STAR staff from the North East’s hotels are to be honoured at an awards ceremony celebrating the region’s hospitality industry.
The North East Hoteliers’ Association is holding its second annual Excellence Awards, at Newcastle Gateshead Hilton on Thursday, February 23, in recognition of the unsung heroes of the region’s hotels.
The ceremony will recognise high performing staff in 10 categories and the winners will be chosen by a panel of independent judges from a shortlist of nominees.
The categories covered by the awards include Sales Champion, Service Excellence, Chef of the Year and Cleanliness award, with the Best Arrivals Experience vote being given to the person who goes out of their way to make guests feel welcome and the Leisure Experience award rewarding the most promising staff member in hotel spa and fitness facilities.
The Green Award will recognise the person who has most effectively implemented an environmental policy, the Support Services honour will go to someone acknowledged as the backbone of their hotel and Hospitality in the Community award will be given to the person or team who have most supported a local initiative, charity or project.
Also given out on the night will be The Rising Star of the Year Award will be presented to the team member who has achieved the most in a short space of time and shows potential to shine.
The North East Hoteliers’ Association was formed to give hotels in the North East a collective identity and to represent the opinions and views of its members.
Joint chairman Damon Roberts, general manager of the Thistle Hotel Middlesbrough, said: “These awards are a celebration of excellence across the North East hospitality industry.
“We place a very high value on the great people who work in our industry ... an industry that is people focused and becoming ever greater and more crucial to the region’s economy
“We need to be able to shout loudly that the North East is the best part of the United Kingdom to work within the hospitality industry and the people who are nominated for – and who win – these awards are the reason for that.”
For further information about the North East Hoteliers’ Association, call Damon Roberts on 0871 3769028, e-mail damon.roberts@thistle.co.uk or visit www.nehotels.co.uk.
