HRS.com, The Hotel Portal, have announced a heavyweight line up of hotel & tourism industry experts who have agreed to lend their support to the 2010 HRS.com Hotel Excellence Awards both as ambassadors and as judges.

Prestigious names, including Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of the Rocco Forte hotel empire, Sir David Michels, President of the British Hospitality Association and Christopher Rodrigues, chairman of Visit Britain, will show their support by driving awareness of the Awards which were set up in 2008 to recognise outstanding achievement in the UK hotel industry.

Commenting on the role, Sir David Michels, President of the British Hospitality Association urged every hotelier to participate in the 2010 awards. "I'd urge every hotelier and hotel manager in the UK to take part in the HRS.com Hotel Excellence Awards. The industry and your business and reputation can only benefit from this benchmark in standards and these Awards provide the perfect platform with which to measure individual best practice."

HRS.com have also confirmed an impressive judging panel for the 2010 Awards which, for the first time, includes Travel Editor of the Independent and TV & radio presenter, Simon Calder. The panel's remit is to recognise achievement in the UK hotel industry across all areas in both small and large hotels. Once all entries have been reviewed the panel will draw up a short list which will be visited by the Best Practice Forum. Based on this feedback, the panel will make their final selections with winners to be announced at an awards ceremony on 27 January 2010 which will be hosted by Simon.

Simon Calder says, "Exceeding expectations: that's what the best players in the UK hotel industry are doing in these difficult times. It's great to see innovation, inspiration and expertise recognised in the HRS.com Hotel Excellence Awards - a welcome and important addition to the travel industry calendar, and a valuable signal to the traveller in search of an excellent stay.'"

The BHA encourages all members to enter the 2010 Hotel Excellence Awards. For further information on the awards, including the categories open for entry please click here to visit the official website.

Photograph: Simon Calder, just one of the esteemed HRS.COM 2010 award judges.