IT is easy to see why Maureen Rowlatt?s guests have nominated her for a tourism Oscar ? she lavishes such luxury on them it?s amazing they ever go home.

Maureen, who runs the ?romantic retreat? Tor Cottage at Chillaton, is one of three finalists throughout the country in line for an Outstanding Customer Service Award.

The judges will decide the winner at the national Excellence in England Awards in London on April 23. The awards, known as the ?tourism Oscars?, aim to promote and reward quality in the tourism industry. The competition is organised by the English Tourism Council.

Maureen, 65, has only been running her holiday retreat for four years in what was a complete change of career. She runs it in partnership with her daughter Amanda Loxton and, in that short time, they have notched up an impressive array of accolades .

In the first year she got an Oscar for accommodation of the year for England. In the second year came the Which Hotel Brilliance award and last year the AA accommodation of the year for England award.

Maureen is particularly delighted with reaching the finals of the Outstanding Customer Service Award because she is nominated by the guests.

?That is nice. I spoil them to death. Pampering is the buzz word here. Arrivals are greeted with fruit, flowers, champagne and truffles,? said Maureen, who presents couples at her ?romantic retreat? with breakfasts of champagne, smoked salmon and strawberries.

?It means a lot because this is much more than a business to me. We have a lovely team of staff. Before starting this I had never done anything like it before and I love doing it.

?It?s fun and my guests love it, we are already booked into 2004.?