Hotel Cateys 2021: Food and Beverage Manager of the Year: Sharon McArthur

As food and beverage manager at the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in London’s Mayfair, Sharon McArthur oversees the restaurant, terrace, lobby, bar and room service for all 162 rooms, suites and apartments in the building.

When she joined the Athenaeum in 2019, its food and beverage arm was struggling. Staff turnover was high, revenues were falling and the department was running at a loss, while guests were complaining of slow service. But over the past two years, she has completely turned the department around. Revenues in several areas are outperforming 2019, despite Covid, and the F&B arm is now profitable.

Over the past year, McArthur has headed up one of the lockdown teams and made use of the pandemic period to retrain her team and rethink the hotel’s offer. Her innovations have included rebranding the restaurants, changing menus to highlight sustainable dishes and plant-based offerings, working with IT to upgrade the video-conferencing technology in meeting rooms, and changing the hotel over to a more integrated point of sale system.

McArthur was also praised by colleagues for her sensitive handling of the situation when the hotel had to reduce team numbers. Several employees personally thanked her for treating them with both respect and positivity.

During lockdown she worked with a number of local charities and made sure a homeless man named Jay, who sleeps near the hotel, was provided with food, water and batteries for his radio. When the hotel’s terrace and restaurant reopened, McArthur ensure they joined the Invisible Chips fundraising campaign for Hospitality Action to help support those who were struggling in the industry.

Her hard work has meant that, since reopening on 17 May, the hotel has seen strong sales, with afternoon tea revenues now up on 2019.

Hailed by the judges as an “unsung hero” who had shown passion, drive and leadership during a difficult time for the industry, she is a more than worthy winner of this award.

What the judges said

“Sharon showed tremendous leadership, strategic and innovation skills. She not only reevaluated the F&B department but also areas such as IT to improve the overall offering.”

Nuno César de Sá

“Sharon’s passion and drive has been exceptional in difficult and unpredictable times. She is dedicated to exceptional guest service and took care of her team and community.”

James Clarke

“She has completely transformed the F&B operation. Sharon has thought about the bigger picture, and worked closely with other hotel departments to improve the overall operation.”

Alex Cooper

“The definition of an unsung hero. Sharon has quietly been strategically planning and working for an improved operation in the post-Covid world. She ensures her team is in the limelight while behind the scenes she supports and develops them within their roles while innovating and evolving the department.”

Sarah Williams

The shortlist

Tom Husted Dakota Manchester

Sharon McArthur The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, London

Fatih Ozbaykondu The Lowry, Manchester

Past winners

2019 Alex Cooper, Haymarket hotel

2018 Alice Bussi, Seren Collection

2017 Arjeta Arapi, the Montague on the Gardens, London

2016 Simon Seis, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

2015 Sarah Williams, Ham Yard Hotel, London

2014 Axelle Besson, Lancaster London

2013 Peter Bradley, The Montague on the Gardens, London

2012 Moses Solomon, Flemings Hotel, Mayfair London

2011 Amit Jaitly, Hilton Birmingham Metropole

2010 James Clarke, Grosvenor House

2009 Erick Kervaon, South Lodge Hotel

2008 Richard Ellison, Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa

2007 Paul Boyce, Malmaison and Hotel du Vin