HOSPA has announced its 2021 ‘Learners of the Year’ for its Professional Development Programmes in Financial Management, Revenue Management and Asset Management – with the winners revealed at an awards ceremony hosted at The Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday 8th February.
An annual event, the ceremony celebrates those who have gone above and beyond their programme requirements, acknowledging those who have stood out in their field, with the winners determined via ongoing assessments held throughout their course.
The top three learners for 2021 in their respective Professional Development Programmes, were:
Revenue Management Learner of the Year: Samantha Delmont, Revenue Manager, Headland Hotel and Spa
Financial Management Learner of the Year: Samantha Short, Financial Reporting Analyst, MGallery Hotel Collection
Asset Management Learner of the Year: Penn Chai, Digital and Operational Project Lead, Heyward Group
The three winners received trophies to mark their achievements, as well as complimentary day delegate passes for HOSPACE 2022 – HOSPA’S annual conference, which will be held at the Royal Lancaster London on 17th November 2022.
Alongside the individuals who picked up awards, HOSPA also recognised the Employer of the Year. Right Revenue won the award this year, as the firm was commended for its outstanding commitment to professional development.
The programmes provide the skills and knowledge for those hospitality professionals who are seeking to excel in their careers in hospitality finance, revenue or asset management.
With both introductory and advanced levels available, the course modules have been specifically written for the hospitality sector by specialist educators and industry leaders. Moreover, they recognise the need for learners to continue full-time work whilst studying. The Financial Management, Revenue Management and Asset Management programmes are offered in three separate certificates, with each taking five months to complete.
Samantha Delmont, Samantha Short and Penn Chai all received a glass trophy to mark their achievements, with the trophies kindly sponsored by FM Recruitment and Edwards & Finn – the overall sponsors of the event – while those in attendance were also able to enjoy The Savoy’s famed afternoon tea.
The highest achieving learners at the 2021 HOSPA Professional Development Learner Awards were:
September Cohort 2020 Winners
Revenue Management Level 1
Rachael Crossan - Da Vinci’s Hotel Derry
Finance Management Level 2
Lucy Cole - BDO Consulting
Revenue Management Level 2
Rachel Ironside - Raithwaite Trading Company Limited
Finance Management Level 3
Simon Grech - Domus Zamittello, Malta
Revenue Management Level 3
Emily Cox - EC4 Hotels Limited - T/A Cedar Court Hotels
March Cohort 2021 Winners
Finance Management Level 1
Pedro Delgado - SBE
Revenue Management Level 1
Stephanie Gillingham - Vine Hotels
Revenue Management Level 2
David Kneeshaw - Surya Hotels
Inna Nekrassova - Four Seasons Hotel Collection UK
Finance Management Level 3
Lucy Cole - BDO Consulting
Revenue Management Level 3
Kirsty Kelly - Right Revenue
Alice Valle - The Beaumont Hotel
September Cohort 2021 Winners
Foundation Certificate in Hospitality Finance Management
Robert May – Guestline
James Surridge – Guestline
Foundation Certificate in Revenue Management
Tara Scully – Windward Management
Professional Certificate in Operational Revenue Management
Amanda Brady
Professional Certificate in Operational Hospitality Finance Management
Samantha Short – Queens Hotel Cheltenham
Foundation Certificate In Asset Management
Joseph Hardiman – Valor Hospitality
Commenting on the awards, HOSPA Chief Executive, Jane Pendlebury said: “Our learners, as ever, have worked so hard over the past year – and it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate their achievements face-to-face again. HOSPA’s educational courses are an enormously rewarding step on the career path but completing them needs serious commitment given they go hand-in-hand with working life. The learners recognised today though, have gone beyond that – excelling in their respective fields and really demonstrating an understanding of their specialism that sets them apart. A huge well done to all of them for their endeavours.”
Jane added: “As ever, we would also like to thank our sponsors, Edwards & Finn; and FM Recruitment, for their continued support this year.”
Speaking at the event Harry Murray, HOSPA President, commented on the importance of education, saying: “This is always a very special day of celebration presenting the awards to the outstanding learners and highest achievers of the year in HOSPA’s Professional Development Programme. The hospitality industry is facing huge staffing challenges & it is important that hospitality leaders invest in their people and offer career paths. Apprenticeships, learning on the job, opportunities for all, diversity, inclusion and work life balance is the positive way forward. I applaud HOSPA & thank their sponsors for leading the way with their highly successful online programmes.”
Michael Heyward, Head of Professional Development at HOSPA and CEO & Founder of the Heyward Group, said: “The past two years have, more than ever, shown us the value of talented individuals within our industry. Hospitality has faced enormous challenges and it’s the people – talented individuals within talented teams – who have seen us through. At today’s ceremony, we’ve been recognising the next generation of talent, who will, I’m sure, all contribute enormously to our sector. Not just the award winners themselves, but all of those who’ve embarked on a HOSPA Professional Development Programme, have shown tremendous commitment and dedication to self-improvement – self-improvement that will help hospitality as a whole move forward. A huge well done, and thank you, to them all.”
The deadline date for enrolment for the next intake to all HOSPA courses is 1st March 2022. Book now to secure your place on our courses for the march 2022 intake. Contact yona.heyward@hospa.org for further information or PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | HOSPA.