Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa has become the first property in York to be awarded five AA stars. Opened in May 2010 in the former Edwardian headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, it is also the only hotel in Yorkshire with five AA stars.
General manager Maria Florou said: "The team here deserve enormous credit for what they have done - they have worked incredibly hard and have put their heart and soul into this project. But we all know that an even greater challenge lies ahead, and that is maintaining and even exceeding the high standards that we have set for ourselves."
The AA has also awarded two rosettes the hotel's Grill Room restaurant, where Martin Henley is head chef.
Despite a difficult start - during which several senior staff left the hotel, including the original general manager Andrew Coney - the 107-bedroom hotel has gone on to win a raft of awards including, the Hotel of the Year accolade at the York Tourism Awards.
The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa is part of the Cedar Court Hotels group, which is Yorkshire's largest independent collection of hotels with properties in Wakefield, Leeds/Bradford, Harrogate and Huddersfield/Halifax. It is the 15th hotel outside London to hold five AA stars, and one of only 91 properties in the UK to hold the accolade.
Just Opened - Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa >>
York's Cedar Court Grand hotel hit by staff departures >>
Minute on the Clock - Anthony Seddon, head butler at Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa >>
By Janet Harmer
E-mail your comments to Janet Harmer here.
If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.catererandhotelkeeper.com/tabletalk
Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs
E-newsletters
For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our E-newsletters