A Scottish hotel has been announced as the inaugural winner of a new hospitality award which recognises 'outstanding service and attention to detail'.
A victory for Gleneagles was voted for by a panel of 580 hoteliers, travel journalists, consultants and 'seasoned luxury travellers' ahead of an upcoming ceremony to reveal a full list of the World's 50 Best Hotels for 2023.
The Art of Hospitality Award is said to have been designed to 'reward a property and its entire staff' for the professional standards they uphold and the way they interact with guests, from the reception desk to housekeeping and its food and beverage teams.
Judges were asked to consider the ambience created in the hotel, the delivery of unique experiential elements and the overall warmth of the hospitality and environment when casting their vote.
Conor O’Leary, managing director of The Gleneagles Hotel, said: “It’s an incredible honour to be the first recipient of the Art of Hospitality Award, part of the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023.
"It’s all down to the incredible people that make up the team at Gleneagles, without them this wouldn’t be possible, and this award is a celebration of their hard work and commitment to making each and every guest’s stay a truly unique and memorable experience.
"The Gleneagles Hotel is unlike anywhere else in the world and we strive to offer service which is also second to none, so to receive this recognition is very special”.
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The award win comes as The Gleneagles Hotel prepares to celebrate its centenary year, having first opened in the Highlands in 1924.
The hotel was purchased by Ennismore in 2015 and now offers a range of restaurants and bars, including the Century Bar, the 1920s-inspired American Bar and the only 2 Michelin Star restaurant in Scotland, Andrew Fairlie.
Tim Brooke-Webb, managing director for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, said: “The Gleneagles Hotel has been a mainstay on the hotel scene since its original iteration in 1924 and continues to prove itself as an example of what it means to be truly hospitable.
"We are leading with the Art of Hospitality as our first special award announced ahead of the inaugural awards ceremony, as we believe that it is the staff who bring one-of-a-kind experiences and hotels to life.
"In a world that is fascinated by the new, we are especially pleased to be celebrating the people behind this historic hotel which is led emphatically by Conor O’Leary”.
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The World's 50 Best Hotels 2023 awards ceremony will take place at London's historic Guildhall on Tuesday, September 19.
For more information on how the winners are selected, click here.
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