THE idea of introducing a touch of continental culture to Malvern has won Abbey Hotel employee Su Arrowsmith a prestigious national award.

Reservations co-ordinator Su also scooped a two-week holiday in Mombassa, Kenya, after being named Employee of the Year for the whole of Sarova Hotels last week.

The 38-year-old, from Bromyard, picked up the award during a ceremony at the group's flagship hotel, the Rembrandt, in Knightsbridge, London.

Miss Arrowsmith had gone head to head with three other contenders to present an idea to a panel of judges that would benefit her own hotel.

She came up with the idea of using the hotel's forecourt as a continental-style caf, an idea that will actually be put into practise by the end of the year.

Miss Arrowsmith was chosen after a lengthy selection period, during which she originally picked up the employee of the year award at the Abbey and was then shortlisted for the national award.

"I'm delighted, really thrilled," she said. "I'm very flattered that my colleagues and the management of the group think quite highly of me, but as far as my job is concerned it doesn't change anything."

Claire Lowden, business development manager at the Abbey Hotel, said she was very happy with Miss Arrowsmith's achievement.

"It's pretty impressive, she had stiff competition from the other three hotels and the Sarova Group has more than 400 employees. To watch her presentation was absolutely amazing."