The Montenotte’s Woodland Suite Experience Receives Global Recognition as it Celebrates First Anniversary.

The Montenotte’s Woodland Suite Experience Receives Global Recognition as it Celebrates First Anniversary - World Architecture Festival shortlist nomination, Independent Hotel Show nomination and AHEAD Europe Award win mark the exceptional debut year of Ireland’s most luxurious outdoor accommodation.

Cork's finest urban resort and one of Ireland’s leading luxury destinations, is celebrating a remarkable first anniversary for its five-star Woodland Suite Experience, with news of its shortlist nomination for the prestigious World Architecture Festival 2025 alongside a string of other international accolades that have positioned the property as a leader in innovative hospitality design.

The Woodland Suite Experience, curated by owners Frankie and Jo Whelehan in collaboration with architect John Burgoyne and his team at Henry J Lyons and interior designer Róisín Lafferty, has achieved exceptional international recognition within its first year of operation.

The project's inclusion in the World Architecture Festival 2025 shortlist nominated and presented by Henry J Lyons Architects. represents a significant achievement for Irish architecture on the global stage, selected from over 780 entries. The World Architecture Festival is the world's largest live architectural awards programme, bringing together the most influential figures in architecture.

Frankie & Jo Whelehan, Owners of The Montenotte, comment: "We are thrilled that The Woodland Suite Experience has achieved such incredible recognition in just one year. To be shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival alongside the world's most innovative architectural projects is a testament to World Class Design and Interiors, which was our project brief. This recognition, combined with our AHEAD Europe win and Independent Hotel Show nomination, shows that Irish hospitality design is competing at the highest level. We're passionate about putting The Montenotte - Cork firmly on the map as a luxury travel destination and these achievements prove we're doing just that."

John Burgoyne, Director at Henry J Lyons Architects, adds: "We are incredibly proud to see The Woodland Suite Experience recognised on such a prestigious international platform. From the outset, our vision was to create something that would seamlessly blend contemporary luxury with the natural beauty of Cork's landscape. To be shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival alongside some of the world's most celebrated architectural projects is a tremendous honour and testament to what can be achieved when you have clients like Frankie and Jo who share your passion for pushing creative boundaries.

Adding to this exceptional recognition, The Woodland Suite Experience recently won the ‘Lodges & Cabins’ awards category at AHEAD Europe 2024, with judges praising it as "a great example of expanding an urban property to offer a luxurious secluded experience" and "a sophisticated escape with a lovely materiality." The property has also been shortlisted for ‘Best Hotel Design of the Year’ at the Independent Hotel Show London 2025, further cementing its reputation for design excellence.

Launched in August 2024, The Woodland Suite Experience is elegantly perched on the hilltop within The Montenotte’s grounds, nestled deep within the trees. It features nine stunning Woodland Suites and River Suites, along with an exclusive residents-only Clubhouse, and this offering has been awarded a five-star classification by Fáilte Ireland. This addition to The Montenotte, an independently owned property, has redefined luxury accommodation standards in Ireland, blending luxury, purpose and nature with stunning views and unique amenities.