The prestigious Catey Awards, likened to the Oscars of the hospitality sector, has awarded Valor Hospitality Europe the accolade of ‘Best Employer.’

Employee engagement has always been a top priority for the Valor team and the company was recognized for its “strong people culture, inspiring leadership and consistent business results driven through people engagement.” The company was also commended for its “clear desire to have employees at the heart of the organization and to be at the heart of its ambitious growth plans.”

Earlier this year, Valor was also ranked as one of the top three in The Caterer’s Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2016.

The company has undergone a period of massive growth since co-owners, Euan McGlashan and Steve Cesinger formed Valor Europe 18 months ago. The company has focused on employee engagement throughout the process. Brian McCarthy, managing director of Valor Hospitality Europe said: “As a business we have come so far in such a relatively short space of time and we are incredibly proud to have been recognized for our approach to employee engagement”.

“With over 2,500 employees across our portfolio it has always been important to us that each one feels informed and connected to our business values. We have always taken pride in the way we do this and know that employees who take pride in where they work deliver better customer service which in turn means our hotel guests get the best experience possible.” McGlashan said, “From Valor’s humble beginning some six years ago, living our internal Foundation Document and our eagerness to have engaged, passionate and enthusiastic employees at both corporate and property level has been our priority; essential to ensuring best in class financial performance and guest experience delivery”

Part of Valor’s approach to employee engagement includes using the Purple Cubed Talent Toolbox which is a new digital communications hub providing staff with a one-stop-shop for intranet, news, communications, engagement surveys and performance reviews.

Since launching Talent Toolbox in 2015, Valor has seen a rise in employee engagement of 11 percent and a 100 percent boost in internal promotions.

Since inception in 1984, The Cateys have cast a spotlight on the industry’s highest flyers, strongest performers and hottest brands. The ceremony took place at Grosvenor House in London on July 5th.

Valor Hospitality Partners, a hotel development and management company based in Atlanta and London that owns and operates 34 properties in the U.S., Europe, and Africa, with an additional 10 sites in various stages of negotiation, development, or construction. Sister company—PMR Hospitality Partners based in Cape Town—operates all the hotels and resorts in Africa.