A city with pride, is a city that prospers...
So! You know when you plan for a holiday, hope it will be great, then it super exceeds your expectations...well welcome to my first month at the New Continental Hotel!
It had some hard acts to follow considering my last 10(+!!) years of employment in the city! Theatre Royal Plymouth - the premier arts organisation in the South West and RIO - frankly the most pioneering, ground breaking social enterprise ever! But this month has not only enabled me to see another side to business in our fabulous city - but also to teach me that no matter what your skills, position or experiences - this city really does welcome you with open arms.
My highlight?There have been many! But I suppose it just has to be that the Hajiyianni Family received the award for best Family Business 2015.
They were honored to be nominated, shocked to be shortlisted and thrilled to have won. Being able to share their pride and excitement was amazing, something that I wont forget in a hurry. Also to see how much support the family received from the city; with cards, letters and flowers carrying sincere congratulations, it was really moving. That coupled with the fact that the awards themselves were spectacular; the Pavilions become an enchanted land that, in one night, was the platform that proved just how great our city and its caretakers really are.
It was great that the hotel featured in the night too. Hetti (aka Lucy Beale) stayed, and with just a short stroll to the Pavilions and our beautiful deluxe room, her stay here was the framing to ' a wonderful experience in Plymouth'.
The awards celebrated the best of Plymouth businesses, with 16 awards given out; competition was fierce for all categories, with many top city businesses in contention, but the atmosphere was fabulous!
I also have to say a super MASSIVE congratulations to the Real Ideas Organisation and Devonport Guildhall, as ever, the women of RIO looked stunning, and the men helped carry the awards home! Well done you guys - two fabulous awards with the recognition you so deserve. And well done to the Hajiyanni Family - thank you for making my first month so exciting!
My springboard into month two - the Plymouth and Devon Chamber Annual Dinner tonight of course!