Devon's Bovey Castle wins prestigious award

Devon's Bovey Castle has been named one of the best small hotels in the UK for the second time in a decade. The Eden Hotel Collection – which operates Bovey Castle in Dartmoor – has been named Small Hotel Group of the Year at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards that highlight the very best in British hospitality, honouring achievements across fifteen categories, reflecting the industry's commitment to innovation, quality and environmental responsibility.

Eden was recognised for its consistency in quality and service delivery and for the excellent work around its employee experience, as well as its broader efforts in tackling sustainability. Eden's award win follows a year that has se Investment has also stretched to its 500-strong workforce, including the launch of an app-based employee recognition programme called The Happy Hub, which includes activities that help to promote positive hormones – such as the ability to recognise a colleague with an e-card, an employee of the month initiative, and monetary recognitions for long service.

For guests, Eden is also commencing its Inspired By programme which brings to life the story of each hotel's character for visitors while at the same time focusing on growing its produce on-site and utilising local suppliers has also continued to develop. This complements the collection's ability to recycle 100 per cent of its waste, with 30 per cent directly recycled, 50 per cent converted into renewable energy, and 20 per cent processed by anaerobic digestion.

Dean Gunston, general manager at Bovey Castle, said: "It takes something special to be recognised in this way by the AA, and it comes just a few months after we clinched gold for Large Hotel of the Year in both the South West Tourism Excellence Awards and the Devon Tourism Awards."

Dean adds, "We are extremely proud of this award as there has been a monumental effort from people throughout our team to raise the bar regarding the visitor experience and further establish Bovey as a special place to visit."

Mark Chambers, managing director at The Eden Hotel Collection, said: "The AA Hospitality Awards are the holy grail for any hospitality business, so to be recognised as the best in our field for the second time in a decade is a testament to our people and the consistent delivery of excellence across all of our hotels.

Mark adds, "As a business, everything we do feeds into providing the highest possible quality of service – from investing in our facilities, through to helping our people to be the best versions of themselves in terms of their skillsets, but also supporting them with everyday life, too. "Reputation and recommendations are key tools for success for any hospitality business, so this latest award win provides a fantastic launchpad for each of our five hotels to build on the great work they are already doing in their communities to attract guests from the local area and further afield." Simon Numphud, managing director at AA Media, expressed his pride in the resilience and creativity shown by the UK's hospitality sector in 2024, "This incredible celebration is a true testament to the strength and innovation within our industry. The dedication and excellence demonstrated by all the hospitality teams have been inspiring. Congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and new Rosette holders for their remarkable contributions."

www.edenhotelcollection.com