Night of triumph as hospitality sector's unsung heroes take their place in the awards spotlight

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They’re often unsung heroes but last night they received well-deserved recognition for the part they play in BCP’s multi-million pound hospitality sector.

Waiters and waitresses, back of office staff – including HR, administration and accounts – as well as maintenance, night staff and kitchen porters were among the roles honoured at the second BH Area Hospitality Association (BAHA) Recognition Awards.

More than 130 nominations were received for this year’s awards which were held at the Hilton Bournemouth.

Tim Seward, BAHA Chair – who also received an award for his special contribution to BAHA – said: “These awards were created to bring hotels together, to recognise the teams that work in them and celebrate everything the industry contributes to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

“Although not everyone who was nominated can be a winner or runner-up, I want to say a huge well done to every single staff member across every hotel for all they do to welcome visitors and look after their guests.

“Hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses all have such an important part to play in the economy of this area.

“This year BH Area Hospitality Association has been focusing heavily on encouraging young people in schools to look at taking up a career in a hotel.

“We have been working with several schools along with Bournemouth and Poole College and Bournemouth University to make sure this is top of our agenda.

“As such it is great to have several awards recognising young people who have just started their hospitality journey and to have Yannic Kaiser, our Young Ambassador for BAHA, here.”

Cllr Beverley Dunlop, pictured left, Cabinet Member, BCP Council, for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “It is both a pleasure and a privilege to be with some of the hardest working people I know, to celebrate the very best in hospitality, in one of our most important industries.

“I know hospitality is hard work, because I’ve done it.

“Many years ago, aged 18, I came from Birmingham to work at, what was then, one of the best hotels in Bournemouth.

“I learned the arts of table setting, silver service, room service, fine dining and how to take care of guests.

“I learned further skills that enabled me to work in cafe’s, bars, pubs and clubs.

“I’ve never forgotten these skills, 40 odd years later I can still set a beautiful table, serve food properly, pull a pint and I know how make a roux and what to do with it!

“These are life skills as well as essential services, for all of us.

“Without hospitality, we simply wouldn’t have a tourism industry.

“There would be nowhere to stay, nowhere to eat, nothing to do but look out to sea.

“Without you there wouldn’t be a tourism economy generating £1.1bn a year, boosting the region, supporting jobs, essentially helping to make it a nice place to live and work.”

The awards were hosted by Andy Brennan with an Ibiza set – led by DJ Gareth Morrell, Vicky Barents Sax and percussionist John Spencer – as the opener.

The main sponsor for this year’s awards was Savills with BH Coastal BID as main supporter.

Full results of the BH Area Hospitality Association Recognition Awards 2022 – all pictures by Paul Collins/PC Visuals – are:

Waiter/Waitress sponsored by Cater Elite

Winner: Nikki Gilbert, Marsham Court Hotel
Runner-up: Maria Nani, Park Inn by Radisson
Runner-up: Pacha Banyaz, Norfolk Royale

HR/Admin/Accounts sponsored by The Clinic@78

Winner: Rohana Mallya, Bournemouth Westcliff
Runner-up: Clara Ratto, Oceana Hotels
Runner-up: Lauren Ferrari, Hilton Hotel

Reservation Manager/Supervisor sponsored by Charminster Dry Cleaners

Winner: Gitta Brandt-Duley, Hotel Miramar
Runner-up: Iwona Koziol, Holiday Inn Bournemouth
Runner-up: Julia Cheney, Captains Club

Assistant/Duty Manager sponsored by The Coffee Bean Company

Winner: Bettina Laszlo, Holiday Inn Bournemouth
Runner-up: Edoardo Oggiano, Suncliff Hotel
Runner-up: Kataryzyna Andruczy, Hotel Miramar

Spa sponsored by UMC Air Conditioning

Winner: Tarlia Smith, Christchurch Harbour Hotel

Maintenance sponsored by Waste Management Facilities

Winner: Bart Gad, Holiday Inn Bournemouth
Winner: Steve Pigott, Bournemouth Westcliff Hotel
Runner-up: Dave Mould, Marsham Court Hotel
Runner-up: Andrew Moore, Marriott Bournemouth

Night staff sponsored by Taylor Made Design

Winner: Ricardo Paulo, Holiday Inn Bournemouth
Runner-up: Konstantinos Karamanis, Park Inn by Radisson
Runner-up: Tzon Mukaj, Hilton Hotel Bournemouth

Bar sponsored by Smugglers Cove Golf

Winner: Hunter Hemmingway, Norfolk Royale
Runner-up: Otho Moreno Cisneros, Hilton Hotel Bournemouth

Mixologist sponsored by SP Safety Consultancy

Winner: Przemyslaw Seckowski, Neo

Kitchen Porter sponsored by Clean Linen Services Ltd

Winner: Frederick Naughten, Park Inn by Radisson
Runner-up: Bras da Silva Morgado, Hotel Miramar
Rinner-up: Manuel Alfonsa Leca, Cumberland Hotel

Chef sponsored by County foods

Winner: Emil Donchev, Marsham Court Hotel
Runner-up: Chiara Fabiani, Holiday Inn Bournemouth
Runner-up: Simon Braz, Harbour Heights Hotel

Housekeeping sponsored by Comax UK

Winner: Beata Rosiecka, Orchid Hotel
Runner-up: Eszter Fabian-Kozma, Christchurch Harbour Hotel
Runner-up: Dorota Gornik, Holiday Inn Bournemouth

Reception sponsored by Merley House Events

Winner: Rebecca Gleaves, Marriott Hotel Bournemouth
Runner-up: Lorraine Valentine-Freeman, Norfolk Royale
Runner-up: Chelsea Andrades, Ibis Styles Hotel

Sales/Events sponsored by A-One Insurance