�With nearly 300 hotels in the luxury and upper upscale segments, it is a daunting task to pick the �best of the best�,� said Efrem Harkham, Luxe president and CEO.  �We receive hundreds of pieces of correspondence annually from guests, complimenting us on the special accommodations and services our properties provide.  The volume of praise that we have received on Simon and The Flemings Mayfair has been extraordinary.�

Harkham noted that the award was presented to the general manager who consistently demonstrated �exemplary leadership� throughout the year.  �It would take hours to highlight all the special things that Simon and his staff do, but a typical example is that he personally handwrites thousands of notes to the hotel�s regular guests every year,� he said.  �Simon�s extraordinary leadership skills, his professionalism and innovation serve as an exceptional role model for the industry.  The hotel�s ability to anticipate a guest�s need, often before they are aware of it, is legendary.  He is one of the industry�s most creative innovators in providing personal service to his guests, clients, and community and team members.  The hotel and staff regularly develop unique seasonal gifts delivered to guest rooms, such as toffee apples and warm cider in the fall.  One guest marveled that he had a cup of steaming hot chocolate and cookies upon returning from the theater.  Guests feel like they belong to an exclusive �Flemings Club.��

In addition to his duties as general manager of the Flemings Mayfair, the 21-year hotel industry veteran also is group operations director for the company�s three unique properties in Great Britain, which also include DownHall Country House Hotel and the Bushey Hall Golf Club.  He completed his training at Trusthouse Forte in 1986 and began his career with Thistle Hotels.  He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a general manager at 28.

�As a Luxe hotel, we are instantly held to a higher standard,� Scarborough pointed out.  �Because our guests� expectations are so high, our goal is to not only meet their needs but to exceed them.  I challenge our associates every day to create a memory, not just an experience, for our guests.�

Believed to be the second oldest continuously operated hotel, the property�s hotel history dates back to 1851.  The 119-room Flemings Mayfair recently completed a major renovation that is a clever fusion of its Georgian-style historic architectural roots and a state-of-the-art, stylishly comfortable, four-star deluxe hotel.  The work included replacing chimneys and some of the architectural elements with pieces dating back to when the house was originally built in 1730.  

The hotel routinely and discreetly plays host to a number of celebrities, key government officials and corporate executives.  The property features 10 apartments with a private entrance off a side street to avoid paparazzi.

Luxe Worldwide Hotels, based in Los Angeles, Calif., is a premier representation company of independently owned and operated hotels in prominent international locales.  Luxe provides global sales, reservations, marketing, and eBusiness services to hotel members throughout the world.  Make online reservations and find more Luxe Worldwide information at or call toll-free +1-866-LUXE-411 within the United States and Canada 24/7.

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