AWARDS
An Outstanding hotelier We meet Martin Barlow, recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award at this year’s CTAs. Back in June 2000, Martin Barlow took the up reins of Budock Vean (BV) from his mother and father after their 13 years at the helm. All sorts of lovely things were planned for 2020 to mark Martin’s 20th anniversary last year … they’re just quietly on the backburner until the time is right to celebrate. And much there is to celebrate. Deep into lockdown #1, some members of BV’s team were squirreling away in secret nominating Martin for Business Leader of the Year in the Cornwall Tourism Awards. Now, going behind your boss’ back really isn’t the done thing, but on this occasion it seemed the only thing to do as Martin is most definitely not one to draw the spotlight in his direction. The gamble paid off and at this year’s virtual award ceremony, the hotel scooped two prizes. Silver in the Large Hotel of the Year category
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TALKING TOURISM
and the annual special judges’ choice for the Outstanding Contribution to Cornish Tourism went to Martin Barlow. In subsequent radio interviews, Martin insists that this award is probably due to age, but the judges were clear; Martin’s commitment to the wider sector, his innovations and his long-term success won him the accolade. Outside of his duties at the hotel, Martin is on a number of boards, including the Children’s Sailing Trust, where he is playing an active role in the development of Trevassack Lake, a fully accessible site dedicated to watersports and sailing activities for young people; he champions and fundraises for the Cornwall Community Foundation (the hotel has donated close to £10k to date); he is a regular supporter of the local arts and artists, and is involved in projects to protect the local environment. “We’ve always been focused on our community, and our place within that community is really important to us,” he says. Martin, who was quite literally born into Cornwall’s tourism industry (he was born in the basement flat of the family’s hotel in Newquay!), is the third generation of his family to lead in the sector. His grandparents were hoteliers in the 1950s and his parents owned The Treglos Hotel where Martin cut his teeth tackling all sorts of jobs from pot wash to night portering and counting
SPRING 2021
