Southampton Region Hoteliers Hospitality Awards 2020 Finalists Announced!

The 2020 Hospitality Awards Finalists have been announced. 

The category sponsors have whittled nominees down to the final three. They are currently ‘meeting the finalists’ to get to know a little more about them before announcing their crowning winners in February.

The Southampton and Region Hoteliers Association launched the Hospitality Awards last year with the aim to promote and celebrate the talent and commitment within the local industry. Cab My Ride is the headline sponsor for the 2020 Awards. 

Nathan Chart, Chair of the Southampton Region Hoteliers Association says: ‘’There is a wealth of commitment and talent within the hospitality industry. It really means a lot to those that have been nominated and I know the judges had a hard time whittling it down to the final three! Those nominated should be extremely proud of their achievements. We can’t wait to find out the winners at the awards evening in February 2020’’

The award categories and finalists are:

1.Mentor of the Year (sponsored by The Marketing Collective)

Finalist 1: Claire Lunt – Solent Hotel and Spa
Finalist 2: Maciej Piwowarski – Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour

Finalist 3: Jane Standing – Holiday Inn Eastleigh/ Southampton

2. Rising Star of the Year (sponsored by Hotelcare)

Finalist 1: Grace Welton – Solent Hotel and Spa

Finalist 2: Eleanor Hunt – New Place Hotel

Finalist 3: Owen Galpin – Holiday Inn Eastleigh

3. Chef of the Year (sponsored by City College Southampton)

Finalist 1: Tibor Suli – Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel

Finalist 2: Steve Lewis – Best Western Chilworth Manor Hotel

Finalist 3: Mark Grieveson – New Place Hotel

4. Operational Excellence Award (sponsored by Afonwen)

Finalist 1: Jeff Foster – Holiday Inn Southampton

Finalist 2: Josh Relf – Solent Hotel and Spa

Finalist 3: Paul Cole – Doubletree by Hilton Southampton Hotel

5. Top Team of the Year (GO! Southampton)

Finalist 1: Spirit Club Team – Holiday Inn Fareham-Solent

Finalist 2: The Food and Beverage Team – New Place Hotel

Finalist 3: The Front Office Team – Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour

6. Community Award (sponsored by Wave 105)

Finalist 1: Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel

Finalist 2: Best Western Chilworth Manor Hotel

Finalist 3: New Place Hotel

7. Student/Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Destination Southampton)

Finalist 1: Robert Green – New Place Hotel

Finalist 2: Rhys Orman – Best Western Chilworth Manor

Finalist 3: Naomi Wylie – Elizabeth House Hotel

8. Sales & Revenue Person/Team of the Year (sponsored by RPC Group)

Finalist 1: Jake Bowerman – DoubleTree by Hilton Southampton Hotel

Finalist 2: Charlene Burton – Holiday Inn Fareham-Solent

Finalist 3: Emma Smith – Holiday Inn Southampton

9. Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by ElemenTel)

Finalist 1: Ruth Woodford – Holiday Inn Southampton

Finalist 2: Suzanne Meeze – Holiday Inn Fareham-Solent

Finalist 3: Stephen Axton – Best Western Chilworth Manor

Wave 105 listeners will be choosing the winner of the Community Award. Anna Hales, from The Marketing Collective, Marketing Partner of the Awards, says “We are so excited to open this category up to the public. The hospitality industry in the city region is huge and it’s nice to get those deserving hotels recognised.”

There is also a ‘Best of the Rest’ category which will give a second chance to all remaining finalists.