A HAMPSHIRE hotel is a contender for a worldwide award.

The luxurious Chewton Glen, near New Milton, is appealing for the public’s online backing to ensure it makes the shortlist in the Above and Beyond category in the prestigious Smith Hotel awards.

Mr and Mrs Smith is a website featuring 950 hand-picked boutique hotels which have passed their anonymous inspectors’ rigorous standards.

The public vote for their favourites in the various categories to create a top ten and the winner is then chosen by a panel of judges.

The Chewton Glenn’s extra special level of service is characterised by staff who hail you by name, recall your favourite drinks, and even provide you with snacks and water for the journey home.

The five star hotel on the edge of the New Forest, which has two staff members for every guest, is up against the likes of Goldeneye Hotel & Resort in Jamaica, the inn of the Five Graces in santa Fe, the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Australia

The Chewton Glen’s managing director, Andrew Stembridge, commented: “It is a fabulous category to be nominated for, as it sums up so much of what Chewton Glen stands for. Exceeding our guests expectations, friendly helpful staff who always go that extra mile to look after our guests, world class luxurious facilities, seamless excellent service.

“We always say that Chewton Glen is ‘An English Original’ and in 2016 we will mark the 50th anniversary of this iconic hotel, whose origins as a country house date back to the 1700’s but who’s journey to success as a five-star hotel began in 1966.

“Over the past five decades, constant transformation and improvements have created this world-class property, that has set the standard for hospitality and service and we are delighted to have been nominated alongside such a fabulous selection of hotels for this prestigious award.”

This is the second time the Chewton Glenn has been shortlisted in these wards – in 2013 its Treehouse Suite was in the running for Sexiest Bedroom but lost out to the Corfu Suite at Blakes in London.

To vote for the Chewton Glen this year log onto smithhotelawards.com. Voting closes on Wednesday, September 30.