Hotel industry's finest employees shine
The best and brightest of the NSW accommodation sector were honoured tonight in a special category at the 2012 Tourism Accommodation Australia (NSW) Awards for Excellence.
More than 600 political and business leaders attended the Awards ceremony at the Westin, Sydney including NSW Hospitality Minister George Souris.
There were a dozen categories in the important People’s Awards section recognising the best in service the sector has to offer - from chef of the year to housekeeper of the year right through to rising star and trainee of the year.
TAA (NSW) Chair Peter Tudehope said that all 12 People Award categories were closely contested.
“Customer service is an area of strong competitive advantage for accommodation hotels,” Mr Tudehope said.
“And tonight we honour hotel staff who have gone beyond the call of duty in their dedication to their guests – staff who are, quite literally, the face of our industry.
“To receive a People Award tonight is the highest accolade our industry can bestow and I would like to congratulate all winners.”
The winners of the People Awards included:
- Engineer of the Year – Andy Goonesekera (Intercontinental)
- Apprentice/trainee of the Year – Susan Sheldrick (Mercure Sydney Airport)
- Finance officer of the Year – Andrew Low (Crown Plaza Coogee Beach)
- Revenue/Yield manager of the Year – Jamie Griego (Hilton Sydney)
- Food/Beverage employee of the Year – Lucy Cochrane (The Westin, Sydney)
- Public Relations/Sales/Marketing employee of the Year – Kirsty Forbes (Fairmont Resort MGallery)
- Human Resources employee of the year – Mathew Paine (Sofitel Sydney Wentworth)
- Front of House employee of the year – Naseera Naidoo (The Westin, Sydney)
- Employee excellence in service – Sally Glen (Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel)
- Concierge of the year – David Patt (Intercontinental)
- Housekeeper of the year – Emil Beshay (The Observatory Hotel)
- Chef of the year – Joe Pavlovich (Hilton, Sydney)
- Hotel industry rising star – Tom Woods (Intercontinental)/David Alexander (The Westin)
