AS the preparations for this year's Chamber of Commerce Awards progress, companies across Worcestershire and Herefordshire are reminiscing about their past success at the ceremony.

And Droitwich-based Hotelshop UK is certainly no exception.

The company, a hotel booking agency founded by Viv Hudson and Julie Shorrock, scooped the most prestigious award at the 2005 Chamber Awards, Business of the Year. As a result, the pair are now urging all local businesses to come forward for this year's ceremony and enter for the prestigious awards.

Hotelshop UK has been trading for six-and-a-half years and is successful in both the leisure and corporate markets. The company, which has been recognised as one of the leading independent booking agents in the UK, was entered for the Business of the Year Award by its PR and marketing agency, which thought the firm's determination and success were more than worthy of the accolade.

The Business of the Year Award 2006, sponsored by Business Link West Mercia, is given to the company which demonstrates all-round excellence in business.

The judging focuses on financial performance and future objectives, the competitive advantage of the business, and it especially looks at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth.

It's the award that all businesses in the region want to win.

There is always huge excitement and anticipation surrounding this award which has always been the climax to the ceremony.

Hotelshop UK founders Julie and Viv took advantage of Business Link West Mercia and the support services for local business.

Hotelshop UK was involved with Business Link's start-up programme, training schemes, diversification advice, website development and even benefited from financial support.

As a result, Hotelshop UK has become a more than prosperous enterprise with more than 100,000 clients, 35 employees and now the Business of the Year Award 2005 under its belt to cement its success.

"Winning the award has had an invaluable effect on Hotelshop.

"We are very proud to be winners of the Business of the Year Award 2005," says Vi Hudson, who can't believe how much the night of the Awards Dinner brought the company together and she wholeheartedly recommends the whole Chamber Awards experience.

"The association with winning the award has helped us tender for corporate business and has had an enormous effect on staff morale," she added.

"There was a tremendous buzz surrounding the Hotelshop table and when the award winners were announced the response was electric and the company was over the moon!" said Caroline Leah, Caroline Leah PR.

CHAMBER AWARDS: THE FACTS

Now in their fifth year, the annual Chamber Awards have seen every kind of company win, from a children's toy library to a supplier of specialist satellite ground station equipment.

Past winners and entrants are welcome to enter the Chamber Awards, which are open to both Chamber members and non-members.

The size of the company does not matter - small, specialist companies go head to head with large established firms employing hundreds of people - and often win!

The deadline for entries is Friday, May 5.

The Awards Dinner is due to be held, for the first time, at Birtsmorton Court, near Malvern, on Thursday, June 8.

For more information, including guidelines and downloadable entry forms for all eight award categories, click on: www.hwchamberawards.com