Southampton’s Hospitality Stars Shine at 2026 Awards

More than 130 hospitality professionals gathered at Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl on 27th February 2026 to celebrate the region’s finest talent at the annual Hospitality Awards, organised by The Southampton Region Hoteliers Association.

Nine winners were named across a range of categories, selected from the strongest finalist pool the awards have seen. This year’s nominations reached a record high of 145, the most ever received, with Association members nominating colleagues, managers, and establishments they felt deserved recognition.

The evening was hosted by Zoe Hanson, known as The Podcast Lady and presenter of The So SO Show. Alongside the presentations, hospitality students from South Hampshire College Group – Eastleigh College, took on real front-of-house and kitchen roles under the guidance of Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl staff and college lecturers, turning the night into a live learning experience.

The awards also marked a significant milestone: 70 years of The Southampton Region Hoteliers Association, an organisation that has championed the city region’s hospitality sector for seven decades.

Sarah Banks, Co-Chair of the Southampton Region Hoteliers Association said: “Friday night was about celebrating the incredible people who make our hotels shine. These awards have been running for 7 years, and every year I’m reminded just how much heart, talent, and dedication lives within our teams.”

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

Sales & Revenue of the Year Award – Sponsored by AIEA
WINNER: Sarah Banks, Leonardo Hotels Southampton

Community Award – Sponsored by SWJ Events
WINNER: Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13

Rising Star of the Year Award – Sponsored by Yuzu Training
WINNER: Ardiola Qamo, room2

Operational Excellence of the Year Award – Sponsored by The Podcast Lady
WINNER: The Crew at Moxy Southampton

Chef of the Year Award – Sponsored by Chefs and Events Staffing
WINNER: Andrew Gault, voco Southampton

Manager of the Year Award – Sponsored by Harvest Fine Foods
WINNER: Angela Willmore, Chilworth Manor Hotel

Top Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Fire Group
WINNER: Food & Beverage Team, New Place Hotel

Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by Heard about Sam
WINNER: Jane Standing, Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh M3 J13

Outstanding Achievement Award – Sponsored by Headline Sponsor, Radio Taxis
WINNER: Adrian Momot, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl

Yuzu Training sponsored the Rising Star of the Year Award, an award for those new to the sector who have shown exceptional promise and significant impact. Michael Steel, Managing Director at Yuzu Training, was so impressed by the caliber of each category finalist and committed to providing all three with £10,000 funded training to further their learning and development.

For the fifth year running, headline sponsor Radio Taxis, were among those supporting the 2026 awards. Simon May, Chief Executive Officer said: “Radio Taxis proudly sponsors the Hospitality Awards for the 5th year because the hospitality industry keeps our region moving. 

Every day we have the privilege of transporting not only guests, but the people who create exceptional guest experiences, from hotel front of house teams to restaurant staff and event staff. Supporting these awards is our way of recognising their dedication, resilience, and the vital role they play in the local economy and community. 

Association hotels play a key role in helping support our business, helping provide work for hundreds of drivers across the South, and what better way to say thank you than helping to support the Hospitality Awards as headline sponsor.’

The not-for-profit awards raised £1,950 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: “Thank you so much to everyone at the Southampton Hoteliers Hospitality Awards for continuing to support FareShare. The £1,950 raised at this year’s Awards event will make an important contribution to enabling us to get more food to local community groups and support more people in need. 

Every day, the surplus 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, bringing people together and helping them access much-needed support. 

To all those who attended this year’s event and to everyone at the Southampton Hoteliers Association, a heartfelt thank you.”

Special thanks are due to all sponsors and supporters, without whom the awards would not be possible: Radio Taxis, Fire Group, Harvest Fine Foods, Chefs and Events Staffing, Yuzu Training, AIEA, Heard About Sam, SWJ Events, The Podcast Lady, Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl, Hampshire Cricket, All Parties and Events, ASAP UK, Luminique Events, The Marketing Collective, Marcus Bailey Magician, The So SO Show, Solent Studios, Ware Wolf Creative, Epic Photobooths, Hampshire’s Top Attractions and Eastleigh College.

Jennie Mort and Charlie Linton from AIEA with Sales & Revenue winner Sarah Banks from Leonardo Hotels

Shirley Wynne-Jones from SWJ Events with Community Award winners Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh

Rob Jones, Tesa Jobes, Michael Steel from Yuzu Training with Rising Star winner Ardiola Qamo from room2 Southampton

Zoe Hanson The Podcast Lady, with Operational Excellence Winners Moxy Southampton Crew

Annabel Castleman and Jessica Burgess from Chefs and Events Staffing with Chef of the Year winner Andrew Gault from voco Southampton

Phil Clark and Carole Wingrove from Harvest Fine Foods with Manager of the Year winner Angela Willmore from Chilworth Manor Hotel

Rodney Burt from Fire Group with the Top Team winners, New Place Hotel Food and Beverage Team

Lifetime Achievement winner Jane Standing from Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh with Sam McGrath from Heard About Sam

Francine Vear and Simon May fromHeadline Sponsor Radio Taxis with Outstanding Achievement winner Adrian Momot from Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl

Some of the Eastleigh College Hospitality students

Simon Ryan and Chloe Turner from FareShare Southern Central