Olga Polizzi and Hotel Gotham scoop top awards at Independent Hotel Show

Olga Polizzi was named Independent Hotelier of the Year and Hotel Gotham in Manchester won the Outstanding New Hotel award at the Independent Hotel Show last night.

Polizzi, daughter of legendary hotelier Lord Forte, said she was delighted to have won an award that was judged by her peers.

She explained that while she was involved as a partner in her brother's company, Rocco Forte Hotels, she was most proud of the hotels she personally owns: the Tresanton in St Mawes and Hotel Endsleigh in Milton Abbot, Devon.

"This is such a hard industry to do well in," she told the audience. "My father said you had to have been dropped on your head to go into this business."

Polizzi beat opposition from fellow hoteliers Robin Hutson, Danny Pecorelli, Robert Nadler, Tim Hart, and Neil Kedward and Zoe Agar.

Meanwhile, Hotel Gotham's success came just six months after the quirky 60-bedroom property, operated by Bespoke Hotels, opened.

Managing director Jeff Ward said he was overwhelmed to have won the award against such strong opposition, which included Dormy House in Broadway and the Coach House at Middleton Lodge in Richmond, North Yorkshire, as well as three hotels in London: the Artist Residence, the Beaumont and the Great Northern.

"The hotel has been so well received and we're already achieving occupancies of around 90%, as well as high rates," he said. "This is brilliant news for Manchester."