Jan 25, 20195 min read

The 2018 ‘Outstanding Overall Learners of the Year’ for Financial Management and Revenue Management

The 2018 ‘Outstanding Learners of the Year’ for Financial Management and Revenue Management announced by HOSPA at the Association’s Annual Learner Awards Ceremony. Pictured left to right: Yan Zhang, Hien Nguyen, Amy Kimbel, Maria Gutierrez Mondragon, Antonio Sans, Kris Franklin, Dasline Muvwanga, Simon Leech.

Awards were also presented to the highest achieving learners at each Level of HOSPA’s 2018 Professional Development Programmes in Financial and Revenue Management

The association also recognised two organisations for their commitment to education in the fields of Revenue Management and Financial Management

The 2018 ‘Overall Learners of the Year’ for HOSPA’s Professional Development Programmes in Financial Management and Revenue Management were announced yesterday (24th January 2019) at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, London. The two outstanding learners were presented with specially engraved glass trophies and complimentary day delegate spaces for HOSPACE2019, at the HOSPA Annual Learner Awards Ceremony – sponsored by MRK Associates.

The recipients in question, who gained the highest combined course work and examination results for 2018 in their respective Professional Development Programmes, were:

For Financial Management: Maria Gutierrez Mondragon, Accounts Assistant at Delta Norton Park Operations Company Ltd, Winchester

For Revenue Management: Kris Franklin, Cluster Revenue Manager for Amaris Hospitality, Watford.

Gretchen Abrahams from Mantis Management was also recognised for her exceptional final project on the impact of segmentation on total revenue per available room by employing a targeted marketing strategy.

The programmes, delivered by the Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) in association with arena4finance Ltd, provide the skills and knowledge for those hospitality professionals seeking to excel in their careers in hospitality finance or revenue management.

With both introductory and advanced levels available, the modules have been specifically written for the hospitality sector by specialist educators and industry-leaders and reflect the need for learners to be continuing in full-time work whilst studying.

The Financial Management programme is studied in three separate stages over 18 months. The Revenue Management programme is offered in three separate levels, each taking five months to complete.

Maria Gutierrez Mondragon and Kris Franklin were both presented with a glass trophy and a complimentary delegate space at HOSPA’s prestigious annual HOSPACE2019 Conference and Exhibition, to be held on 28th November 2019 at the Royal Lancaster London Hotel. The awards were presented by Debra Adams, Head of Professional Development at HOSPA and Harry Murray, President of HOSPA and Chairman of Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa.

Maria and Kris were amongst ten learners who each received certificates and prizes for achieving the highest combined course work and examination scores during their studies in Financial Management and Revenue Management with HOSPA on courses completed in February 2018 and August 2018.

The ten 2018 HOSPA Professional Development Learner Award Winners, who each received a certificate were as follows:

Financial Management prize winners, completed in February 2018 were:

Stage 1 – Introduction to Financial Accounting: Maria Gutierrez Mondragon, Accounts Assistant, Delta Norton Park Operations Company Ltd, Winchester

Stage 2 – Operational Management Accounting: Yan Zhang, Assistant Finance Manager, Jumeirah Restaurants Group, Dubai

Stage 3 – Strategic Management Accounting: Amy Kimbel, Finance Manager, Plus Rooms, London

Financial Management prize winners, completed in August 2018 were:

Stage 1 – Introduction to Financial Accounting: Beryl Mathews, Finance Executive, Jumeirah Restaurants Group, Dubai

Stage 2 – Operational Management Accounting: Simon Leech, Assistant Financial Controller, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh

Stage 3 – Strategic Management Accounting: Hien Nguyen, Assistant Financial Controller, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Vietnam

Revenue Management prize winners, completed in February 2018 were:

Level 1: Introduction to Revenue Management: Antonio Sans, Cluster Revenue Manager, LABTECH London Ltd

Level 2: Operational Revenue Management: Gretchen Abrahams, Deputy Group Revenue Manager, Mantis Collection South Africa

Level 3: Strategic Revenue Management: Dasline Muvwanga, Cluster Rooms Reservations Manager, Radisson Hotel Group, Glasgow

Revenue Management prize winners, completed in August 2018 were:

Level 1: Introduction to Revenue Management: Kris Franklin, Cluster Revenue Manager, Amaris Hospitality, Watford

Level 2: Operational Revenue Management: Kris Franklin, Cluster Revenue Manager, Amaris Hospitality, Watford

Level 3: Strategic Revenue Management: Gretchen Abrahams, Deputy Group Revenue Manager, Mantis Collection South Africa

Commenting on the awards, HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury said: “Huge congratulations to our two outstanding learners and all our prize-winning highest achievers, who have each demonstrated outstanding commitment to their careers, combining study with demanding full-time roles in the hotel and restaurant industry. We are extremely proud of them. We are delighted to be at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower for the first time for this stand-alone event which has enabled us to showcase the professional development of the next generation of revenue managers and financial managers. Importantly, the event also has enabled our learners to network with industry leaders. We would also like to thank our sponsors, MRK Associates, for their continued support.”

We were particularly delighted to welcome Yan Zhang who travelled from Dubai to receive her award and Hien Nguyen who visited from Vietnam.

The association also recognised two organisations for their outstanding commitment to education in the fields of Revenue Management and Financial Management. Glass trophies were each awarded to:

· Commitment to Education in Financial Management: Jurys Inn & Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, collected by Declan Gallagher, Group Management Accountant

· Commitment to Education in Revenue Management: Hoseasons

Declan commented on Jurys Inn & Leonardo Hotels award saying “It is a fantastic accolade to be recognised by HOSPA for the company’s commitment to supporting the development of hospitality professionals to achieve more within the industry. To be informed that we were going to be the recipient of this award for the second time in the last number of years was by far the icing on a very positive 2018. At Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, we are pleased as an employer to be able to assist the industry in ensuring people have the right skills and knowledge to further their careers within all facets of hospitality.”

David Groves, Head of Commercial at Hoseasons, says the award is well-deserved recognition for a company that is completely committed to the growth and development of its people.

“As one of the country’s biggest providers of domestic holidays, we do everything we can to ensure our people have the skills and support they need to offer the best possible commercial advice to our owners,” he said, adding: “That’s why receiving this accolade from our partner HOSPA is so pleasing and why development of the next generation of revenue managers will continue to be such a vital focus for the Hoseasons business.”

Sponsoring the event for the third year in succession was MRK Associates Ltd. MRK Associates is the leading Revenue Management/Pricing recruitment business in the UK with specialist consultants knowledgeable about the market and solely dedicated to finding the right people the right jobs.

The types of vacancies in which they specialise:

Revenue Analyst, (Cluster) Revenue Manager, Director/ Head of RevenuePricing Analyst, Manager and DirectorYield Analyst, Manager and DirectorData Analyst and BI

In a skill-short marketplace where experienced individuals are at a premium and the need is growing around the world, MRK has proved successful in sourcing the right talent and developing the Revenue Management industry globally.

MRK partners with the only sector specific job board in the world: www.revenuemanagementjobs.com

The deadline date for enrolment for the next intake is 1st March 2019 – for both the Financial Management and Revenue Management programmes. Both courses are available at three levels – Introductory, Operational and Strategic – each at a cost of £820 (ex VAT). For further information, visit: www.hospa.org/education; or email: education@hospa.org .

Links:

· www.hospace.net

· MRK Associates: www.mrkassociates.co.uk and www.revenuemanagementjobs.com

· Arena4finance Ltd: www.arena4finance.co.uk

· Revenue Management ebook download: https://www.hospa.org/en/education/revenue-management-ebook1/

For further information:

Debra Adams,

HOSPA Head of Professional Development

Suite 6

Merley House Business Centre

Merley House Lane

Wimborne