Icon Health Club awarded the National Quality Standard of ‘Outstanding’.

We were delighted to attend the inaugural NQSA awards last week. The awards are designed to acknowledge excellence in the Leisure, Fitness and Hotel Leisure facilities. Ireland Active, the representative body for the Leisure, Health & Fitness Industry, awarded the top Leisure, Fitness and Hotel Leisure facilities across the country at the National Quality Standard Awards (NQSA) at the annual awards ceremony on 16th November at Druids Glen Resort.

The NQSA, is the most sought-after and respected accolade in the leisure and fitness industry, and is awarded to facilities that meet the operational standards for leisure and fitness facilities across 250 quality-based criteria. The standard is designed to encourage continuous improvement within the sector and recognises facilities for their remarkable standards in the areas of safety, hygiene, customer service and human resources. The NQSA are the only industry specific award for the leisure, health and fitness sector in Ireland.

The Awards were held in conjunction with Ireland Active’s annual conference, where some of the most notable names in the industry nationally and internationally, spoke on topics relevant to leisure, health and fitness.

Speaking on the event, Conn McCluskey, CEO, Ireland Active said: “We are delighted to host the inaugural Ireland Active National Quality Standard Awards, having rebranded the awards this year after 15 years as the White Flag Awards. The awards serve to recognise the deserving recipients for their hard work in setting the bar for the highest level of standards possible in their leisure, fitness and hotel leisure facilities who play such a significant role in the health and well-being of the country. We are thrilled to acknowledge each facility for their outstanding accomplishments in the areas of safety, hygiene, customer engagement and human resources.”

The keynote speaker at this year’s event was Colin Milner, CEO & founder of International Council on Active Ageing addressing the important contribution the health, leisure and fitness industry can play in keeping people active into older age. Additional speakers included GM of Center Parcs Longford Forest, Daragh Feighery; Founder of Trainaway, Alexander Schroeder; Marketing Director for Fitbit EMEA, Briain Curtin; HPRA, CEO, Dr Lorraine Nolan; Former Munster Rugby Player, Jonny Holland; TRX Master Trainer Darren Dillion; Exercise Physiologist Dr James Timmons.