Member Article

North East Hotel Staff Shine at Awards Ceremony

The hotel industry’s brightest stars were honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony last night (Thursday 25 Feb).

Around 400 employees from hotels across the region gathered for the fifth annual North East Hotel Excellence Awards 2016, at Hilton Newcastle-Gateshead.

The awards, organised by the North East Hotels Association, celebrate staff members who have provided outstanding service and shown potential in 10 categories.

They included The Service Excellence award, which was won by Stephanie Taylor Birch, at the New Northumbria Hotel, Jesmond, who said: “I’m so thrilled to have won. I was up against some really stiff competition so I really am over the moon.”

Two of the industry’s up and coming young stars were also named, with Christopher Lincoln, at Mercure Newcastle County Hotel, winning Best Newcomer and Dale Toner at Newcastle’s Jesmond Dene House triumphing in the Shooting Star category.

“This is a really hard industry to compete in,” said Dale, “and this award means the world to me. I started off as an apprentice and now I’m a head waiter, which just shows what you can achieve if you work hard and give 100 per cent.”

The Sales Excellence award was won by Sarah Barber, at Matfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland, who said: “I am absolutely ecstatic. This wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of the whole sales team and is testament to all their hard work, too.”

Darlington’s Rockliffe Hall Hotel scooped two awards on the night with Kathryn Hancock winning the Inspirational Leader category and the hotel’s community team claiming the Community Award.

The Best Arrivals Experience honour went to Peter Cavanagh, at Staybridge Suites, Newcastle, while Pam Richardson, from the evening’s host venue, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, won the Cleanliness category.

A key award of the night, for Lifetime Achievement, went to Judi Thompson, formerly of Marriot Gosforth Park and recently retired, after working for a quarter of a century for the group.

Other awards included Support Services, won by Harry Howe at Ramside Hall Hotel, Co Durham and Leisure Excellence, won by Amy Jo Pacitto, at Jury’s Inn, Middlesbrough.

The North East Hotels Association (NEHA) is now believed to be the biggest in England, reflecting the rising importance of the sector to the economy and GDP of the North East.

Joint Chairman, Bernard Bloodworth, Managing Director at Matfen Hall, said: “This year’s event was our biggest and best to date, attracting a record number of entries from an increasing number of hotels in the region.

“We are hugely fortunate in having some of the hospitality sector’s brightest and best performers across all departments – from sales to service - and this is our chance to thank them and pay tribute to their hard work and commitment.”

The awards of the evening were sponsored by LA Taxis, Direct Recruitment, KF Training, Fishers, CQL, HLA Services, SOS group, Lifetime Training, Mtrec Recruitment and Hotel Care.

For further information about The North East Hotels Association visit www.nehotels.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellie Murdoch .