Quality assured accommodation support and answers

Under the Tourist Traffic Acts, tourist accommodation using a prescribed term are required to register with Fáilte Ireland.

Without registration, you cannot use or advertise these terms and it may affect licences, including a hotel liquor licence.

If your accommodation does not use a prescribed term (e.g. B&Bs), you may apply for approval for non-statutory accommodation.

Your pathway depends on whether you use a prescribed term.

Use the accommodation sectors to identify your accommodation type and follow the correct route.

Statutory accommodation uses a prescribed term and are required to register with Fáilte Ireland by law.

Non statutory accommodation does not use a prescribed term and can choose to apply for voluntary approval.

Most applications are completed within a few months, depending on how complete your documentation is and when your assessment can be scheduled.

Non-statutory / voluntary approval allows eligible accommodation providers to gain a recognised quality mark.

The Welcome Standard is Fáilte Ireland’s voluntary accommodation quality approval programme, recognising tourist accommodation that consistently deliver a high-quality guest experience.

Yes. It is required for both registration and non-statutory approval, providing an independent review to confirm your property meets recognised quality standards and delivers a strong guest experience.

All applications are completed online through the Fáilte Ireland Trade Portal.

Yes. Our quality assurance team are happy to provide advice and information at all stages of the application.

Quality assurance includes annual inspections/assessments.

Quality assurance renewals open annually in September and closes on the 15th November. A notice will appear on the website and Trade Portal in advance of the renewals.

Submit your renewal application through the Trade Portal where you pay the relevant fee and confirm that you continue to meet all required criteria.

If you do not renew (including payment) by 15th November, your registration or approval will lapse from 1st January of the following year and you will be required to reapply for quality assurance registration or approval.

You are required to email qualityassurance@failteireland.ie to advise of change of owner and the Quality Assurance team will advise on process for updating this on Fáilte Ireland systems.

A solicitor’s letter providing formal legal confirmation of a change of ownership, including:

• Premises name and business carried out
• Premises address
• Transferor(s) name
• Transferee(s) name (include CRO number if a company/business name)
• Confirmation of ownership transfer
• Transfer date
• Full details if the operating entity differs from the property owner (e.g. where the property is leased by the owner but operated by another business)