Crossword Genius

Secretly maintain hotel's leafy area (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

harbour

'secretly maintain' is the definition.

'hotel's leafy area' is the wordplay.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'leafy area' becomes 'arbour'.
'h'+'arbour'='HARBOUR'

(Other definitions for harbour that I've seen before include "Bear" , "Place of refuge" , "Sheltered anchorage" , "Ship haven or shelter" , "Protected mooring" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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