Acorn winners 2017: Laura Godman

Group learning and development manager, Eden Hotel Collection

Nominated by Philip Newman-Hall, adviser, consultant and mentor

Proudest moment "It's hard to pick one. I've helped and guided others to fulfil their potential, and celebrated with them when they have."

Greatest inspiration "Philip Newman-Hall, Jennie Atkins (HR manager, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons) and Toni Douglas (group operations manager, Eden Hotel Collection) have all played an influencing role in my career, and it is my hope that I can do for others as they have done for me."

Ambition "My ambition is to be bedded into a learning and development role. My main objective is to facilitate positive change within hotels, focused on service standards, management skills and effective leadership."

While at Le Manoir, Godman would write personal development plans with her team members and work with them to fill skills gaps. She also established initiatives such as personalised welcome letters to upsell add-ons, and pre-arrival email templates providing information tailored to guests’ requirements, which grossed £90,000 over two years.

Her success ultimately led to her winning Front of House Manager of the Year at The Caterer’s Hotel Cateys in 2016.

And if that wasn’t enough, her out-of-hours schedule is pretty packed, too. As well as arranging alumni meetings for the Master Innholders Aspiring Leaders and working on a mentoring system within diploma cohorts to support new applicants, she mentors on the Institute of Hospitality’s Mentor Me programme, has managed Bournemouth University’s student consultancy project for the past two years, and hosts hotel tours for students and apprentice candidates.