THE Abbey Hotel in Tintern has won a regional Marketing Hotel of the Year award in a competition sponsored by brewers Carlsberg Tetley.

The hotel was also voted runner-up in the national category.

The awards ceremony was held at the Arundel Hilton Hotel in West Sussex.

The Abbey Hotel's managing director Robert Cook, and financial director David George were presented with their prizes by David Elliott, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners and Geoff Cole, national accounts manager for Carlsberg Tetley.

"It was very gratifying to receive this award," said Mr George. "We knew we had to promote the hotel properly and have worked hard on the marketing. It's good to know that other professionals agree we are going about things the right way."

Mr Cook and Mr George took over what was the Beaufort Hotel just over a year ago, and have worked hard to transform the hotel and upgrade its facilities and service levels sufficiently to gain a third AA star.

"But all of this would be to no avail," said Mr Cook, "if no-one ever heard of you. "That's where the marketing comes in.

"With the help of Alistair Cook Graphic Design we developed a new name, branding and visual image for our promotional literature.

"We also undertook a six-month marketing strategy review which we are in the early stages of implementing."

The men have received support from the WDA, and Mr Cook is very grateful to the agency.

He said: "They have also helped us develop an interactive CD which is enabling us to promote the hotel across the UK and around the world.

"This was produced for us by Shooting Scenes, a local company based near Abergavenny."

* Pictured, from left, Geoff Cole, former showjumper Nick Skelton and his wife Bettina, who now run a hotel, David George, Robert Cook and David Elliot