THE boss of a Chester-based luxury tour operator has won a top award.

Lisa Fitzell, managing director at Elegant Resorts, based at Chester Business Park, won the award for Female Leader of the Year at the Women’s Leaders Association (WLA) annual awards.

Nominated for the award earlier this year, Lisa then became shortlisted with three other remarkable leaders.

Following a presentation to a judging panel of three people, the award was announced during the WLA’s International Women’s Day Conference at the Cranage Hall Hotel in Cheshire earlier this month, in an event attended by 200 people.

The WLA is a leadership development consultancy focusing on female leaders, and have been working with C-Suite and Executive women since 2015, helping them to build confidence to find their own voice as leaders.

Elegant Resorts’ Managing Director Lisa Fitzell said: "I am delighted and humbled to receive this award. Women still only represent 21% of senior leadership positions and 14% hold Executive director roles in the UK.

"The situation is improving but we have a long way to go and awards like these shine the spotlight and give hope and encouragement to other female leaders.”