Jubilation as hotel lands a top award

CIVIC leaders joined hotel bosses for a celebration to mark an international victory.

Lord Mayor of Canterbury Ian Thomas and chairman of Visit Kent Amanda Cottrell joined the team at Holiday Inn Express Canterbury after they triumphed in the InterContinental Hotels Group's annual Hotel Stars awards.

Holiday Inn Express Canterbury to mark the winning of the IHG Hotel of the Year'. The event was attended by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury and the Chairman of Visit Kent
TOP TEAM: Lord Mayor Ian Thomas and Visit Kent chairman Amanda Cottrell, centre, with the hotel team and, inset, group general manager Anoob Saban with the award GIJN20120127A- 004/GIJN20120127A- 001

The venue, at Harbledown just outside Canterbury, was named Hotel of the Year at the ceremony in Oxford and the event was organised so that staff and customers could share in the success.

Group vice-president Christopher Rawstron said: "We are fully committed to supporting and developing our people; our hotels are only as good as the people working in them.

"We aim to provide the right environment, support and inspiration they need to fulfil their capability and these awards are a reflection of the fantastic talent we have working in our hotels across Europe."

The Hotel of the Year category was for hotels that achieved outstanding results where staff exceeded expectations when looking after guests, employees and members of the local community.