2016 Hotelier of the Year Award
Sponsored by Casna Group
The Caterer's Hotelier of the Year award celebrates the UK’s most exceptional hotelkeepers. Winning Hotelier of the Year represents the pinnacle of a career in hotelkeeping. Now in its 33rd year, the award is given to an individual displaying the management, leadership and communications skills required to manage a hotel at the highest levels of excellence, along with a commitment to employees and the industry at large.
Successful hoteliers are a rare breed. Not only are they multi-talented, but they also take on each and every task with enthusiasm and inspirational zeal, no matter how taxing the challenge. That's why previous winners of the Hotelier of the Year award are elite operators, able to turn their hand to any aspect of a hotel's smooth operation. They are men and women at the pinnacle of their profession, capable of managing the smooth and successful running of a hotel with a smile for guests and support for staff.
The 2016 Hotelier of the Year is likely to display many of the following skills and qualities:
Personal attributes
• Total commitment and dedication to the hospitality industry.
• Demonstrates fair and decisive leadership skills.
• Excellent communicator.
• Well respected in the industry.
• Exemplary business track record.
• Innovative and creative.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Manages by example.
Hotelkeeping skills
• Runs well-maintained hotel that consistently surpasses its competitors.
• Consistency of delivery: ensures all guest stays exceed expectations.
• A personal touch with guests.
• Offers value for money.
• Develops and introduces new services to enhance customer experience.
Commitment to employees
• Focuses on developing employees’ careers and maximising potential.
• Willing to impart knowledge to employees.
• Organises staff surveys and acts on them.
• Empathic and approachable.
Commitment to industry
• Supports government initiatives to promote hospitality as career of choice and raise standards of training.
• Engages with local community to promote industry.
• Supports hospitality organisations and events both personally and with his/her hotel/business resources.
Social responsibility
• Contributes personally, and with hotel resources, to help charitable initiatives; involves staff in charitable/community events.
• Has well communicated and effective environment policy.
Hotelier of the Year Past Winners
2015 Winner, Nick Jone, Soho House
2014 Winner, Danny Pecorelli, Exclusive Hotels and Venues
2013 Winner Stuart Bowery, Grosvenor House A JW Marriott Hotel
2012 Winner Stuart Johnson, Brown's Hotel London
2011 Winner Stephen Carter, De Vere Cameron House Hotel
2010 Winner Andrew Stembridge, Chewton Glen Hotel
2009 Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director, Red Carnation Hotels
2008 Andrew McKenzie, Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury, Berkshire
2007 Michael Gray, Hyatt Regency London, the Churchill
2006 Richard Ball, Calcot Manor, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
2005 John Stauss, Four Seasons, London
2004 Patrick Elsmie, Gleneagles, Auchterarder
2003 Robin Hutson, then at Hotel du Vin
2002 Gordon Campbell Gray, One Aldwych, London
2001 Karen Earp, then at the Four Seasons Canary Wharf, London
2000 Peter Crome, then at Chewton Glen, New Milton, Hampshire
1999 Nick Ryan, the Crinan, Argyll
1998 Nicholas Rettie, then at the Metropolitan, London
1997 Peter Lederer, Gleneagles, Auchterarder
1996 Chris Rouse, then at Turnberry, Ayrshire
1995 Ricci Obertelli, the Dorchester, London
1994 David Levin, the Capital, London
1993 Ken McCulloch, then at One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow
1992 Dagmar Woodward, then at the Mayfair InterContinental, London
1991 Martin Skan, then at Chewton Glen, New Milton, Hampshire
1990 George Goring, Goring hotel, London
1989 Grete Hobbs, then at Inverlochy Castle, Fort William, Inverness-shire
1988 Ronald Jones, then at Claridge's, London
1987 Eion Dillon, then at the Copthorne Tara, London
1986 Harry Murray, then at the Imperial, Torquay, Devon
1985 Terry Holmes, then at the Stafford, London
1984 Ramón Pajares, then at the Four Seasons, London
1983 Richard Edwards, then at the Chester Grosvenor, Chester