Celtic Manor Resort Chief Executive Ian Edwards has been named European Hotelier of the Year 2015 at the European Hospitality Awards.
Mr Edwards was the only UK hotelier shortlisted for the award and saw off competition from eight other leading managers from prestigious continental hotels like Le Bristol in Paris, Munich’s Charles Hotel and Rome’s Hotel Splendide Royale.
The award was judged over a period when Mr Edwards led Celtic Manor’s successful staging of the 2014 NATO Summit, the largest gathering of world leaders ever held in the UK.
He also oversaw the development of detailed plans for a new Wales International Convention Centre, which secured full planning permission during the summer, and presided over another record year of growth at the five-star resort in South Wales.
Mr Edwards said: “I am very proud to receive this award but I recognise that I accept it in on behalf of every one of the fantastic team I am fortunate to lead at Celtic Manor.
“This has been a momentous year for the resort and it is very pleasing that the efforts of the whole team have been rewarded in this way.
“We are also fortunate to have a visionary owner in Sir Terry Matthews. The resort continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to seeing more growth and enjoying more success in the future.”
Mr Edwards was promoted from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive in 2014. Since 2008 and his return to the resort in a senior management role, revenues have grown by 60 per cent at Celtic Manor.
Average bedroom occupancy is now 90 per cent, meaning on average 360 bedrooms are sold every night – an outstanding return for any UK hotel outside London.
With 25 years of industry experience, which includes opening hotels as general manager, he has a thorough knowledge of what it takes to provide an offering that is attractive to visitors and clients across Celtic Manor’s many diverse operations.
Mr Edwards also sits on the Welsh Government’s ReNewport Task Force, charged with revitalising the City of Newport, and is Chair of the South East Wales Tourism Network.
The European Hotelier of the Year award is the latest in an array of leading awards won by the Celtic Manor Resort. The venue for golf’s Ryder Cup in 2010 was voted Europe’s Leading Golf Resort and the UK Sport Venue of the Year in 2011, and has been voted the UK’s Best Hotel at the Meetings and Incentive Travel Awards for four years running from 2011-2014.
The Celtic Manor Resort www.celtic-manor.com
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