Who will you nominate for the Hotel Cateys 2014?
The search is on to find the most exceptional hoteliers, hotel employees and hotels. Amanda Afiya reports
Entries are open for the awards that everyone in the hotel sector aspires to win. As the only truly independent benchmark of operational excellence, Caterer and Hotelkeeper's Hotel Cateys are sought-after accolades.
Once again, the search is on to discover the most successful hotels, hoteliers and hotel employees across the UK. Now into their eighth year, the Hotel Cateys celebrate excellence across all layers of management and operations in the hotel sector.
The Hotel Cateys recognise the unsung heroes who support the UK's hotel sector 365 days a year. The awards are an opportunity for the industry to get together and celebrate the teams and individuals who work tirelessly to make sure their particular business is a smooth and successful operation that delivers an exceptional guest experience every day.
There are countless reasons for visiting a hotel, but guests return because of a magnificent welcome, a delicious breakfast and superb service delivered with care and attention. Efficient
and enthusiastic hoteliers and employees make this happen. Hotel Catey winners deliver on all of these demands while making sure their business area is as stunning as their service.
New to this year's event is the Concierge Award. In this category, we will be looking for outstanding individuals who are respected by the team around them as well as their peers for their knowledge in and around the locality, and whose suggestions for dining or days out ensure their guests' stays are even more memorable.
So does your front-of-house team make guests feel they are in a home from home?
Do you have a housekeeping team that leaves things so clean you could eat your dinner off them? Or does your conference and banqueting team offer an outstanding level of service? If so, we want to hear about them. To buy tickets for the event, contact martha.allardyce@catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk, or to explore sponsorship opportunities contact rob.adam@catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk or deborah.king@catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk.
The categories
• Concierge Award
• Conference and Banqueting Team of the Year
• Extra Mile Award
• Food and Beverage Manager of the Year
• Front of House Manager of the Year
• Front of House Team of the Year
• Green Hotel of the Year
• Hotel Chef of the Year (fewer than 250 covers)
• Hotel Chef of the Year (more than 250 covers)
• Hotel Restaurant Manager of the Year
• Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year
• Housekeeper of the Year
• Human Resources Manager of the Year
• Human Resources Team of the Year
• Revenue Award
• Spa Professional of the Year
• Outstanding Contribution
In addition to these awards, on the night of the event, the winner of Hotelier of the Year, sponsored by Casna Group, will be introduced.
What past winners of the hotel cateys have to say
Stuart Bowery, general manager, Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel, London, and winner of the Hotelier of the Year 2013 "To be awarded the 2013 Hotelier of the Year is an honour and an accolade I feel deeply humbled to receive. Such recognition from past winners and luminaries of our industry is a career highlight that I will cherish."
David Smith, executive housekeeper, Park Plaza Riverbank London, and winner of the 2013 Housekeeper of the Year award "Winning the Housekeeper of the Year Award is truly the highlight of my 20 years in hospitality. I am privileged to have mentored and been mentored by some amazingly talented professionals and to be recognised by my peers within the hotel industry for something I love to do is truly inspirational.
"This award illustrates the scope for the ‘unsung heroes' in the industry and I believe it encourages young people to join our dynamic profession."
David Mead-Male, concierge, the Royal Crescent Bath, and winner of the Extra Mile Award 2013 for performing CPR on guest John Munday when he collapsed "I don't think I will ever forget the feeling of emptiness when the ambulance drove away on that horrible September morning.
"I found myself doubting all that I had done, but two weeks later, the thrill of hearing that John had survived and remembered who he was was overwhelming.
"On stage at the Cateys, I felt my heart take an extra beat when I was presented with my award. I didn't only feel immense pride for me and my family, but felt an explosion of positive emotions that I know I will not forget for a long time."
Julia Murrell, director of human resources, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton, Oxfordshire, and winner of the 2013 Human Resources Manager of the Year award "I was delighted when I was nominated by Philip Newman-Hall. Just to receive that level of recognition was a proud moment. To go on and be shortlisted and then win the award is efinitely the proudest moment of my career - to receive this recognition from the industry and also from the people I have looked up to as role models and tried to learn from.
"I am very lucky at Le Manoir to have a team that supports me, that works extremely hard and is very loyal, and because of them we have achieved some great results.
"I am also very lucky that, in previous roles and now at Le Manoir, I have worked with some amazing mentors and people who have helped me and believed in me."
HOW TO ENTER
To make a nominatio n for the 2014 Hotel Cateys, go to www.hotelcateys.com.
The closing date for entries is 11 July. The 2014 Hotel Cateys will be presented at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, on Friday 28 November.
