Kent based Hand Picked Hotels, a collection of 14 exquisite country house hotels across the UK and Jersey, has won a national award at the Hotel Marketing Association's (HMA) Fourteenth Annual Marketing Awards, sponsored by American Express.

The accolade for best marketing activity on a small budget was presented at the Intercontinental Hotel in Park Lane, London to Stephen Callis, Marketing Manager, for its successful House Party prize draw initiative. 
 
The House Party campaign was devised to drive business for the conference and incentive market across all 14 Hand Picked Hotels. Designed around a piece of interactive marketing collateral, the grand prize draw gave hotel booking agents the chance of winning an exclusive use, fully paid for  luxury 'house party' for them and their colleagues.  Inntel, the winning team, will be celebrating at Hand Picked’s Chilston Park Hotel, a 17th century manor house set in 23 acres in Lenham, Kent, in January.

Judges assessed the impact of the activity and the volume of business generated and results showed that the campaign, which cost under £5,000, was a huge success, generating circa £200,000 worth of business for the group and securing on average one event booking for 11 of the14 hotels.

Julia Hands, Chairman and CEO of Hand Picked Hotels commented: "I am extremely proud of the marketing team for having achieved this marvelous accolade for the group.  The award represents exceptional drive in creating and executing a successful campaign to generate business for the hotels."

 "It is good to see the industry becoming increasingly professional in its approach to hotel marketing," said Pamela Carvell, chairman of the HMA.

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Notes to Editors:

Hand Picked Hotels
The award-winning Hand Picked Hotels collection, created by former City lawyer Julia Hands, are luxurious country house hotels renowned for exquisite food, fine wines and excellent service in stylish, relaxing surroundings. There are 14 hotels across the UK, with locations ranging from the New Forest and Jersey to Yorkshire and Edinburgh. 

Hand Picked Hotels has focused on the quality of its service and cuisine and in the last three years 12 hotels have achieved two AA rosette status with Norton House in Edinburgh winning three AA rosettes.  Six hotels have achieved red star status, being recognised as amongst the AA's Top 200 hotels in the UK & Ireland. In 2007, Julia Hands was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to the hospitality industry.
 
Hotel Marketing Awards
Sponsored by American Express, the Hotel Marketing Awards are the only dedicated recognition scheme, which celebrate good practice in hotel marketing and are judged by industry experts. The HMA is the official industry group of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and its members comprise sales and marketing specialists and operators of both independent and chain hotels. 

For media information on Hand Picked Hotels please contact Natalie Amos/Lisa Ronchetti at Four Communications at hph@fourcommunications.com < mailto:hph@fourcommunications.com>  or telephone +44 (0)870 444 4568