De Vere St David’s Park Hotel, in Ewloe, Nr Chester, has become the first business in Wales and the first hotel in England and Wales to be awarded a prestigious Community Mark.

De Vere St David’s Park Hotel was singled out by Business in the Community (BITC) for its work with the local community and in particular its support for the Wales Air Ambulance.

Community Mark is a unique and innovative national standard given to small and medium-sized businesses as a recognition of their involvement in their local community and a model to enable others to maximise their impact and integrate their community programme into their business planning.

It has been developed by BITC and is based on the excellence model of the British Quality Foundation.

By offering staff time, skills and other company resources, St David’s Park Hotel has also been able to link with members of the local community to help raise more than £50,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance since nominating it as its chosen charity less than three years ago.

Gary Bickley, general manager, said, “What an honour to become the first company in Wales and the first hotel in England and Wales to be awarded a Community Mark – myself and the team here are over the moon!

He added, “I believe it pays any business to become more involved with their local community. We have certainly reaped plenty of rewards from supporting the Wales Air Ambulance. The team spirit here at St David’s Park Hotel is second to none as everyone has rallied together to develop and deliver lots of innovative and effective fundraising ideas. We now have some very strong relationships with the local community and it has been thanks to their support that events such as the charity makeover were so successful.”

Businesses wishing to know more about Community Mark and BITC should contact David Collins, area manager on +44 (0)1745 817325 or visit the website http://www.bitc.org.uk/wales