Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director of Red Carnation Hotels, has just been voted 2009 Hotelier of the Year at the Hotel Cateys Awards. Red Carnation's Director of Human Resources and Training, Liz McGivern, received the Human Resources Manager of the Year Award.

The Hotel Catey's are regarded as the Oscars of the hotel industry, with the winners nominated, selected and rewarded by their peers. This year's awards were presented at a glittering dinner attended by 600 industry guests at the Lancaster Hotel London.

Jonathan joined Red Carnation Hotels, a luxury collection of five and four-star family run boutique properties, in 1998 as General Manager of The Rubens Hotel. In 2000 he was promoted to Managing Director, overseeing the rapid expansion to the thirteen international properties the group now operates across three continents.

He commented, "I'm delighted, but humbled, to accept this award. It reflects the terrific effort made by every single member of the Red Carnation Team. We are a small family run collection of five and four-star hotels who fight the big chains for business. We will never have the same Sales and Marketing spend as these players, so it is my belief that we need to make an even better job of taking care of our guests. Our promise - 'No request is too large, no detail too small' - puts huge demands on every member of staff, but we are fortunate to have a group of individuals who are passionately committed to rising to the challenge."

He adds, "I'm also very proud to work with Liz McGivern and would like to congratulate her on an achievement that is thoroughly deserved."

These awards are just the latest in a host of top accolades that have been heaped upon the boutique hotel collection in 2009. The five star Milestone Hotel was recently voted No.1 British Hotel in the Cond� Nast Traveler Gold List World's Best Hotels 2009. Bushman's Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat has also been voted Number 1 Hotel in the World 2009 by Travel+Leisure.

Founder and owner of the Red Carnation collection, Mrs Beatrice Tollman, commented, "I'm delighted that Jonathan and Liz have been honoured with these tremendous accolades. They are two exceptional individuals whose talent and dedication would do any organisation proud. They are a credit, and an inspiration, to the entire Red Carnation Team".

Image Download: A selection of the hotel's images can be downloaded at www.rchimages.co.uk in high resolution.

RED CARNATION is a boutique collection of 5 and 4 star family run hotels. LONDON: The Milestone Hotel, overlooking Kensington Palace; "41", overlooking Buckingham Palace's Royal Mews; The Egerton House Hotel, in Knightsbridge;The Rubens at the Palace, opposite Buckingham Palace; The Montague on the Gardens, adjacent to the British Museum; The Chesterfield Mayfair, in the heart of Mayfair DORSET: Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, Evershot GUERNSEY: The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, Channel Islands GENEVA: Hotel d'Angleterre, overlooking Lake Geneva, Switzerland PALM BEACH: The Chesterfield Palm Beach, Florida

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www.redcarnationhotels.com Email: book@rchmail.com FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Arnelle Kendall at: USA: (561) 659-2174 UK: 0791 770 8666 Email: akendall@rchmail.com SOUTH AFRICA: The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat, in the heart of the Cederberg Mountains in the Western Cape; The Oyster Box , Umhlanga, KwaZulu Natal