The owner of a hotel in St Albans has been recognised for his “outstanding” achievements in the hospitality industry.

Watford-based entrepreneur Vivek Chadha, 30, who owns the Noke Hotel in St Albans, received the Exceptional Travel and Hospitality Award at the 21st Century Icon Awards.

This year, Vivek has also won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the London and South region at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Awards.

Vivek is head of the Nine Group of hotels, which employs more than 800 people and has acquired and developed 18 hotels over the past six years. He is now looking into continental Europe for further hotel acquisitions.

The awards were held at the InterContinental in London Park Lane, and were attended by more than 250 people.

Vivek said: “. I feel the award is the perfect finish to a very successful year for Nine Group and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in 2018.”