Hospitality Excellence Celebrated at Annual Awards

The Southampton region’s top hospitality professionals were recognised at the 2025 Hospitality Awards, a prestigious event organised by The Southampton Region Hoteliers Association highlighting the dedication and talent that drive the city region’s vibrant hospitality sector within the past year.

Held on 28th February 2025 at Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl, the event, hosted by The Podcast Lady and presenter of The So SO Show, Zoe Hanson, brought together over 150 hospitality professionals. Nine outstanding winners were announced from a pool of exceptional finalists across various categories.

20 hospitality students from South Hampshire College Group, Eastleigh College, gained invaluable hands-on experience at the event by supporting the kitchen and front-of-house teams, guided by the Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl and college lecturers.

113 nominations were collected over a six week period in the autumn, with members of the Southampton Region Hoteliers Association putting forward their esteemed colleagues, managers, and establishments.

Mario Martinisi, Chair of the Southampton Region Hoteliers Association said: “113 nominations shows the incredible dedication within our hospitality community. These awards aren’t just about winners; they’re a testament to the value our peers, employees, and employers place on every nominee. The fact that our sponsors faced such a difficult decision in choosing winners from the finalists, truly showcases the amazing talent and high standards within our region’s hospitality sector. By celebrating these achievements, we’re shining a light on the rewarding careers hospitality offers, inspiring the next generation to join our vibrant industry.
Congratulations to the winners, finalists and those nominated!”

The Award Winners on the night, chosen from three finalists for each category were:

Community Award (Sponsored by SWJ Events)
WINNER: Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl

Sales & Revenue of the Year Award (Sponsored by arrangeMY)
WINNER: Sarah Banks from Leonardo Hotels Southampton

Chef of the Year Award (Sponsored by Chefs and Events Staffing)
WINNER: Simon Hartnett from New Place Hotel

Rising Star of the Year Award (Sponsored by Harvest Fine Foods)
WINNER: Ellie Harding from Southampton Harbour Hotel

Operational Excellence of the Year Award (Sponsored by Yuzu Training)
WINNER: Holiday Inn Express Southampton M27, Jct 7 Team

Top Team of the Year Award (Sponsored by Alliance South)
WINNER: New Place Southampton Maintenance Team

Manager of the Year Award (Sponsored by Fire Group)
WINNER: Iwona Kowalczyk from Novotel & ibis Southampton

Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Brakes)
WINNER: Jon Eggett from Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh

Outstanding Achievement Award (Sponsored by Headline Sponsor, Radio Taxis)
WINNER: Carly Jackson from Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh

For the fourth year running, headline sponsor Radio Taxis, were among those supporting the 2025 awards. Simon May, Chief Executive Officer said: “We were pleased to be headline sponsor of the 2025 Hospitality Awards once again! As a company deeply connected to the hotel industry, we want to help reward those who play a vital role in our community and appreciate the dedication of those who make hospitality truly exceptional.
These awards celebrate not only outstanding local hotels but also the individuals who go the extra mile for their teams and guests. With a strong number of nominations this year, it’s inspiring to see so many remarkable contributions being recognised.”

The not-for-profit awards raised £3,590 for the charity FareShare Southern Central. FareShare is the UK’s leading food redistribution charity, harnessing the power of food to change lives. From a base in Totton, FareShare Southern Central provides food to over 150 charities and community organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as parts of Dorset and Wiltshire, helping support people and communities in need.

Simon Ryan, Regional Manager at FareShare Southern Central said: “We are so grateful to everyone at the Southampton Hoteliers Hospitality Awards for their support for FareShare. The donations made from this year’s Awards event will go a long way to helping us get more food to more local communities and people in need. Every day, the food we redistribute to over 150 charities across the region helps to strengthen communities and change lives. From homelessness shelters and afterschool clubs to refuges and older people’s lunch clubs, these groups are all working harder than ever to bring people together through food and help them access essential support services. Thank you to everyone who attended for giving so generously and helping FareShare make the food go further.”
A special thanks is to be acknowledged to all sponsors and supporters, without whom the awards would not be possible: Radio Taxis, Fire Group, Brakes, Harvest Fine Foods, Chefs and Events Staffing, arrangeMY, Yuzu Training, Alliance South and SWJ,Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl, Hampshire Cricket, Canned Wine Co., All Parties and Events, Event Themes, ASAP UK Ltd., The Podcast Lady Zoe Hanson, Marcus Bailey Magician, The Marketing Collective, The So SO Show, Dave Dodge Photography, Ware Wolf Creative, Golden Groove, Epic Photobooths, Hampshire’s Top Attractions and Eastleigh College.