Three of Dublin's top hotels have managed to retain their five-star status after successfully appealing an earlier proposal to deduct a star from each of them.
The Conrad, Earlsfort Terrace, The Radisson St Helens, Mount Merrion and Jurys Ballsbridge all faced being downgraded to four- star status following a review earlier this year.
Yesterday Fáilte Ireland decided to retain the five-star status of all three, after an independent appeals board found that the review had not complied with agreed procedures. The nationwide review was carried out by an independent company, Excellence in Tourism, for Fáilte Ireland's grading system.
It was the first review to take place in a number of years.
In July the company proposed to reduce the three hotels, and the Shelbourne hotel, from five to four stars.
In October the Shelbourne decided to remain unclassified while undertaking a major renovation programme over the next 12 months.
However, the Radisson, Conrad and Jurys Ballsbridge decided to lodge an appeal with an independent appeals board, headed by Mr Finbarr Flood, former chair of the Labour Court, to review the processes and procedures followed in the cases.
Yesterday the board of Fáilte Ireland accepted the recommendations of the appeals board to uphold the appeal.
According to industry sources the appeals body found that the review process for the three hotels did not comply with a procedure for the inspections and grading, which was agreed between Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation.