Guests checked in for a night of celebration in Newcastle on Sunday which saw hotels across the region receive a wealth of awards.
The NEHA - North East Hotelier’s Association - hosted its Excellence Awards at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park for the first time since the pandemic. And the event, the 10th, showed how much the industry has achieved despite the hardships caused by Covid.
The NEHA organisation itself was established more than 30 years ago to support hoteliers and other businesses associated with or serving the industry. Sunday night's black tie ball saw more than 370 guests enjoy a three-course meal and a live band. And the awards, supported by sponsors across the region, proved the icing on the cake as they were given out in recognition of excellence achieved against all the odds.
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Anna Wadcock, general manager of the Maldron Hotel, and Sarah Harrison, general manager of the Marriott Metrocentre at NEHA, thanked members and sponsors and said: "It’s so good to be back after the most stressful two years that our industry has ever seen. Our staff have coped remarkably well and fought against adversity in a way that only people in the service industry could understand."
The hospitality industry is said to have an "enormous" impact upon the economy and Anna said: “In an industry that employs in excess of 3,400 staff and influences in the region of 11,400 jobs, we hope that more hoteliers will consider joining NEHA, in order to get their voices heard.”
Awards were made in 10 categories and among them was Inspirational Leader which this year was also named in memory of Damon Roberts, previous chairman of NEHA and general manager of Jurys Inn Middlesbrough who died last year. Here are the night's successes - in first, second and third-place order.
Winners of NETA Excellence Awards
Warmest Welcome
David Jackson - Malmaison
Jason Patterson - Staybridge Suites
Kevin Jackson - Seaham Hall
Best Newcomer
Clinton Douglas - Maldron Hotel
Stephanie Morgan - Staybridge Suites
Natalia Glowacka - Beamish Hall
Rising Star
Dannika Herron - Seaham Hall
Emma Stockwell - Hotel Indigo
Philip Robson - Staybridge Suites
Sales Excellence
Nola Collinson - Staybridge Suites
Haley Woodman - Crowne Plaza
Sophie Rostron - Seaham Hall
Service Excellence
Scott Arthur - Maldron Hotel
Faye Winters - Hotel Indigo
Marzena Moskala - Staybridge Suites
Inspirational Leader - in memory of Damon Roberts
Marcus Klemm - County Hotel
Amanda Jennings - Seaham Hall
Lainey Westgarth - Great North Hotel
Cleanliness Excellence
Housekeeping Team - Holiday Inn Gosforth Park
Deb Fahey - Maldron Hotel
Housekeeping Team - Grey Street Hotel
Support Services
Cheryl Wrightson - Jurys Inn Middlesbrough
Hannah Walker - Copthorne Hotel
Caroline May - Seaham Hall
Community Award
Chris Wells - Marriott Metro Centre
Seaham Hall Team
Grand Hotel Gosforth Park Team
Eco Excellence
Gardening Estates - Rockcliffe Hall
Lee Larkin – Hotel du Vin
Spa at Ramside - Ramside Hall
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