Red Carnation founder Beatrice Tollman wins Hotelier of the Year at European Hospitality Awards
Beatrice Tollman, founder and president of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, has been awarded Hotelier of the Year at the European Hospitality Awards 2012.
The award recognised continuingly high levels of service, excellence and luxury across all of the collection's five- and four-star properties in Europe, which include the Milestone hotel in Kensington, the Old Government House Hotel and Spa (Guernsey's only five-star property) and the Hotel d'Angleterre in Geneva.
Tollman said: "I'm humbled and honoured to have been recognised for doing something that I truly love, each and every day. I thank the judges, the fantastic teams at all of my hotels and of course my wonderful family, many of whom are involved in the business, too. My driving passion is to make every stay memorable for every single guest, to make them feel truly welcomed and special and I believe having this at the heart of everything we do is what has led to this award and many of the others we are lucky to have received."
The judges said: "Personifying the value of having a genuine hotelier running the show, Beatrice Tollman has never lost sight of the guiding principle of hospitality: service. After five decades in the industry, Beatrice's ongoing involvement on the front line of her hotels is an inspiration, setting the standards for the next generations to follow."
Jonathan Raggett, managing director of Red Carnation Hotels, added: "Mrs Tollman really is an inspiration. She has an innate sense of what it takes to make the guest experience truly exceptional and she cares deeply about this and also about the staff that deliver this experience daily in each of our properties. We are very lucky to have her at the helm challenging and encouraging us to be the best that we can."
Judges for the European Hospitality Awards included Ted Tang, CEO of Leading Hotels of the World, Peter Bierwirth, president of the Hotel Managers Association, and Claus Sendlinger, CEO and president of Design Hotels.
The other winners were:
Green Hotel of the Year - Hotels van Oranje, Netherlands
New Build of the Year - Refurbishment & Renovation - Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin, Ireland
International Hotel of the Year - Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, Shanghai
Best Hotel Suite - Dorchester Collection - 45 Park Lane, London
Interior Design of the Year - Hotel TOPAZZ, Lenikus Group, Vienna
Hotel Technology of the Year - Blow up Hall 50 50, Poland
Hotelier of the Year - Mrs. Beatrice Tollman, London
Hotel Spa of the Year - Hotel Le Bristol Paris, Le Spa du Bristol by La Prairie, Paris
Best Hotel Restaurant - Hotel Le Bristol Paris, Epicure, Paris
Hotel Service of the Year - Best for Service - Hotel Hessischer Hof, Frankfurt
Lifetime Achievement Award - Kurt Ritter, CEO Rezidor Hotel Group
Overall winner for 2012 - Hotel Le Bristol Paris, Epicure, Paris
By Neil Gerrard
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