Pan Pacific’s Sonia Bharj named UK Receptionist of the Year

Sonia Bharj from Pan Pacific London has been named the 2024 AICR UK Receptionist of the Year. 

Bharj will now go on to represent the UK in Athens in March 2025 and compete for the David Campbell trophy and World’s Best Receptionist title.

She beat Ayesha Khizar, receptionist at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, who was named first runner up, while Maxmillian Jones from Claridge’s took the second runner up spot.

All finalists undertook four months of assessments leading to a celebratory reception at the Corinthia London with over 120 Hospitality industry professionals in attendance. 

The annual competition, held by the AICR UK in partnership with the Master Innholders, is open to individuals from across the UK Hospitality industry who work full-time in hotel reception. 

The 2024 finalists were:

Florian Bares, Raffles London at The OWO
Nava Alvarez Castro, Claridge’s
Bruna Ferreira, Corinthia Hotel London
Sophia Freitas, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
Lewis McDonald, Gleneagles  
Volha Morgan, Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa 
Sheryl Mapoy, W Edinburgh