The Cloud Hotel, Meerut Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7TD

T:(01590) 622165 F:(01590) 622818

Avril may have danced her way to success with the Tiller Girls, but as a mother, hotelier, businesswoman and international speaker, she has demonstrated a true business personality and dynamic leadership.

In 2007, Avril Owton was made an Honoree Member of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World.

Avril can be found in the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World 2007 publication, which reads as follows:

Avril Owton is the owner of The Cloud Hotel at Brockenhurst in The New Forest, England. A former professional dancer with The Tiller Girls, she took over the running of the hotel when her husband died suddenly at the age of 45, leaving her with an ailing family hotel, four children and no life or mortgage insurance.

Her show business background provided no experience in management,, administration, finance, or how to run a business, but that didn't stop Avril. She refurbished the hotel, began to make a significant profit and soon had increased her business turnover 800%.

Avril, a past Hampshire Business Woman of the Year, was awarded the prestigious Shine Woman of the Year Award in 2006. The Shine award is presented to the woman in travel, tourism and hospitality industry who has achieved and inspired others. Her particular business experience and her passion for encouraging women to reach their full potential has made her a sought after speaker in both professional and personal development.

In 2007, she became the local branch Chair of the Institute of Directors, an association for directors and Chief Executives. Only 11% of her branch's 2000 members are female.

Avril uses her hotel to hold community fundraising events and has so far raised $50,000 for the Macmillan Cancer Charity.

She is also authoring her first book on customer service to be published in late 2007. In spite of her very busy work schedule, Avril still finds time to enjoy her family and five grandchildren.

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For more information on the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World awards, please visit their website by clicking below.

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In 2006 Avril was commissioned to write a book entitled "Delighting your customers". By delving into her vast experience as a successful hotelier, Avril had a wealth of information to tap into and earlier this year handed over the final version which is now going to print.

Delighting your Customers is now available to buy via the Publisher's website, Amazon and Waterstones. Please click on your favoured supplier underlined.

"Your relationship with your customers is probably one of the most important you'll ever have. No business can survive without them, but reaching customers in the first place is a big challenge for small companies. This book offers invaluable advice on: Understanding your customers; Asking for feedback… and learning from it; Creating a customer service strategy; Hiring the right people; Setting up and implementing complaint processes; Adding a personal touch; Being creative…But making sure you can deliver; Learning from your competitors."

'a great little package' The Bookseller  ---   paragraph from acblack.com website

<<<< Avril Owton, Hampshire Business Woman of the Year and Shine Awards woman of the Year 2006.         read more

Supporting charity

Avril is a keen supporter of charities and their work and holds annual fund raising events for her chosen charity, Macmillan Cancer Relief. For several years, The Cloud Hotel has played its part by participating annually in the World's Largest Coffee Morning which is an event organised by Macmillan Cancer Relief which hosts local residents and guests at The Cloud Hotel. The Macmillan dinner (organised and hosted by Avril) is traditionally held each year on the first Saturday in December, with Avril donating all proceeds from this special dinner to improve the quality of life for people living with cancer.To date Avril has raised around £25,000.00 for Macmillan Cancer Relief!

Avril Owton - hotelier, businesswoman and international speaker.

Every working day is just another performance to Avril Owton, the former dance teacher and member of the famous Tiller Girl dance troupe.

This picture shows the Tiller Girl dance troupe with Avril Owton in the center. It was her time as a Tiller Girl that inspired the Tiller Bar at The Cloud Hotel, and which contains memorabilia from Avril's time as a Tiller Girl.

Avril continues working hard to run an efficient and friendly hotel and has become a popular speaker and inspiration to women in business. It is Avril Owton's ability to share her vast wealth of knowledge and inspire people that led to a nomination for the prestigious Shine Awards for Woman of the Year 2006.

After some tough competition, Avril was announced the Winner of Woman of the Year 2006 on Tuesday 28 February in an awards ceremony, which took place at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge, London.

This overall Award recognises women for their inspirational and business role; for their contribution to the industry as well as for demonstrating personal commitment and leadership in fostering and maintaining an environment for the promotion and advancement of women. Visit the Shine Awards website

In the early stages of 2006, Avril Owton was made a Fellow of the Hotel Catering and International Management, now called the Institute of Hospitality. The Institute of Hospitality sets standards for professionalism within the international arena for Hotel Catering and Management. (Please click on their logo below for more information)

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As a well respected business woman, Avril was elected Chairman of the Institute of Directors for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

To find out more about the IoD please visit their website here.

Contact Avril Owton courtesy of The Cloud Hotel.