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The PoB Hotels collection has undergone a major rebranding process. Formerly known as the Pride of Britain Hotels the collection has taken a jump into the modern day. POB Hotels now encompassed “relaxed, modern luxury” showcases a range of independent hotels dotted around the British Isles which keep inspiring guests to discover new hotel experiences.
Tell me a little about the history of PoB Hotels?
It all began in 1982, when a group of passionate hoteliers joined forces to create an iconic British hotel collection. Led by the industry titan, Gerald Milsom, these hoteliers were driven by all things hospitality, quality and creating happy moments for guests. The beauty of the collection then and now remains the celebration of individuality and championing the independent spirit of our hotels. Today, our collection includes distinct hotels across the UK and Channel Islands.
How do new members join the collection? Do they apply or do you choose them?
We only invite the very best independent hotels to join our collection, the hotels go through a meticulous process before they can join the membership, the steps include an inspection and review by me, then a board member visit before we invite all existing members to participate in a ballot. A majority vote is required for the prospective hotel to be accepted to PoB Hotels.
How pleased are you with the additions of Cromlix and Prestonfield House? What makes these hotels good candidates for the PoB?
We are thrilled to welcome Cromlix and Prestonfield House into PoB Hotels, expanding our collection of independent hotels in Scotland. The essence of PoB Hotels is built on British heritage, honouring provenance and sincere, authentic service, all qualities that we know these hotels depict within the day to day operations and guest experiences. Both hotels have incredible history, steeped in tradition both within their location and local community.
Scotland is always a key area of interest for our guests, so we are delighted to share these new destinations with them.
What are you looking for in a PoB member?
Our hotels have not only been invited into the collection as a result of being beautifully appointed, but also for being operated by some of the finest hoteliers and most caring families. Our properties reflect an ambition to offer the very best hospitality experiences in some of the most inspiring locations, driven by respect for our teams, our guests and the environment in which we operate, while keeping negative impact to a minimum so future generations may also enjoy these wonderful experiences.
We look for the independent and unique nature of our hotels which in turn offers our guests varied adventures and opportunities to explore. To ensure the highest standards of quality and comfort, we inspect every one of our hotels annually.
How do you think PoB Hotels supports independent-owned hotels?
Being a member of this esteemed community is a great way for an independent hotel to amplify its brand and benefit from our multitude of marketing services. Our members can draw from the expertise and knowledge of fellow members, and we also organise forums on any topic that is relevant to them. The strength of the brand, marketing efforts and our mark of quality however remain integral.
Moreover, our recent partnership with EarthCheck is just one example of how we are supporting and strengthening the independent hotel sector. As well as guidance on sustainability, hotel members have access to open table discussions, charitable opportunities with chosen charity Hospitality Action, and recruitment and sales assistance and advice. I ensure that my day-to-day role always prioritises supporting members that do not always have the funds or resources of bigger chain brands, in order to grow British luxury hospitality in the face of ongoing obstacles.
What is the future for the PoB?
We have just launched our new brand along with our new website that is centred around the guest experience, new gift vouchers and also our annual coffee table style book. We hope to take our sustainability goals even further this year. Sue Williams, General Manager of Whatley Manor is our Sustainability Brand Ambassador and Guide and we will be working together with the aim to have more members embark on becoming carbon responsible, 25% of our members have already signed up to EarthCheck.
2023 has already been a huge year for us, following our transformation into a new brand, representing an entirely new era for PoB Hotels but we have more to come through the year and beyond. This spring we will launch further features on our website to help guests plan their next break in the British Isles.
