The Rose Hotel in Tralee, Co. Kerry celebrated another success at the recent Gold Medal Awards when it was named as Ireland’s Favourite Place to Stay in Munster.
The Gold Medal Awards, which are widely regarded as the pinnacle of excellence in Irish hospitality, honour the very best in the industry and The Rose Hotel is right up there with the best of them. It is the latest in a long list of prestigious accolades the 4-star spa hotel has received in recent times, sitting proudly alongside the 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, which ranked The Rose Hotel 19th in Ireland, 2025 CIE Tours Awards of Excellence Merit Award, 2024 Irish Golf Tour Operators (IGTO) Service Excellence Award for Peter Murphy from Dott’s Bar, and 2024 Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) Kerry Branch Employee of the Year for receptionist Maud Dowd.
All of these awards recognise The Rose Hotel’s unwavering commitment to offering an unrivalled guest experience.
“We are extremely proud of our achievements which are down to our team’s outstanding service, exceptional performance and dedication to hospitality,” General Manager Mark Sullivan enthuses.
“We’d be nothing without them. Our tag line is ‘Kerry hospitality at its best’ which we strive to deliver every day. We know how important it is to create lasting memories, and we’re here to ensure that every moment of our guest’s stay is special.”
Boasting 161 guest rooms, The Rose Hotel is ideally located close to Tralee town centre with the backdrop of the Slieve Mish Mountains. It is the perfect base from which to explore Tralee and Kerry’s Wild Atlantic Way. Within walking distance of the hotel, you can visit Siamsa Tire, Kerry County Museum & Medieval Experience, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre & Nature Reserve or enjoy family time at The Aquadome – Ireland’s largest indoor water world.
Within easy access of the hotel, you can also discover the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry or play golf at the world-acclaimed Tralee Golf Club. Situated on the rugged Atlantic coast of Ireland’s south-west, it is a unique combination of traditional seaside golf links and the world-famous scenery of the Kingdom. The Rose Hotel team ensures their guests have all the information they need to discover the Wild Atlantic Way, local hidden gems and much more besides.
The Rose Hotel is a beautiful story which stems from owners Dick and Eibhlin Henggeler’s love for their daughter and Ireland. And how a tragic loss led to an exceptional hotel created by a labour of love. Originally from nearby Killarney, Eibhlin (nee Moriarty) met Dick in Texas. As their family grew, they found themselves living in a dozen different places in America and Europe. However, Ireland was always home and every summer they returned to Kerry.
Their daughter, Dorothy (Dott), grew to have the same love of Ireland as her mother. The highlight of Dott’s life was becoming the Washington DC Rose and attending The Rose of Tralee Festival in 2011. She then got her dream job with Tourism Ireland in Manhattan. However, her beautiful life was tragically cut short by a brain tumour in 2014.
After her death, Dott was very much with her parents in spirit. In 2015, Dick and Eibhlin seemed to be guided by Dott when they purchased the Fels Point Hotel. They were living in the US and had no experience in the hospitality industry. But it seemed the new hotel would be an appropriate tribute to Dott.
Dick and Eibhlin wanted to create a beautiful hotel to a very high standard as exemplified by Dott’s Rose sisters – elegance, grace, warmth and friendliness. Their vision was realised, The Rose Hotel was launched in April 2016, after an extensive refurbishment which saw the hotel expanded and its interior transformed.
This standard is apparent throughout the hotel but especially in Dott’s Bar. The exquisite decor, great food, along with the warm and friendly service is a favorite of guests. Whether beside the fire or at the bar or next to the large windows, the enjoyment is the same. This all has a special significance for Dick and Eibhlin because they know that Dott would love this, Dott’s story continues.
Aesthetically pleasing outside as it is inside, the family-run hotel offers 161 beautifully-appointed rooms ranging from Classic, Executive and Deluxe rooms to Triple, Family Rooms, Junior Suites and Master Suite, all created with the comfort of guests in mind. So whether visiting for business or pleasure, as part of a family group or a single traveller, The Rose Hotel has the perfect room for you.
With high-end finishes and exquisite little touches, the rooms are designed to elicit a peaceful and relaxed stay for guests. All rooms feature the standard conveniences one looks for in a four-star hotel, including air conditioning, tea / coffee making facilities, electric safes and complimentary WIFI. For added convenience, free car parking is provided on the grounds of the hotel.
The Rose Hotel prides itself on its devotion to fresh, local produce, prepared by chefs who take all culinary endeavours very seriously. So, if you are looking for an exceptional dining experience, whether that’s celebrating a special occasion, grabbing a casual pint over a delicious light lunch or treating your family to a relaxing meal out, The Rose Hotel has something to suit you perfectly.
The beautiful 180-capacity Park Restaurant serves breakfast each morning and dinner in the evening. For dinner, the hotel’s table d’hôte menu provides a variety of dishes to suit all taste buds, while there is also an appetising selection for younger guests from the Kiddie’s Menu.
Dott’s Bar has a delicious Breakfast and all-day Bar Food menu, ideal for informal dining in gorgeous surroundings. The hotel’s menus reflect the exciting range of fine local produce which are curated carefully on a daily basis by executive head chef Odran Lucey. Guests are encouraged to experience authentic local flavours, coupled with a taste of broader contemporary Irish dining.
Since 2017, the Rose Hotel has been home to the award-winning Serenity Spa which boasts three treatment rooms, all featuring heated massage beds, mood lighting and exquisite décor designed to elicit a luxurious yet calming atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to unwind and surrender while the Spa’s professional therapists turn each treatment into a gloriously relaxing experience.
The hotel’s chosen spa product, Elemis Skincare Therapy, mirrors its devotion to all things chic. As advocates of the Elemis range, its therapists are able to offer the ever-popular and pioneering Biotec Technology Facials. Guests can also enjoy time at The Rose Hotel’s Relaxation Room, steamroom and sauna.
Furthermore, the Kerry hotel can accommodate large delegate conferences of 300 people with ease as well as smaller events like training seminars, product launches and intimate gatherings. The hotel offers a selection of five state-of-the-art conference and meeting rooms that are furnished to the highest standards and feature advanced facilities conveniently located on the ground floor.
The Rose Hotel is also the ultimate wedding venue. An experienced team is on hand to make your special day everything you have ever imagined. The elegant Lee Suite makes a wonderful banqueting room. Designed to cater for up to 250 guests, it has an adjacent terrace where the bridal party and guests can enjoy a summer cocktail while admiring the lovely views of the Slieve Mish Mountains before the reception itself.
“The bedrooms consist of a Master Suite, two Junior Suites, five Delux and 15 Executive Suites as well as 137 Classic Rooms, including 125 which have been completely refurbished in the last three or four years, explains Mark, who has been the General Manager since the hotel opened.
“Conferences, meetings, events and banquets, such as weddings and local functions, are a huge part of our business. All of our meeting rooms feature 4k projectors. We have become one of Ireland’s most sustainable hotels with LED lighting throughout. Since 2021, our team has undertaken vigorous training to implement an effective Environmental Management System to reduce the hotel’s future carbon emissions.
“Water conversation is a vital part of our sustainability efforts. To this end, we have installed a water irrigation system and put restrictors on taps and shower heads. In January, we invested in a new business management heating system that reduces our electricity usage by 30%. There are also wireless phones in all of the rooms, while we redistribute three tonnes of coffee grounds every year to local gardeners for recycling purposes.
“We’ve also installed two Electric Vehicle charging points in our underground car park.”
The Rose Hotel offers Golden Years Midweek Break and Greenway (Tralee to Fenit) Getaway packages. It caters strongly for golfing enthusiasts and the Irish, US and European tour market. The hotel engages with many local sports groups, clubs and events, including Kerry GAA, Kerry LGFA, Kerry FC, Tralee St Patrick’s Day Parade, Tralee Chamber Alliance, Meals on Wheels and Tralee Tidy Towns. It also offers autism-friendly sensory guestrooms, designed in collaboration with As I Am, and has staff trained in Mental Health First Aid.
“All in all, business is good. We have a great product and are looking to the future with much confidence and optimism,” Mark concludes.
The Rose Hotel
Dan Spring Road,
Tralee,
Co. Kerry,
V92 HKA4.
Telephone: +353 (0)66 7199100
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.therosehotel.com
This article was published in Hotel & Tourism Magazine, Summer 2025, Vol 1 No 1
