Crossword Genius

Distinguishing feature of hotel brand welcoming everybody (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hallmark

'distinguishing feature' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'hotel brand welcoming everybody' is the wordplay.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'brand' becomes 'mark' ('mark' can be a synonym of 'brand').
'welcoming' means one lot of letters goes inside another (in sense of 'inviting in').
'everybody' becomes 'all' (I've seen this before).
'h'+'mark'='hmark'
'hmark' going around 'all' is 'HALLMARK'.

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for hallmark that I've seen before include "Stamp of authority" , "Distinctive feature" , "Sign of authenticity or excellence" , "Sign of authenticity (eg of silver)" , "Genuine impression" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app