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2009 Hotel Report Awards
19th February 2009
Banqueting House, Whitehall
Brands triumph at Hotel Report Awards
Click here to see all the winners
See all the photos from this year's event
The branded operators were recognised at this year's Hotel Report Awards, as IHG, Hilton and Starwood all picked up prizes.
Hilton's Doubletree brand, which it introduced to the UK last year, was named Rising Star at the event, which was held at the Banqueting House on London's Whitehall and attended by senior players in the industry.
Hilton owner Blackstone was named Investor of the Year, after last year winning Deal of the Year for re-uniting the group.
The Hotel Report Awards are chosen by the industry itself, with an academy of over 300 sector leaders deciding the shortlist, then the finalists chosen by a wider vote.
InterContinental Hotels Group was feted in the Innovator in CSR category for its Innovation Hotel. Further innovation in the market was rewarded at City Inn, which was named Innovator of the Year, for its installation of iMacs across the group's portfolio.
Katherine Doggrell, editor of Hotel Report, said: "Despite the straitened times, crisis brings out the best in the sector, which has met the challenges with imagination and flexibility.
"There have been casualties, but there have also been deals, new openings, even new brand launches. Reports of the sector's death have been greatly exaggerated, as can be seen by this year's winners."
Imagination and flexibility were present in the choice of Individual of the Year, which this year went to Whitbread's Alan Parker.
Doggrell said: "Under Alan Parker, Whitbread has been streamlined to focus on its Costa Coffee and Premier Inn products, with the latter now the UK's biggest hotel chain. In the past year the group has also announced a ‘green hotel' and an apprenticeship scheme."
TRI Hospitality Consulting made it the second year in a row as the group's advice to the sector, backed by its research and analysis, continued to be essential to many in the market.
Deal of the Year this year was awarded to Arora International's £309m deal with Airport Property Partnership, which will enable it to bolster its airport holdings.
Kempinski's expansion into China and Russia was named as the emerging markets deal of the year, with a pipeline of over 10 hotels in Russia and eastern Europe and 10 hotels and a luxury train service in China.
The single asset deal of the year gong went to Starwood, for its sale and manageback of the Turnberry, which after an extensive £30m restoration will become a member of the group's Luxury Collection portfolio. Starwood was advised by Jones Lang LaSalle Europe on the deal.
The winners received a Savoy plate, from the auction made before the property's refurbishment, signed by Anton Edelmann and Marcus Wareing, two of the hotel's most distinguished alumni.
Hotel Report wishes to thank its generous sponsors: BDO Stoy Hayward and TRI Hospitality Consulting.
