A prominent Sussex hotel has secured its position among the contenders for a distinguished national travel accolade.
The venue is in the running for the Large Hotel of the Year accolade at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
It joins Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall and Bovey Castle in Devon after progressing through to the final three nominees.
The celebrated seaside property, purchased by Fattal Group, which owns Leonardo Hotels, in 2023, first welcomed guests in 1864 and provides 201 bedrooms.
When the purchase was completed, the new owner outlined plans to invest significantly in enhancing the hotel’s accommodation and facilities while retaining the Grand branding.
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said these awards highlight the best enterprises and people in tourism, who act as the driving force for an industry that generates prosperity for communities across England. He expressed appreciation for their committed work, offered congratulations on making the final shortlist and wished them luck.
The establishment now has the chance to secure gold, silver or bronze at the national presentation.
For more than 35 years, the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence have recognised leading tourism businesses, with categories covering places to stay, customer service, food and drink and accessibility.
Judges for this year’s contest were industry specialists chosen through a rigorous selection procedure.
The results will be announced at a formal evening occasion at Aerospace Bristol on June 3.
The event will be held beneath Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the supersonic passenger jet.
Tickets are on sale now, with a reduced early bird price for the first 100 buyers.
The awards form part of a comprehensive national initiative, with 369 victors emerging from 21 regional contests across England.
Competitors will compete for prizes across 16 main categories, as well as three additional awards: the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award, the Travel Content Award and the Tourism Superstar Award.
This year’s chosen charity is the Family Holiday Charity.
Tourism remains one of England’s biggest industries, providing employment for in excess of two million individuals and adding £127 billion to the economy.