A WEST Devon hotel is celebrating after winning the 2011 best business hotel award from South West Tourism.

Adam Fox-Edwards, managing director of the Arundell Arms at Lifton said he was 'thrilled' the hotel had won such a prestigious award.

Adam said: 'This year we are celebrating 50 years of my family being at the hotel and so it is doubly rewarding.

'We are well known for our country sports and fine food but the business meetings we host and how we look after our business guests are every bit as important.

'This award recognizes that and it is a great reflection on the whole team at the hotel.'

The South West Tourism Excellence Awards are the 'official' tourism awards for the region, linking closely with the awards in Cornwall, Devon and Bristol as well as forming the regional heat of the national Visit England awards.

A total of 350 entries were considered for the awards, with all entrants undergoing a short-listing process and more than 100 going on to be visited by a team of 25 judges and mystery shoppers.

This year's judging was the tightest ever, with winners separated by fractions in their mystery shop scores and requiring lengthy debates amongst the judging panel.

The Arundell Arms Hotel is a 300 year-old former coaching inn and is now one of the country's leading sporting, country house and business hotels. Among its many awards, it includes three AA stars and two rosettes for food as well as winning silver in the 2011 Taste of the West Awards.

The hotel has been family owned and run since 1961 by the Fox-Edwards family.

Chairman of the panel, Alistair Handyside, said: 'These finalists represent the best of the best tourism businesses in the South West.

'The visitor economy is crucial to our region and these businesses are an example to all of us, to show what can be achieved in these challenging times.'