Christmas has come early for staff at a luxury 4* hotel and spa after it was crowned the winner of two prestigious accolades at the New Forest Business Partnership’s (NFBP) Brilliance in Business Awards 2019.
Balmer Lawn Hotel, nestled in the heart of the New Forest, close to Lyndhurst, scooped the headlining New Forest Business of the Year award and the Totton College Award for Training and Development, during the 14th annual NFBP awards at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Brockenhurst-based Balmer Lawn Hotel, which is renowned for its tasteful blend of contemporary and traditional décor, was recognised for demonstrating its ambitious growth plans whilst recognising the value of developing and nurturing staff talent to achieve such aspiring goals.
Chris Wilson, who has been running the luxury Hampshire hotel for 22 years with his wife Alison, said: “I genuinely thought the awards ceremony was coming to a close when they announced that all the category winners were nominated for the prestigious Business of the Year Award. I was amazed that we won, speechless to be honest. I cannot convey how proud Alison and I are of the entire team. Every single one of them has won this award. With over 9,000 businesses located within the New Forest this is a very important award, and to be judged and to have won in the face of such amazing company is truly fantastic.
“We are also very proud to win the Totton College Award for Training and Development, which is a huge achievement in its own right.”
Over 150 company representatives gathered to celebrate the success of local businesses at the awards, which aims to provide business support in the New Forest, fuelling economic growth by advancing relations between local business and local government, as well as building business-to-business relationships.
NFBP is made up of the entire spectrum of businesses located in the New Forest, from engineering companies, food producers and investment companies, to digital design/marketing companies and many hospitality businesses.
The spa hotel’s General Manager, Michael Clitheroe, who was shortlisted as a finalist in the acclaimed 49 Award for Entrepreneurship at the event, said: “The hotel has undergone a huge transformation over the last five years, both as a local and regional business and as a fantastic industry leading employer. We’re very proud to receive these awards in recognition of an incredible team achievement.”
