Celtic to the Manor Born

Celtic Manor's bid to land the 2009 Ryder Cup has been boosted after being accepted for membership of The Leading Hotels of the World.

The £100 million, 1,400-acre site is the largest ever private investment in the British hotel industry, with 400 rooms and 32 suites, and the resort's new Wentwood Hills course is set to stage a new European Tour event - the Wales Open - from next year.

Its exacting standards of accommodation, service, cuisine and facilities puts it alongside the Dorchester, Savoy and Gleneagles in an illustrious list of 315 of the world's finest hotels.

And Celtic Manor resort director Robert Church said: "We're delighted to have been recognised by such a well-respected body and to have been given their seal of approval.

"The Celtic Manor Resort is the product of a bold and exciting vision that has given a new dimension to business and leisure travel."