Ireland has beaten off stiff competition in the world of hotel excellence, with one of our western gems scooping the no.1 luxury hotel in the world. [caption id="attachment_250111" align="alignnone" width="650"] Exterior[/caption] While we've long garnered a reputation for a friendly welcome, now we can boast the best in luxury too. The stunning Ashford Castle in Cong, Co. Mayo has been named as the top hotel for luxury tourists in the world, at the annual Best of the Best Awards in Las Vegas. The restored landmark spot was awarded the honour during Virtuoso Travel Week - an invitation-only luxury travel network composed of 9,000 travel specialists from around the world. Re-opened in April 2015, the stunning estate spans across 350 acres of the countryside, while housing the newly renovated Ashford Castle with 82 guest rooms, a 32-seat cinema, Ireland’s first School of Falconry and a soon to launch spa. Fancy booking yourself in for a stay in this little lap of luxury? You’d be in famous company. Past guests to the castle include George V (then Prince of Wales), Ronald Reagan, Brad Pitt, John Wayne, Fred Astaire, Barbra Streisand, John Travolta and many more. Speaking from Las Vegas after accepting the award, Ashford Castle General Manager Niall Rochford said: “On behalf of Ashford Castle and Red Carnation Hotels we are thrilled to have been awarded one of the luxury travel industry’s top awards, Virtuoso Hotel of the Year. The three-year programme, much of which was carried out by local craftspeople, has seen Ashford Castle restored as one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels as well as one of the best in the World.  It is also an endorsement of the training, development and investment in staff which has enabled us to offer even greater attentive and highly personalised service.”