Shire Hotels and Red Carnation Hotels are both winners in this year's RAC group awards.
The hotel guide publisher named Shire Hotels the RAC Group of the Year because its eight properties were judged to offer the most consistent standards of service and customer care.
Red Carnation scooped the RAC Credit to the Industry award, which is given to small independent hotel groups which have invested significantly in quality.
Inspectors felt Red Carnation's one Dorset and five London hotels had set new standards of excellence in customer service, offered a relaxed ambience and served delicious food.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 30 September 2004