This award is one of many accolades that the glamping site has received this week, including three nominations from the Laois Chamber Awards for Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality, Outstanding SME (small to medium enterprise) and Best Marketing Initiative).

Pictured: Glamping Under the Stars.

First established in 2016, the business will celebrate their 9th anniversary this May.

"We started very small and built up over the years, we have 2 sites now," Kyra Fingleton, owner of Glamping Under the Stars, told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"It's been really exciting and positive, we have learned so much since we started.

"It has been a real learning curve, we didn't have backgrounds in hospitality, so we learned the ropes through responsibility for our guests during weekend stays, and showing them what Laois has to offer," Ms Fingleton said.

Pictured: Kyra and Barry Fingleton 

"At the time, Laois was in its infancy in terms of tourism, which was challenging but also provided a great opportunity. My husband is a lovely Laois man, and has a lot of local knowledge.

"I made it my business to learn all about Laois, there are so many lovely things to do here. Laois' publicity is definitely improving, there are more things to do locally and Fáílte Ireland are great for collaborating with local businesses to highlight what Laois has to offer," she said.

Ms Fingelton believes that the glampsite stands out to people for its beauty and originality.

Their Mountain glampsite offers six 'hobbit style' accommodations, that each sleep up to a family of six. Offering a private bathroom, stunning grass roos, and a chimea stove for toasting marshmallows, these accommodations each have a quirk of their own. 

Guest can choose between the Beach House, Woodcutter’s House, Music House, Stargazer’s House, Garden House or Ski Chalet.

Beautifully landscaped and surrounded by trees, the site includes quirky ‘Glamp House’ kitchen/dining cabin, (covered in clematis and held up with the trunk of a tree), private bathrooms, a sun deck for dining al fresco, and a seated campfire area.

Pictured: The communal kitchen area, 'The Glamp House'

"The experience we offer is quite different, especially with our hobbit houses," she said.

On a site of beautiful meadows and buzzing bees, Ms Fingelton says that biodiversity plays a massive role in the running of their glamspites. 

 

Pictured: Glamping Under the Stars' Lake View bell tent

"We will be holding a tour for biodiversity week on May 22, we are delighted to share our biodiversity actions on our tour," Ms Fingleton said.

In the ever-turbulent hospitality industry, Ms Fingleton maintains that the secret to staying successful is maintaining a high standard.

"We are doing this nine years and every year is different, there are so many factors that can affect the business," she said.

 

Pictured: Campfire in chimnea at Glamping Under The Stars, Co. Laois

"Be it weather, the pandemic, or even the uncertainty in the world at the minute. For ourselves our bookings are consistently strong, with most weekends booked through to September," she said.

"We are confident and optimistic for the future, it's about riding the ups and downs, and continuing to provide a good service. People that visit our campsite, regularly come back for more stays," she finished.

For more on Glamping Under the Stars, see here.

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