12 months at Ellenborough Park…

At the heart of Ellenborough Park is its passionate and loyal team, who respectfully drive the evolution of this 15^th century, country-chic retreat. Like many, its staff have faced huge challenges throughout the pandemic. However together their teamwork and devotion has forged a strong and united workforce.

Lockdown provided an opportunity to evaluate all aspects of the business and re-focus its direction. During this time the South Lawn concept was created: this has become a valued addition, complete with quirky dining carriages, decked stretch tent, festoon lighting, and a Taittinger terrace with growing vines.

Investing heavily in training and development, the hotel has doubled its expenditure on onsite and offsite learning. Employing a full-time food and beverage trainer has boosted confidence, knowledge, and morale. A recent staff survey highlighted a motivated and valued team who feel proud to work at Ellenborough Park – where all Individuals’ cultures, identities, and ideas are all celebrated.

 Passionate about the importance of sustainability, the staff committee – ‘The Energy Team’ – has reduced the carbon footprint by a commendable 65%. Upgrades include a significant investment in energy saving and sensor lighting, the removal of all single use plastics, and composting of food waste. Partnerships with green suppliers are prioritised – such as Belu water which invests in WaterAid, transforming lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene, and sanitation.

Other sustainable decisions include doubling the EV chargers to encourage guests with electric cars.  The ambition is to triple the volume of produce grown on the estate with a field to fork kitchen garden. Local honey producers are championed, supporting the surrounding wildlife, and their honey is used in many of the hotel’s dishes and cocktails.

MOMENTS OF SUCCESS

• Crowned 2022 SoGlos #SGGLA ‘Hotel of the Year’, by public vote from a shortlist of 159 local businesses, Ellenborough was also a favourite for the Wedding Venue of the Year (won for the past two years). The hotel was shortlisted in four categories in the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Awards 2022 and boasts five bubbles in the Good Spa Guide
• With many needing to rebook postponed wedding dates demand was high, and compassion needed to be higher! The events team rose to the challenge, organising 40% more than previous years. The operations team often accommodated three weddings back-to-back, focussed on making every wedding extra special
• Staycation fever saw record room sales and brought new challenges for the team with full occupancy and a holiday resort expectation amongst guests
• The hotel’s Jubilee celebrations were much-praised: the dining carriages were adapted to replica Royal horse carriages and Ellenborough Park’s own newly launched gin created the popular cocktail ‘The Elizabeth,’ served in a teapot along with a quintessentially British afternoon tea accompanied by live music
• Celebrating its 10^th Anniversary and record-breaking results the hotel’s new swish website is due to launch in the autumn
• An extensive refurbishment is underway with bedroom makeovers and delicate elevations in all public areas. Alongside business as usual, every room will be lovingly enriched, ready for the hotel’s next chapter in Spring 2023
• In June, the hotel hosted a group of USA entrepreneurs for an entire week in a hotel buy out. This fellowship – named ‘CHANGE 2022’ focuses on accelerating change and the positive influence of this week encouraged the hotel team to take more action to reduce the businesses footprint and waste. Simple changes were introduce including food wastage bins for compost, recycle bins in meeting rooms and wide-ranging decisions to reduce waste and be more environmentally progressive.

We are always working to be better and improve all aspects of our journey, story and experience for guests and staff. We thank all of our guests for their continued support during the past year, and we look forward to an exciting future.