KENT-based Hand Picked Hotels, a collection of 14 country house hotels across the UK and Jersey, has won a national award at the Hotel Marketing Association’s (HMA) fourteenth annual marketing awards, sponsored by American Express.

The accolade for best marketing activity on a small budget was presented at the Intercontinental Hotel in Park Lane, London to Stephen Callis, marketing manager, for its successful House Party prize draw initiative.

The House Party campaign was devised to drive business for the conference and incentive market across all 14 Hand Picked Hotels, including Chilston Park Hotel, near Lenham.

Designed around a piece of interactive marketing collateral, the grand prize draw gave hotel booking agents the chance of winning an exclusive use, fully paid for luxury house party for them and their colleagues.

Judges assessed the impact of the activity and the volume of business generated and results showed that the campaign, which cost under £5,000, was a huge success, generating more than £200,000 worth of business for the group and securing on average one event booking for 11 of the14 hotels.

Julia Hands, chairman and CEO, said: "I am extremely proud of the marketing team for having achieved this marvelous accolade for the group. The award represents exceptional drive in creating and executing a successful campaign to generate business for the hotels."