Spring Breaks

It's time to brush off those winter cobwebs with Spring just around the corner. Here at Belmore Court and Motel we have put together some exciting packages which are sure to put a spring in your step!

Our Spring Short Breaks are available from 1st February - 31st May. This offer is 2 nights, for £60pps B&B in one of our Standard Double Rooms.

                                                                                      

In addition to our Spring Short Breaks we also have breaks to mark annual events and occasions during the Spring months. The first of which is St Patrick's Day. Our St Patrick's Day package begins from 1 night at £32.50pps B&B. Visitors to the county have the option of staying 2 nights £65.75pps B&B also. Guests will be staying in our Standard Double Rooms. Guests can also enjoy a free late checkout after experiencing Enniskillen's festivities to mark the day.

Mother's Day is on 30th March this year. Don't forget!! Our offer includes chocolates for the special lady on arrival and a stay in one of our Superior Double Rooms. Guests can stay Sunday night from £27.50pps B&B or 2 nights from £65.75pps B&B.

We are also offering egg-citing (pardon the pun, we couldn't resist) Easter Breaks for all the family.

• Standard Family Room from £20.25pps. This is a room only offer.
• Dinner B&B offers in a Superior Room, choose from:
• 2 B&B + 1 Dinner in a local restaurant from £90pps
• 3 B&B + 2 Dinner in a local restaurant from £142.50pps
• 4 B&B + 3 Dinner in a local restaurant from £195pps

Why not make Belmore Court and Motel your destination of choice this Spring and take advantage of our fantastic offers.

Remember to keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter and Blog for information on upcoming events in Enniskillen and the surrounding area this Spring or visit www.fermanaghlakelands.com

Discover Fermanagh Open Weekend

The tourist season is upon us and to celebrate many of Fermanagh's best loved and best known visitor attractions are opening their doors for FREE! The open weekend is taking place from 7-9th March and is really not to be missed.

Opening its doors all weekend is the world famous Belleek Pottery. Guided tours are available Friday 7th March 10.15am-12.15pm and 145pm-3.00pm. The centre will also be open on Saturday 8th March from 10.00am-5.30pm and Sunday 9th from 2.00pm-5.00pm. There are no guided tours available on Saturday or Sunday.

Enniskillen Castle Museums are also opening their doors for the entire weekend from 10am-5pm each day. Amongst Fermanagh’s other famed attractions is Devenish Island. Over the Discover Fermanagh Open Weekend wisiting the Garden of Celtic Saints is an opportunity not to be missed by tourists and locals alike.

Headhunters Railway Museum is also open all weekend. Located on Darling Street Headhunters provides a nod to railway life of the past in Fermanagh and the boarder counties. They open Friday 9.00am-5.30pm, Saturday 9.00am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-5pm.

Other local attractions are opening their doors at various times throughout the weekend.  The Marble Arch Geo Park, considered to be one of the best in Europe will offer guided tours on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th from 12.30pm - 4pm at 30 minute intervals. Booking is essential as tours are limited to 21 persons per tour and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. 20 minute information sessions about the wider geo park will also be available throughout the weekend.

AughakillymaudeMummers Centre is open on Saturday 8th March from 10am-3pm. Lady of the lake tours are also only available on Saturday 8^th March. Departing from Innishclare Jetty this is a fabulous opportunity to view the lakelands which Fermanagh is so famous for. Sailing is available from 11.30am-1.30pm. Advanced booking will be required. A common sight throughout Enniskillen over the summer months is the MV Kestrel. Short tours of Enniskillen's Island town on board the Kestrel will depart from the Lakeland Forum Jetty, every hour on the hour from 12pm-4pm on Saturday 8th March.

Visitors are invited to explore Drumskinny Stone Circle alongside a guide from Erne Heritage Tours. Guides will be onsite Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th 1pm-4pm. Visitors to the Janus Figure, Boa Island will also benefit from the knowledge of an experienced guide who will be onsite on Saturday 8^th and Sunday 9^th from 1pm-4pm to explain the significance of this historical figure.

Visitors can experience three Fermanagh National Trust Properties on Saturday 8th- Sunday 9th March.

• Castle Coole: Parkland is open 10am-7pm. House tours will run from 11am-4pm. The shop and tearoom will be open 11am-5pm. (Castle Coole is a five minute walk from The Belmore Court and Motel.)
• Florence Court: Gardens and Park will be open from 10am-7pm. House tours will run 11am-4pm. The shop and tearoom will be open 11am-5pm.
• Crom Estate: Grounds open 10am-5pm, the visitor centre will be open 11am-5pm. (Exhibition, shop and tea room.)

There will also be offers on National Trust Membership throughout the weekend.

The Share Innishcruiser will take to the waters of Upper Lough Erne over the Discover Fermanagh Open Weekend. Celebrating all Fermanagh's lakelands have to offer, this 2 hour sailing experience is available on Saturday 8th at 10.30am and Sunday 9th at 10.30am. The trip will take participants from the Share Discovery Village departure point, to Crom Castle and back, all the while showing off the beauty of Upper Lough Erne. Booking is essential as places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Tully Castle is open on Saturday 8th March 10am-4pm and Sunday 9th March 12pm-4pm. There will be guided tours available at intervals on both days.

A Walk and talk tour of Enniskillen is taking place on Sunday 9th March at 12 noon and 2pm. Tours are starting from the Visitor Information Centre, Wellington Road. Booking is not required.

Here at the Belmore Court and Motel we also thought we'd get into the spirit of the Discover Fermanagh Open Weekend and have a great package on offer to celebrate. Guests can stay for the entire weekend from only £60pps including breakfast. www.motel.co.uk/spring We hope to see you soon!

FREE accommodation for five #EV drivers at #Belmore Court

As a result of the recent joint Department for Regional Development (DRD) and Department of the Environment ecar DRIVESHOW held at Enniskillen Castle, local business owner Terry McCartney is offering one night’s free accommodation at Belmore Court and Motel, Tempo Road, Enniskillen to five electric cars owners! The only condition is that you bring along an electric vehicle and use the charging point on site. To find out more, contact Terry on: 028 6632 6633

John Moss, Irene Breen & Terry McCartney

Another visitor to the show, John Moss from the Technical Department at South West College is asking for help from existing ecar users.  The college is undertaking a European study into ecar usage and would be interested to hear first hand experiences from owners of electric and hybrid vehicles. To contact John, ring : 08456 031881 or email john.moss@swc.ac.uk

Also pictured is Irene Breen DRD ecar Project Manager – to find out more about the benefits of electric cars visit: www.ecarni.com

The Belmore Court and Motel EV charger has been supplied by ZeroCarbonWorld and was the 1st WallPod they have in Northern Ireland. The WallPod has recently been upgrade to the 'Mennekes' or '7 pin' Charging Station.

Zero Carbon World wants to clear the confusion, bureaucracy and profiteering surrounding decarbonisation. It is our vision to live in a sustainable and equitable decarbonised society.

Accommodation must be used before the 31st March 2014 and is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Samson v Golaiths in the Housekeeping Awards

The Belmore Court and Motel are pleased to announce that our housekeeping team are finalists in the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation's annual Housekeeping Awards. Now in its 5th year the awards aim to find the best housekeeping team in Northern Ireland.

Some of the housekeeping team at Belmore Court & Motel

The awards have two categories 'Under 90 Rooms' and 'Over 90 Rooms'. The Belmore Court and Motel are finalists in the 'Under 90 Rooms' category and face some stiff competition in the form of the big boys up the motorway: Malmaison, Ten Square Hotel, Clandeboye Lodge Hotel and the Galgorm Resort & Spa.

We are the only representative from Fermanagh and the only representative West of the Bann left in the competition!

To qualify as finalists two members of the housekeeping team (Diana and Vilija) made the trip to Belfast for an assessment of their skills.

Diana and Vilija's day in Belfast began with Ice Breakers, followed by an explanation of how the day would work, those who scored the highest would be short-listed. The first challenge was to service a bedroom in 10 minutes, this included all the usual housekeeping tasks such as tidying the bed and ensuring the tea tray was fully stocked and clean.

The second challenge was to put together a basket to go into rooms celebrating Valentines Day. The teams had everything they would need set out in front of them as well as a variety of gifts, which they could choose from to include in their baskets. They also had ten minutes to do this. The Belmore Court and Motel's team included a teddy, champagne with two glasses, a candle and a towel, which they shaped like a swan to set off their romantic theme. The ladies assure us their swan impressed everyone on the day!

The third challenge set to the teams was a room inspection with a difference. They had 7 minutes to find 20 hair clips (the same colour as the carpet) and to point them out to the adjudicator without moving or lifting them. Diana and Vilija were proud to have spotted 17 out of 20.

Their team work was also assessed albeit in a less formal way. The ladies were tasked with making a giraffe from Sellotape and newspaper. Diana and Vilija confess that whilst their giraffe might not have been the best in the room it was the most comedic and brought the rest of the room to laughter as it looked pregnant!

Their day in Belfast was followed up by a secret inspection of the Belmore Court and Motel. The inspection included bedrooms, public toilets, bins, the corridor, the lift and the housekeeping team's laundry room. The team impressed the judge so much so that the inspector asked if she could take Diana home! We're not parting with her anytime soon though.

The winner will be announced at a gala dinner on 12th March in the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel; Wish us luck...

UPDATE

We Won - Check it out --- http://belmorecourtmotel.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/belmore-court-motel-cleans-up.html

Ride into 2014...Mountain Biking Exclusive!

Be one of the first to experience Colebrooke Park  in association with Lakeland Bikes Kick start your 2014 by taking on the Colebrooke Challenge on Sunday 19th January in association with Lakeland Bikes, and be one of the first to experience the amazing Colebrooke Estate. Colebrooke Estate set in the Fermanagh Lakelands in Brookeborough, is home to Viscount & Viscountess Brookeborough and is one of region's most important and historic stately homes. Take up the Colebrooke Challenge on Sunday 19th January which is expected to attract a large number of bikers and gain exclusive access to the lush 1,000 acre estate, where you will be guaranteed an amazing Mountain Bike experience! The 4k Route will showcase the outstanding natural beauty of Colebrooke Estate and those first to finish will reap the rewards of a one of the biggest Mountain Biking prize funds. The event is the perfect way to keep your 2014 resolutions and there is something for all the family with Men's and Ladies Race as well as Junior Races for Under 16, 14, 12, 10 and 8 year olds. In addition there will a kids balance bike race to add to the fun! Chip Timing will be in place from 'Elite Timing' so entrants will have a record of their Colebrooke Challenge event stats. Advance registration is not required for the event - Colebrooke Mountain Bike Challengers, can simply enter on day and the entry fee is just £12 for adults and £5 for Juniors.  Participants can enjoy light refreshments as well as the chance to be crowned Colebrooke Challenge winner (Prizes for 1st, 2nd 3rd & a 4th  in the open adult race) and enjoy the prize fund; there is also the chance to win spot prizes in Colebrooke Challenge Raffle. Colebrooke Estate also boosts a luxury Spa on site, which opened in 2011 as the result of Channel 4's 'Country House Rescue' project. A Decleor Spa of excellence (2012-13)  - visitors can choose from a wide range of treatments and retreat packages. Participants and their family & friends can enjoy Colebrooke Challenge special offers on Sunday 19th  January (subject to availability). With a unique Biking trail, exclusive access  to Colebrooke Estate, a generous Prize fun and special offers at Colebrooke Spa this is sure to be a very successful Mountain Biking event and plans are already in place for a second Colebrooke Challenge Mountain Biking event on Sunday 2nd February. Like www.facebook.com/lakelandcc & facebook.com/colebrooke.spa or visit www.lakelandcc.co.uk  & www.colebrookespa.com for more information on the event.

Ulster Rally wins top award after 1st year in Enniskillen

MEMBERS of the Todds Leap Ulster Rally's organising committee were left speechless at the British Rally Championship's (BRC) end of season awards night in Manchester on Saturday when Rally NI was again named Rally of the Year.

The BRC Rally of the Year award was first presented in 2003 with the Ulster Rally taking the honours in 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2012. This year the same Todds Leap Rally N.I team had cause for double celebration on Saturday, Clerk of the Course Lewis Boyd accepting the award on behalf of the organisers and hundreds of volunteers for the fifth time on his 50th birthday.

2013 threw up a new set of challenges for the Ulster Rally team as the entire five-event rally shifted across Northern Ireland to Fermanagh and South Tyrone for the first time.

Clerk of the course, Lewis Boyd, was taken aback with the award, but he was keen to pay tribute to his fellow volunteers.

“We were very surprised to receive the award for the event in its first year in Fermanagh," he beamed “but none of it would be possible without the hard work and support from our 800 volunteers, Fermanagh District Council, Todds Leap, Sport NI, the Fisher Foundation, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the many local businesses who helped us deliver such a high quality enjoyable event. Everyone involved should give themselves a massive pat on the back."

It was our pleasure to host the Ulster Rally during their visit in Enniskillen. 

Belmore Court & Motel Is Up For Recognition

There are some industries where picking upon industry rewards and recognition is par for the course and often little more than a backslapping exercise. However, there are some industries, notably the tourism industry, where being recognised by your peers and leading authorities can be hugely important to a business. This industry, especially in Northern Ireland, is hugely contested and there are a lot of great motels, hotels, B&Bs and accommodations working hard to provide their clients with a friendly service and hospitable welcome. This is why any hotel that is recognised on a regular basis by their peers and industry experts is worth taking note of.

The motel aims to excel on every matter

The Belmore Court & Motel is no stranger to receiving an award for their rooms, service and features but they are not the type of place to rest on their laurels. When it comes to finding a good value enniskillen hotel or guest accommodation, this is an option that is always going to provide value and interest to customers. The Belmore Court & Motel is located in the heart of the town of Enniskillen, which is viewed as being the gateway to the lakes of Fermanagh and to the coastline that runs along the North West of Ireland. This Motel has long been considered as one of the best accommodations to stay in this part of the world and it is has been nominated for three awards in the upcoming Fermanagh Herald Business Awards, which takes place in the Manor House Hotel on Friday the 11^th October 2013.

While the Belmore Court & Motel faces stiff opposition in the all three categories it has been nominated for, all of the management and staff are proud that their motel in Enniskillen has been put forward for recognition in three separate categories. In the Best Tourism Service Provider award we are up against The Enniskillen Hotel and the Westville Hotel.

The categories are:

·       Best Tourism Service Provider Award, sponsored by Fermanagh Lakelands;

·       Excellence in Marketing Award, sponsored by CaraPharmacy;

·       Excellence in Business Practice Award, sponsored by Fermanagh District Council

The fact that the Fermanagh Motel has been nominated in three separate areas is extremely important to the hotel staff. This is because they know that there are many different strands to running a successful hotel or motel and they believe that they are being recognised in three areas where they have worked hard to provide a strong service to customers.

The heart of the business is the tourism element and the motel welcomes new guests on a daily basis. Whether it’s businessmen and women looking to find reliable Enniskillen accommodation while they host meetings and meet clients or if it’s a family enjoying a well-earned break in the area, there is a need to meet and cater for different needs.

The company knows that there is a need to appeal to clients and to make sure that people know exactly what the hotel has to offer. This is at the heart of the marketing work carried out by the Belmore Court & Motel and the marketing team are extremely honoured to have been nominated in this category. However, no matter what individual teams or departments do, there is a need to provide a comprehensive and overall service and this is why the Belmore Court & Motel is delighted to have been nominated for displaying excellence in business practice.

Industry recognition is always nice to receive but the team at the Belmore Court know that they are only able to be recognised by their peers and local businesses due to the service that is provided to clients and guests on a regular business. In an era when many in the tourism sector are struggling, the Belmore Court & Motel has managed to maintain a high quality of service to all customers. This has helped the motel compete with other Enniskillen hotels and to withstand many of the pressures that are prevalent in the modern day Northern Irish tourism sector.

The whole team are looking forward to the Gala Awards on the 11^th of October but whatever the outcome, they look forward to serving guests for many years to come.