Nominees Announced for the 2026 Hospitality Awards

The Southampton region’s hospitality sector is celebrating its standout professionals after receiving a record-breaking 145 nominations for the 2026 Hospitality Awards – the highest nominations since the awards began seven years ago. Nominated by their colleagues within the Southampton Region Hoteliers Association, these exceptional individuals have shown outstanding dedication to their roles throughout the past year, with several receiving multiple nominations.

Category sponsors are facing the difficult decision of narrowing down the strong field of candidates to just three finalists in each category. The finalists will be revealed shortly but once the award sponsors have made their final decision, the winners will remain under wraps until the awards ceremony takes place on 27th February 2026.

Nominees for each of the categories are:

Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award – sponsored by Headline Sponsor, Radio Taxis

• Adrian Momot, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Alicja Mielewczyk, Novotel Southampton
• Charlotte Gibson, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Faye Graham, Novotel Southampton
• Hannah Rigby, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Leanne Bannister, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Maia Langham, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Molly Shorland, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Evangelos Nikoloudakos, Novotel Southampton
• Stephen Thorpe, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl

Manager of the Year Award – sponsored by Harvest Fine Food

• Angela Willmore, Chilworth Manor
• Brian Prescott, Novotel Southampton
• Christos Rougkos, Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club
• Hannah Rigby, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Iwona Kowalczyk, Novotel Southampton
• Jaime Custodio, Novotel Southampton
• Jeff Foster, voco Southampton
• Jess Barfoot, voco Fareham
• Jon Eggett, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Josh Relf, The Solent Hotel & Spa
• Konrad Chochol, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Lucia Mitchell, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Macklain Fernandes, Leonardo Hotel Southampton
• Mark Page, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Michael Longley, Solent Hotel and Spa
• Monika Jagielska, Novotel Southampton
• Olga Dutka, Norton Park Hotel
• Patina Farnham, Novotel Southampton
• Samuel Beynon, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Tiago Silva, voco Southampton
• Vinay Malhotra, Leonardo Hotels
• Viola Grochewina, Novotel Southampton

Sales and Revenue of the Year Award – sponsored by AIEA

• Aleksandra Krusina, Leonardo Hotel Southampton
• Carlien Murray, voco Southampton
• Commercial Team, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Cyril Donat, room2 Southampton
• Hannah Ramplee, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Jacinta Wingate, New Place Hotel
• James Mahaffey, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Judy Gardner, Leonardo Hotels
• Laura Sayburn, voco Southampton
• Monika Jagielska, Novotel Southampton 
• Sales & Revenue Team, voco Fareham
• Sarah Banks, Leonardo Hotels Southampton

Top Team of the Year Award – sponsored by Fire Group

• Breakfast Team, Solent Hotel & Spa
• Food & Beverage Team, New Place Hotel
• Food and Beverage Team, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Food and Beverage Team, Novotel Southampton
• Front Office, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• GC&E Team, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Leonardo Royal Concierge Team, Leonardo Royal Grand Harbour Hotel
• Maintenance Team, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Novotel Southampton Team
• Ops Team – Leonardo Hotel Southampton Leonardo Hotel Southampton
• Reception Team, Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club
• Sales and Revenue Team, Leonardo Hotels
• Sales Team, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Southampton Kitchen Team, Novotel Southampton 
• Southampton Reception Team, Novotel Southampton
• The Moxy Southampton Crew
• The voco Southampton Team
• voco Fareham Team

Operational Excellence of the Year Award – sponsored by The Podcast Lady

• Anjali Mascarenhas, Novotel Southampton
• Anjali Mascarenhas, Novotel Southampton 
• C&B Team, Hilton Southampton- Utilita Bowl
• Carly Jackson, voco Southampton
• Daniel Rogers, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Emily Houghton, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Food & Beverage Team, voco Fareham
• Iwona Kowalczyk, Novotel Southampton 
• Jacob Sparrowhawk, voco Southampton
• Jaime Custodio, Novotel Southampton 
• Karen Barker, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Konrad Chochol, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Lisa Oxford, room2 Southampton
• Maisie King, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• The Crew at Moxy Southampton
• The Maintenance Team, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13

Rising Star of the Year Award – sponsored by Yuzu Training

• Aleksandra Krusina, Leonardo Hotels Southampton
• Alicia Humphreys, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Alicja Mielewczyk, Novotel Southampton 
• Ardiola Quamo, room2 Southampton
• Benjamin Bushell, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Catherine Swinfield, Novotel Southampton
• Chungsze wing, Novotel Southampton 
• Connor Wood, Novotel Southampton
• Joseph Halpin, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Kyra Da Costa, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Laura Toth, Novotel Southampton
• Lauren Neal, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Leandro Goncalves, voco Southampton
• Lewyn Ingram, Southampton Harbour Hotel
• Libby West, New Place Hotel
• Lisa Oxford, room2 Southampton
• Matthew Taylor, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Megan Tucker, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Mia Brans, voco Fareham
• Olena Iastremska, Chilworth Manor
• Ria Digwa, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Shannon Macaskill, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Surinder Singh, Novotel Southampton
• Tilly McCracken, New Place Hotel
• Tony Fernandes, voco Southampton
• Twinslee Fernandez, Novotel Southampton 

Chef of the Year Award – sponsored by Chefs and Events Staffing

• Andrew Gault, voco Southampton
• Dan Turtle, New Place Hotel
• Jaime Custodio, Novotel Southampton
• Justin John, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Russell Haydon, Leonardo Hotel Southampton
• Simon Wade, Chilworth Manor Hotel
• Stephane Gerard, voco Fareham

Community Award – sponsored by SWJ Events

• Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Room2 Southampton

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Hannah Rigby, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl
• Iwona Kowalczyk, Novotel Southampton 
• Jane Standing, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13
• Jon Fisher, New Place Hotel
• Rachel Handley, New Place Hotel
• Richard Wilson, Novotel Southampton Southampton
• Sylvia Owens, Leonardo Royal Grand Harbour Hotel

Finalists will be announced shortly and the winners declared at the Awards ceremony at the end of February 2026.