Hotel chain director Robin Hutson has been named Hotelier of the Year 2003 at an award ceremony.

Mr Hutson, the director of the Hotel du Vin chain, which has a hotel in Brighton, was given the accolade at the annual Caterer and Hotelkeeper Magazine awards.

The Hotelier of the Year Award was established in 1983 and is one of the highest accolades in the industry.

Mr Hutson, who was presented with the trophy at a special lunch at One Aldwych, last year's winner of the prize, thanked his three co-directors Gerard Basset, Charlie Morgan and Peter Chittick.

The award rounds off a successful year for the hotel chain with its sixth hotel opening in Harrogate last year.

Wednesday January 07, 2004