Shortlist announced for Independent Hotelier of the Year 2013

The Independent Hotel Show has announced the shortlist of nominees for its Independent Hotelier of the Year Award 2013, in association with Towergate Insurance. The nominees are Robin Hutsonof Lime Wood and the Pig hotels in the New Forest; Paul Milsom at Milsom Hotels; Andrew Stembridge at Chewton Glen and Cliveden House; Terence and Vicky Conran, and Peter Prescott of the Boundary Hotel in Shoreditch; Christoph Brooke of Hillbrook Hotels; Charles and Edmund Ink in of the Felin Fach Griffin in Brecon; Claire Randall of Lucknam Park, near Bath; and Ruth and Ken Hunt of Combe House in Devon. The award will be given to the individual whohas consistently helped change the landscape of the independent, luxury and boutique hotel sector and is a pioneer with a reputation for pushing boundaries. Above all, the winner will be someone committed to the development of their team, the success of their establishment and the industry at large. Commenting on the award and its significance Tim Etchells, managing director of the Independent Hotel Show organiser SME London Ltd and one of the nomination committee, said: “Following the success of last year’s event we are building on the prestige of the award to recognise real excellence in a fast-paced and highly competitive marketplace. The nominations committee has picked eight highly impressive candidates and we now put them forward to the vote, by others working in the independent hotels industry, to choose who will be crowned Independent Hotelier of the Year 2013 in association with Towergate Insurance.” The shortlist is now live on the Independent Hotel Show website. To vote, simply register to attend the show here and select your chosen candidate at the end of the registration process. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony immediately following the first day of the show on 30 October 2013. The shortlist was painstakingly selected by a committee of well-respected industry figures who brought their wealth of experience and expertise to the judging to nominate someone who best reflects excellence in hospitality. The nomination committee included James Lohan, CEO of Mr & Mrs Smith; Peter Hancock, chief executive of Pride of Britain Hotels; Chief executive of the Ellerman Group Ciaran Fahy; Robin Shepherd, the chairman of Bespoke Hotels; Tom Bell the editor of Alistair Sawday’s British Hotels & Inns; Pam Foden, head of industry development at Visit England; and Tim Etchells, managing director of the Independent Hotel Show. The award offers the perfect opportunity for independent hoteliers to come together and recognise those who have helped to shape, change and make a lasting contribution to the industry. Furthermore, the Independent Hotelier of the Year Award is joined by the inaugural Outstanding New Hotel of the Year Award. The shortlist and subsequent instructions for how to vote for the nominees of this accolade will be announced shortly.