Chilston Park Hotel named Hand Picked Hotels' hotel of the year
Chilston Park Hotel, near Maidstone, Kent, has been named by Hand Picked Hotels as its hotel of the year, in recognition of the property's outstanding performance in 2014.
Located within a 17th century manor house, the Grade I listed, 68-bedroom hotel is set in 22 acres of parkland, and has four-red-AA-stars and a two-AA-rosette restaurant.
Julia Hands, chairman and chief executive of Hand Picked Hotels, said that guest feedback for the hotel was consistently positive with comments on "the warmth and professionalism of the team in all areas of the hotel".
Headed by general manager Gareth Davies, Chilston Park exceeded its sale and profit targets for last year and enjoys a high level of staff retention.
Chilston Park is one of 21 country house hotels owned by Hand Picked Hotels, created by Hands, a former lawyer, in 1999.
Ten out of the group's 21 hotels have achieved red star status, meaning they are ranked within the AA's Top 200 hotels in the UK & Ireland. Hand Picked Hotels was named AA Hotel Group of the Year 2012-2013.
Chilston Park Hotel was bought from Wyndham International in 1999 and is now a sister hotel to Norton House hotel and spa, Edinburgh; Hendon Hall Hotel, Hendon, London; and Bailbrook House Hotel, Bath, among other properties.
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