A YORK hotel which was named the best in the city earlier in the year is hoping to build on its award success in 2018 with a win at The Press Business Awards.

Grays Court Hotel & The Bow Room Restaurant is an independently owned hotel and restaurant in the heart of York. The house was bought in 2005 and proprietor, Helen Heraty, has worked to turn the former educational facility into York’s premier destination for food and overnight stays.

Following a lengthy re-development process, amid the recession, Grays Court officially opened to the public in 2009 and remains owned and run by Ms Heaty.

Awarded the Visit York Hotel of the Year 2018 title, Grays Court has continually evolved and succeeds in delivering exemplary levels of service for guests, and is now hoping for a place on the shortlist of the Retail, Tourism and Leisure award.

Accompanying the Visit York win this year, The Bow Room Restaurant successfully achieved a 2 AA Rosette rating in May 2018.

Sarah Czarnecki, business development manager at the hotel, which employs a team of 20, said: “Guest feedback for both the hotel and restaurant is consistently high. We currently run on 80 per cent occupancy rates for our bedrooms and have seen a 50 per cent increase in bookings for our Bow Room Restaurant in the last six months.

“These tenets help to demonstrate the appropriateness of our offering for our target market.”

Staff employed at the hotel and restaurant are selected through use of a rigorous criterion which includes demonstrable customer service skills, knowledge and passion for food and drink and the ability to deliver exceptional customer service.

Upon employment Grays Court staff complete a comprehensive induction and business familiarisation process including being briefed on the rich and diverse history of the hotel and core values of the business.

Ms Czarnecki added: “Grays Court prides itself on providing visiting customers with a friendly, professional and individualised service without being obtrusive or overbearing.”