Acorn Awards 2024: Carlotta Pascual-Solera, 29, hotel manager, the Bath Priory

Age 29

Job title Hotel manager, the Bath Priory

Nominator John Badley, chief executive, Andrew Brownsword Hotels

It’s no wonder many of Carlotta Pascual-Solera’s team cite her as a role model for their career. She had an exemplary record on the MacDonald Hotels graduate management programme, where she progressed to front office manager and then director of food and beverage before moving to the Bath Priory in 2022. The following year, she earned promotion to hotel manager with operational responsibility.

Under Pascual-Solera, the £3.5m five-red-AA-star hotel has benefited from her skill in implementing new concepts and projects. Most recently she led an overhaul of F&B that has seen a nearly 40% growth in revenue.

By increasing business from five-day to seven-day trading, restructuring the hotel and redesigning the induction programme, Pascual-Solera has created opportunities for her team to gain experience across different departments and climb the managerial ladder. She also encourages them to apply for local and national awards, coaching them along the way.

All this has helped reduce employee turnover by 23%, grown F&B sales by 40%, improved guest satisfaction results by three points and the employee net promoter score by eight points.

Looking to the next generation, Pascual-Solera offers work experience to students at Bath College, engages with Prince’s Trust programmes and works with HIT Training.

Perhaps one of her most special qualities is that she has offered support and kindness to members of the team going through difficulties in their personal life, taking time in a pressured environment to create space for them. Described as calm, logical, practical and passionate, it’s clear why the team naturally come to her to get the guidance they need.

Who has been your biggest champion in the industry?

"Marie Pollock, our group head of training and development, and Gurval Durand, our regional general manager. I have had the privilege to work with them for several years and they have been a constant inspiration for me to aspire to do better. I would not have come this far without their support."