The Claremont Hotel is sponsoring the award for Innovation & Independent Thinking at this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

As a leading hotel on the Isle of Man, the Claremont is well versed in innovative design.

The Claremont alone maintains the coveted 4-Star Gold Award.

It seems only fitting, therefore, that the Claremont is this year’s sponsor of the award for innovation and independent thinking.

The award celebrates the effective application of both original and creative thought, which the company says is ’an ethos at the heart of the Claremont’s success’.

The Claremont itself has been a recipient of recent awards, having scooped the prizes for both customer service and company of the year, as such the company says it ise looking forward to handing the metaphorical torch to the next wave of creative thinkers.

Mark Wilson, managing director of Sleepwell Hotels, said: ’The Claremont is looking forward to presenting this specific award as, just as the Isle of Man sets the standard globally for the eGaming sector and is world leader in telecommunications, so the Claremont aims to replicate this within the local hospitality industry.’

This year has seen the Claremont push innovation even further.

In May, it became the first company within the hospitality sector to move all staff to at least the minimum living wage, a decision based on Tynwald’s recent recommendations. The Claremont says it knows that the reputation and success of a company is largely due to its staff.

Mark said: ’Not only is this increase a reward for our current staff, the new minimum pay rate is one we can use as a base for trainees and junior staff and reflects our desire to recruit and develop the very best people in the industry.’

As part of the Claremont’s development, 2018 also saw the design completion in a number of new executive business suites, part of an ongoing multi-million-pound renovation.

With ’contemporary’ interiors, separate lounge areas, smart television sets, luxury wet rooms and an integrated multimedia workspace, its next phase of rooms ’redefine the standards of comfort and luxury available for Isle of Man business travellers’, hotel bosses said.

Mark added: ’We are very proud to be involved in the Awards for Excellence.

’As a sponsor, we are also delighted to be able to celebrate and recognise the innovators and forward-thinkers that make the Isle of Man such an exciting place to be.’

â?¢ Is your company an innovator in its field? Tell everyone about it by entering Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

Innovation& Independent Thinking is one of 16 award categories offering opportunities for companies of all sizes, individuals, public sector teams and charitable and cultural organisations.

You can find full details and download entry forms at www.excellence-awards.im.