Joan Reen named Relais & Chateaux Woman of the Year
Joan Reen, owner with her husband Rob of Ynyshir Hall in Powys, mid-Wales, has been named as Woman of the Year by Relais & Chateaux.
She was presented with the accolade during the 40th international congress of the hotel consortium, Paris.
The citation accompanying the award said: "After a couple of rough years, Joan is back at the top of her game and the stately home is more magical than ever," referring to the Reens' struggle to regain ownership of the 10-bedroom hotel after previous owner Von Essen went into administration and her more personal battle against cancer.
Speaking after the presentation, Reen said that she was "completely amazed" by the award. "To follow in the steps as such iconic women as Dominque L'Oiseau and Liz McGrath is astonishing.
"Being based at a tiny hotel in Wales, I didn't think anyone knew where I was. But the lovely thing about Relais & Chateaux is that that the people really do care and anyone who has been following my story over the past few years will know how tough it has been.
"After five years of neglect by Von Essen, we are putting the hotel right again and it is now looking better than ever before."
Reen explained that she is now well on the way to recovery after responding well to treatment for cancer.
The Reens bought back Ynyshir Hall in 2012, the year after Von Essen went into administration. They had originally opened the house as a hotel in 1989, before selling it to Von Essen in 2006.
Relais & Chateaux has 530 members in 60 countries worldwide.
Original owners buy back Ynyshir Hall from Von Essen's administrators >>
