Chamber Awards

Sligo Chamber annually presents a business with The Business Person of the Year Award.

The Business Person of the Year Award is Sligo Chamber's salute to a business person who made a significant contribution to Sligo's economic development in the previous year. The Business Person of the Year winner is decided by a majority vote by members of Sligo Chamber. The winner is announced prior to the Sligo Chamber Annual Dinner Dance and the award is presented on the night of the Annual Dinner.

Business Person of the Year 2012

Sligo Chamber were pleased to announce that Neil and Mark Walton, of VOYA, are the Business Persons of the Year 2012.  

VOYA has evolved out of a very successful family-run seaweed bath business in Strandhill, Co. Sligo, on the wild Atlantic coast of Ireland, set up by local brothers Neil and Mark Walton. Using the natural resource of Sligo Bay seaweed, VOYA has become world leaders in certified organic seaweed-based retail and spa products. The therapeutic properties of wild seaweed have long been known along the Irish coast and the Walton brothers revived this Irish tradition of seaweed baths and opened the first bath in one hundred years on the Atlantic coast in June, 2000.

Following its recent move to a larger factory unit in the Finisklin Industrial Estate, VOYA have helped generate much needed employment in a deep economic recession and their partnership with an Italian based company means that VOYA products can now be found in some of the best hotels throughout the world and on Sir Richard Branson’s yacht. VOYA is now recognised as the pre-eminent organic spa brand globally and was recently identified by Conde Nast as one of the key trends of 2012.

Since 2000, the seaweed baths in Strandhill have been enticing customers from all over the world. VOYA attract an estimated 40,000 visitors every year to the beautiful surroundings of not only Strandhill but to the county itself. Thanks to the Walton brothers, VOYA has become one of Sligo’s most popular landmarks.

President of Sligo Chamber, Linda Moffitt is delighted that Neil and Mark Walton won the Sligo Business Persons of the Year 2012, commenting that “ Neil and Mark Walton are well deserved winners as VOYA has led to the creation of jobs in the local community and excels in attracting over 40,000 visitors each year to Strandhill. Both Neil and Mark are great ambassadors to Sligo and I am delighted to announce that they are the worthy winners of the Sligo Business Person of the Year 2012”.

Following the announcement, Neil and Mark Walton expressed their delight at being named the Sligo Business Persons of the Year 2012. Mark stated “this is a huge honor and on behalf of Neil and myself, we are delighted to accept this prestigious award”.

Neil and Mark were presented with the Sligo Business Persons of the Year Award 2012 at the Sligo Chamber Annual Gala Dinner on Friday, 1^st February 2013 by Ann Gallagher (Corporate Account Manager) of Vhi Healthcare, the main sponsor of the event.

Sligo Chamber together with Vhi Healthcare were delighted to officially recognise Neil and Mark Walton’s efforts over the last 13 years in Sligo and of VOYA’s great success at our Annual Gala Dinner in Castle Dargan Hotel with guest Speaker Mr. Pat McLoughlin, Site Director, Stiefel, Sligo. A fantastic and memorable night was had by all who attended.

Mark & Neil Walton of Voya win the Sligo Chamber Business Persons of Year Award, 2012.