Brend Collection have won Small Hotel Group of the Year 2025/26 at the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards.
Welcoming guests and businesses from across the UK, the AA Hospitality Awards celebrate excellence across fifteen categories, showcasing the very best of British hospitality and the industry's dedication to innovation, quality, and sustainability.
Brend Collection is a family-owned & run business, with nine hotels across the South West, including Saunton Sands in North Devon, Carlyon Bay in Cornwall and The Victoria in Sidmouth. The collection began in 1955 and remains one of the leading hospitality businesses in the South West.
The AA Small Hotel Group of the Year award recognises the very best levels of service, food and accommodation in the hospitality industry. This incredible achievement is a testament to the initiative, passion and hard work of all across The Brend Collection.
The group undertook a major rebrand in 2023, which saw a fresh visual identity and clearly defined core values that reflect who and what they stand for. These core values include putting sustainability at the forefront, which saw them move away from single-use plastics in guest rooms, introducing their own Source Spa luxury product range, amongst other initiatives.
Over the past few years, Brend Collection has invested significantly across Devon & Cornwall, from a £1.5 million Source Spa - their second in the collection, this edition at The Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth, to a £2 million investment at The Barnstaple Hotel, transforming its events and health & leisure spaces. On top of this, all hotels are continually invested in across public areas, guest rooms & exterior spaces.. Just as importantly, they’ve invested in their people, from their own Brend Training Academy to improved systems and employee assistance programmes.
John Brend, Chairman of The Brend Collection, said, “This award from the AA holds deep meaning for me personally and for everyone across our collection.”
“Having devoted a lifetime to this business, I take great pride in seeing our family’s values and vision recognised once again. What gives me even greater satisfaction is knowing that the next generation is carrying forward that same commitment and fulfilling their own ambitions, alongside the loyal and talented staff who have always been at the heart of our success.”
Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media said “We are delighted to recognise the Brend Collection this year. A great family run business that puts people at its heart, both guests and its team equally. They have impressed with their ongoing commitment to evolving their offering through significant investment across their hotels.”