The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant and Spa has added to its ever-growing collection of accolades with a hat trick in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2011-12.
The hotel collected gold in the Small Hotel of the Year category, sponsored by accountants Bishop Fleming, and in the Taste of the South West category, sponsored by Clockwork Marketing.
General manager Sue Williams scooped the award for outstanding achievement, sponsored by Services for Tourism, at the awards ceremony in Torquay on Monday evening.
Some 67 awards were handed over, each celebrating and recognising those businesses and individuals who excel in an industry vital to the region’s economy.
The Roman Baths and Pump Room were highly commended in the Access For All category sponsored by First Great Western.
The glittering event was hosted by TV presenter Teresa Driscoll with the presentations made by journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder, senior travel editor of The Independent and a frequent TV commentator on travel and tourism.
Chair of judges Alistair Handyside said: “Tourism will be one of the keys to economic recovery in South West England and this year’s finalists show that there is no shortage of innovation in the region.
“They, and all the entrants, should be congratulated for their great efforts. Their creativity, across both start-ups and established businesses reinvesting or diversifying has been immense. They have given us a further platform to shout about the diverse quality in the region at a national level, where we expect to do well.”
The 27-bedroom Bath Priory, which describes itself as a ‘quintessentially English luxury hotel,’ has won a clutch of awards and accolades over recent years. Last May head chef Sam Moody was awarded one of the industry’s highest accolades, an Acorn Award, which is given to 30 of the brightest stars in the industry who are still under 30 years of age.
The Bath Priory is part of the Brownsword Hotels group owned by Bath entrepreneur Andrew Brownsword.
Other South West Tourism Awards winners included the SS Great Britain, Bristol; the At Bristol science attraction; Bristol Tourist Information Centre, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Bristol Festival of Nature, Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort near Chippenham, and luxury bed-and-breakfast Harptree Court in the Mendips.
