The Celtic Manor Resort has been named the UK’s Best Hotel at the Meetings & Incentive Travel Awards in London.

The five-star venue in Newport regained the Gold Award and has now been voted the UK’s Best Hotel six times in the last seven years.

The resort held off strong competition from five other shortlisted venues including Chewton Glen, Cliveden and The Belfry to retain the coveted accolade.

Confirming Celtic Manor’s position as the leading destination for events in the UK, the accolade recognises another outstanding year for Celtic Manor when it once again returned record revenues, acquired a neighbouring 148-bedroom hotel and secured the final funding agreements to begin construction this month on the new International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) for 5,000 delegates.

Voted for by readers of Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the award was presented at a gala at London’s Battersea Evolution hosted by Eamonn Holmes on Friday night (March 3). As well as winning the hotel award, Celtic Manor was also a finalist for the first time in the Best UK Conference Venue category.

Celtic Manor Resort chief executive Ian Edwards said: “This has been another incredible year of growth for Celtic Manor and we are delighted to be named Best UK Hotel once again.

“What is most pleasing about this award is that it is voted for by the industry professionals who are our conference and events clients. It is very reassuring to know that we are so highly regarded for exceeding their expectations. This award is dedicated to our entire Resort team who work so hard to make achievements like this possible.

“We have had a very busy 12 months but the year ahead looks even more exciting as we prepare to break ground on constructing the new ICC Wales which will be a real game-changer in terms of the major events we can bring to Celtic Manor and to Wales, delivering a huge boost to the Welsh economy.”

The existing large and versatile convention centre at Celtic Manor is complemented by four hotels, 10 executive Hunter Lodges, three championship golf courses, eight restaurants, luxury spas and team-building adventure activities, making the Resort a unique destination venue.

The convention centre houses the Caernarfon Suite which can seat 1,200 delegates for a keynote lecture or 900 dining guests for a gala dinner. An additional 31 syndicate and meeting rooms with break-out areas can cater for every event from a small meeting around a table to large presentations for hundreds of people.

The Celtic Manor Resort is located at Junction 24 of the M4.