The independent and boutique industry elite joined together recently to celebrate the achievements of two of the hottest names in the sector. Crowning the Independent Hotelier and the Outstanding New Hotel, the Independent Hotel Show Awards, presented by Rate Gain in association with Sky, were presented at a special ceremony taking place on the opening day of the show at Olympia West.
The eldest daughter of Lord Charles Forte, Olga Polizzi was crowned Independent Hotelier, celebrating her extended involvement within the luxury hotel sector and encompassing her role as Design Director of Rocco Forte Hotels. An acclaimed hotel owner with her own portfolio of independently owned hotels – Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall and Hotel Endsleigh in Devon – Ms Polizzi is renowned for her exquisite taste and her loving restoration of hotels to the acclaimed status for which her family name is so famous.
Gotham Hotel blasted onto the super-stylish hotel scene in April 2015, one of the latest hotels to be launched within the Bespoke Hotels group. As a luxurious and sumptuous new arrival in Manchester and the city’s second 5 star hotel offering, owners Bespoke Hotels promised it to be a ‘fun, witty destination and a little bit naughty’.
The Grade II listed Art Deco building sits on popular King Street, with this 60-bedroom hotel, 68-cover ’Honey’ restaurant and private members bar Club Brass adding a touch of cool to the city. It’s a distinctive hotel created to capture the imagination, hearts and minds of luxury seekers for years to come.
Commenting on receiving the Independent Hotelier award, Olga Polizzi said: “Our business is not an easy one and I am particularly proud to win this award from the Independent Hotel Show. It is a lovely award to achieve, especially because it has been voted for by so many people in all areas of our business – hoteliers, manufacturers and suppliers. It is a real plus to know that I have been acknowledged and I am delighted.”
On achieving Outstanding New Hotel, Jeff Ward, MD of Gotham Hotel, added: “Receiving this award is probably the biggest pat on the back for a job well done. I came into the team back in November and we opened in April. We’ve just won the best award I could have won in such a short period of time”
The awards were presented by Alison Dolan, Deputy MD of Sky Business and sponsors of this year’s awards, and Peter Hancock, CEO of Pride of Britain Hotels.
Alison Dolan said: “These awards represent the best hotel operators in the Independent sector and we are very proud to be associated with them. They are hugely important to the sector because they provide great recognition and validation to hoteliers who put so much work into making their hotels a truly unique and wonderful place to stay. It’s important to give something back to them and show that their efforts are respected and valued, particularly when it comes from their peers.”
Peter Hancock said: “The Independent Hotel Show is recognising the efforts of real entrepreneurs, people who have taken risks to build up a business and have excelled despite all the economic difficulties. Obviously one feels sorry for the nominees that didn’t win – equal in stature in my opinion – but what a joy to be part of this occasion and a beautifully organised show.”
The Independent Hotelier and Outstanding New Hotel awards will return again in 2016 as part of the successful Independent Hotel Show. They are an important part of the show’s line-up, says Tim Etchells, managing director at SME London:
“We’ve had our busiest day of the show so far and it is great to see that we had so many nominees and votes again for the awards. The Gotham and Olga are two really worthy winners and I think it is testament to how well these awards are appreciated within the independent hotel sector that we have seen such a great turnout tonight. Thank you to our esteemed judging committee and to everyone who has got behind the awards again this year.”