Felpham hotel joins global network

Robert Warham has been the first accommodation provider in the area to link his business with the Best Western brand.

This means the Beachcroft Hotel is the only member between Portsmouth and Brighton currently in the world's largest hotel network.

The benefits are already starting to flow just after the link-up became official on Monday, March 2.

Five guests have booked the Beachcroft through its Best Western association.

A first conference arranged by Best Western is also taking place there next week. Mr Warham said: "We are proud to be part of the Best Western portfolio.

"We believe this is an important step for tourism in the area."

It is also the first time in seven years that a hotel around Bognor is part of a larger organisation.

Each Best Western hotel is independently owned but is linked with 280 others in the UK and more than 4,100 worldwide.

Keith Pope, Best Western's director of membership services, said: "At Best Western, we support independent hoteliers, helping them to generate new business through a global brand, sales, revenue management and distribution."

The acceptance by the Best Western bosses after a six month assessment comes three-and-a-half years after Mr Warham took over the Beachcroft.

He has since spent about 210,000 improving the 35 bedroom premises. His first benefit was to be awarded 3* AA status last April.

Last November saw him scoop three prizes in the Arun business awards.

But he had to improve even further to meet Best Western standards.

Among the work required was fitting electronic locks to all bedroom doors and providing free wi-fi in all rooms and public areas.

This is on top of the refurbishment he had already carried out.

This included new carpets and furniture throughout the Clyde Road building and providing Freeview TVs in each room.

These boosts to the business have enabled its annual turnover to grow from 600,000 when he took over to 800,000.

Room occupancy was 70 per cent in January.

Mr Warham said he was committed to keeping up the standards provided by his 26 staff even in the tough economic times.

"In a recession, you have to keep on marketing and providing a quality product," he said.

"If you do those two things, you will come out of a recession a lot stronger than when you went into it."

He was also unconcerned about the looming presence of the second Butlins hotel being completed a short walk away.

He explained: "The first Butlins hotel didn't have an effect on us. I don't believe the second one will either.

"Butlins' guests are different to those who want to come here. They are looking for different things on their holidays."

His next project is likely to be seeking an AA rosette for the hotel's dining facilities alongside its 100 capacity function room.

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