The Loughborough University-based four star conference centre and hotel Burleigh Court has won Gold in the Large Hotel of the Year category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2014.

“This is a fantastic accolade for the venue and our hard working, customer focused staff,” said head of sales and marketing, Emma Boynton. “In particular, as a university-owned hotel originally built as part of a conference facility, winning what is essentially the country’s leading leisure hotel award is testament to the high standards we aim for and achieve. Our fellow finalists were all stately homes, castles and luxury resorts so it was a real opportunity to demonstrate why a business focused venue can compete at the very highest levels in the hospitality sector.”

The awards ceremony took place at Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday 12 May. Finalists were judged on key criteria such as customer service, commitment to excellence, staff training and development, accessibility, marketing and promotion, quality improvement and development and sustainability.

Burleigh Court was invited to submit an application for the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2014 after winning Gold in the Hotel of the Year category at the Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards.

Part of a portfolio of venues managed by imago, the unifying brand for Loughborough University’s conference and events venues, Burleigh Court offers business and leisure guests 26 meeting rooms, 150 square metres of exhibition space and 225 en-suite bedrooms with a range of facilities to suit all needs. Other on-site features include a well-equipped gym complete with swimming pool, sauna and a spa offering a range of relaxing treatments.