidaycottages.co.uk. The Showcase Awards have been designed to celebrate excellence in the self-catering industry across the UK and Ireland.

Kevin McCloud, the renowned broadcaster, author and architectural designer, has been announced as the headline expert judge for the Showcase Awards. Working alongside a wider panel of judges from Travel Chapter, the parent company of holidaycottages.co.uk, Kevin’s involvement brings a high level of scrutiny and prestige to the awards. He will personally select winners for five top-tier owner-nominated categories that represent the pinnacle of holiday home design and experience.

Throughout March, owners with properties marketed by holidaycottages.co.uk are invited to submit their entries across 13 different categories. These include Best in the UK & Ireland Overall, Best Renovation or Transformation, Most Iconic Design, Sustainable Stay of the Year, as well as picking the winner of the Extraordinary Stays Collection. Each of these categories will provide a platform for entrants to showcase the truly unique qualities of their property, from architectural merit to exceptional guest hospitality.

Holiday homeowners in Northern Ireland are also invited to nominate their properties for a range of themed collections that celebrate properties excelling in specific niches. These include the Canine Collection, Coastal Collection, Family and Friends Collection, Countryside Collection, Glamping Collection, Lodges Collection, Experience Collection, and the Ultimate View Collection.

Talking about his involvement in judging the awards, Kevin said: "I’m excited to be part of the inaugural Showcase Awards. They celebrate the remarkable creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity of holiday property owners across the UK and Ireland. They also shine a spotlight on the very best in design, sustainability, and guest experience within the self-catering industry and promote the concept of the low-carbon holiday - a fantastic idea. I’m looking forward to being inspired by the entries and I’m intrigued to learn the stories behind these exceptional properties.”

Paul Young, Head of Owner Marketing at holidaycottages.co.uk, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to launch the Showcase Awards, which celebrates some of the UK and Ireland’s finest holiday lets. With a portfolio of over 16,000 properties, the awards are a fantastic way to recognise the clear passion and hard work that so many owners put into making their properties a memorable stay for guests at both a national and regional level. Whether it’s beautiful renovations, iconic designs, or welcoming stays that keep guests coming back, we urge every owner working with us in Northern Ireland to enter for a chance to be recognised among the best in the self-catering industry.”

Alongside owner-nominated entries, the Showcase Awards will feature a further 14 data-driven categories that highlight properties excelling through both performance metrics and authentic guest experiences. Winners in these categories will be determined by a combination of internal insights—such as occupancy levels, longevity, and overall popularity—and feedback direct from guests themselves.

Recognising exceptional achievement, these categories will include Most Loved (awarded to a property that is consistently rated 5 stars by guests), Longstanding (celebrating an enduring favourite in the portfolio), Rising Star (for a new property making a big impression on guests), Repeat Retreat (recognising a let with a high rate of returning guests), and the Guests’ Choice award (the property that achieves the best balance of high ratings and overwhelmingly positive guest feedback).

The awards will also spotlight regional excellence, with further data-led categories dedicated to top properties in the South West, East of England, South Coast, Heart of England, North of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The winners of each category will receive a stunning award to display in their property, while all shortlisted properties, finalists and winners will be mentioned in dedicated blogs on holidaycottages.co.uk, showcasing to holidaymakers that their chosen stay is a best-in-class property. This mark of quality will help properties in Northern Ireland differentiate themselves to potential guests looking for guaranteed quality and memorable stays.

Owners interested in entering or to learn more about the awards scheme, visit the website here.