A LUXURY hotel chain, which owns a property near Hereford, is giving away free stays after finding out almost a third of people in the country failed to take all of their holiday last year.

Warner Leisure Hotels, which owns Holme Lacy House Hotel, said research revealed more than 28 per cent of people from Herefordshire failed to claim their full holiday allowance in 2020, so it was launching the opportunity of a lifetime.

Warner Leisure Hotels said it was looking for one weary worker to give them the chance to unwind with a series of breaks throughout 2021.

The OnePoll study of 2,000 employed Brits found one in three failed to claim their full leave for the working year, with the average Herefordshire person losing out on seven days’ break in total.

Off the back of these findings, the adult-only hotel wanted to take the UK’s "most stressed-out" person to "kick back" in one of its luxury hotel rooms, and enjoy spa treatments, swimming pool access, and activities such as archery, rifle shooting – or even Nordic walking.

All you have to do to apply for the prestigious title is head to warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/offers/annual-leave-lost and explain in 100 words why you’d make the best "chief relaxation officer".

Simon Thompson, managing director of Warner Leisure Hotels, said: “We reckon we’re the country’s best place to unwind, so we wanted to find someone to put our wonderful hotels to the test – and it sounds like lots of Herefordshire people really need it.

“Our study found that, as bad as last year was for people taking annual leave, this year is set to be equally bleak – with 28 per cent of people prepared to ditch their holidays altogether in favour of extra pay.

“We couldn’t disagree more – annual leave isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.

"Even a short break can help us to pause, reset and reconnect with loved ones. That’s why we’re looking for someone with weeks of unclaimed holiday to give them much needed breaks throughout the year.

“If you, or someone you know, is racking up weeks of annual leave this year with no plan to take it any time soon, head to our website to nominate our first chief relaxation officer – we promise to get even the most stressed-out Brit to relax.”