Aimbridge Forum 2024 gave our teams the chance to reconnect, learn and celebrate. The event culminated in our coveted award ceremony where we recognised and rewarded our hard-working hotel teams. Congratulations to our winners:

Rising Stars

Our Rising Star Awards recognise the achievements of individuals who go beyond, show an exceptional level of initiative, skill and commitment. They drive a positive impact in their role and display real promise for the future.  

Our winners:

• Rebecca Gallagher – Guest Services Manager, Hampton by Hilton Sheffield
• Axelle Van Belle – Marketing Coordinator, Residence Inn & Marriott Ghent
• Claire Williamson – Housekeeping Team Leader, Mercure Livingston
• Charlie Douglas – Assistant Bar & Restaurant Manager, AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast
• Stuart Haynes – Groups & Reservations Supervisor, Holiday Inn Express London Excel
• Joey Ong – Executive Personal Assistant – Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter
• Kirsty Bell – Sous Chef, Hotel Indigo Durham
• Tierney O’Rourke – Front Office Manager, Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Metric Awards

These awards recognise our top performing hotels across all key metrics and brands.

Our winners:

• Independent, Most Improved & Top Metric Performance 2023: The View Hotel Eastbourne
• Hilton, Most Improved Brand Metric Performance 2023: Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broadstreet
• Hilton, Top Brand Metric Performance 2023: Hampton by Hilton Hamilton Park
• Accor, Most Improved Brand Metric Performance 2023: Mercure Manchester Piccadilly
• Accor, Top Brand Metric Performance 2023: Mercure Newport
• IHG, Most Improved Brand Metric Performance 2023: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam
• IHG, Top Brand Metric Performance 2023: Staybridge Suites Birmingham
• Marriott, Most Improved & Top Metric Performance 2023: The Alexander, Yerevan

Most Improved RGI Performance, Sponsored by Agoda

This metric is critical to our success and ability to benchmark against the competition. 

Congratulations to Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel!

Balanced Scorecard Overall Performance 2023

This award recognises those who have achieved consistent performance across all aspects of perforamnce, staff retention, training and health & safety compliance. 

Congratulations to Hampton by Hilton Canterbury! 

Heart of the Community, Sponsored by Peloton

This award recognises those who embody true community spirit across the whole team.

• Jon Baker from Hampton by Hilton Canterbury 
• Tim Seward from Holiday Inn Bournemouth 
• The team at Hampton by Hilton Stockton-on-Tees 
• And Dan Clayton and the ibis Budget Manchester Airport Team 

Congratulations, Hampton by Hilton Stockton on Tees!

Corporate Team Member of the Year, Sponsored by Brakes

This award recognises individuals who have gone above and beyond, achieved a standout performance and continually driven hotel results.

Shortlist:

• Casey McIntyre, HR 
• Sarah Wong, Marketing 
• Tracey Bremner, Revenue Strategy 
• Fiona Whitworth, Revenue Strategy 
• Kam Mann, Operations  
• Jodie King, Revenue Strategy 

Congratulations to Fiona Whitworth, Senior Area Revenue Manager, from Aimbridge EMEA!

Food & Beverage Team of the Year, Sponsored by Nestle

This award recognises those teams who innovate, understand the importance of customer service, and drive exceptional results.

Shortlist:

• Holiday Inn Heathrow 
• AC by Marriott Belfast 
• Mercure Hull 

Congratulations to Mercure Hull! 

Revenue Strategy Contribution, Sponsored by BVA BDRC

This award recognises those who drive performance, optimise the business mix and develop strong working relationships with local partners, brands and OTAs. 

Shortlist:

• Amelie Beylemans – Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End 
• Kristina Skaburskyte – Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter 
• Chris Boocock – Mercure Maidstone 

Congratulations to Amelie Beylemans from Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End!

Outstanding Contribution, Sponsored by Quadriga

These awards were given by our judges for consistent, exemplary leadership and performance across the hotel teams. All hotels with an outstanding contribution award were nominated in multiple categories and across numerous departments, a testament to their team strength and commitment.

Congratulations to:

• Holiday Inn & Staybridge Suites London Heathrow
• Mercure Hull
• Holiday Inn Express London Excel

Outstanding Achievement in Employee Engagement, Sponsored by Vira International

This award recognises standout performance in employee engagement based on the results of our 2023 survey.

Congratulations to Tom Orange at Hotel Indigo Durham!

Leading Through Our Behaviours, Sponsored by Ecolab

These awards recognise our General Managers who lead through our behaviours, ensuring accountability and developing talent.

Shortlist:

• Jean Marc Poumel – Holiday Inn & Staybridge Suites Heathrow  
• Alex Cameron – Hampton by Hilton Hamilton 
• Paul Borg – Crowne Plaza Newcastle Stephenson Quarter 
• Samir Sharma – S Hotels portfolio 

Congratulations to Samir Sharma (Develops Talent) and Jean Marc Poumel (Ensures Accountability)!

Best Flow Through Performance, Sponsored by Hotstats

This award recognises hotels that have exceeded their budgeted GOP with an impressive flowthrough. 

Congratulations to The Eastside Rooms!

Cost Control Initiative of the Year, Sponsored by Entegra

This award recognises individuals who have implemented successful initiatives to support cost control. 

Shortlist:

• Samir Sharma – S Hotels portfolio 
• Ian Harding Jones – Mercure Swansea 
• Kevin Palmer – Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End 
• Gary Pursey – Holiday Inn Southend

Congratulations to Samir Sharma from S Hotels!

Sales Leader of the Year, Sponsored by CVENT

This prestigious award focuses on individuals who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their role, shown commitment to collaboration, displayed impressive financial contributions and have had an active role in developing brand relationships. 

Shortlist:

• Jade Jones – S Hotels portfolio 
• Luke Balcombe – Crowne Plaza Newcastle Stephenson Quarter 
• Danny Allison – Hampton by Hilton Stockton-on-Tees 
• Joanne Mannis – Mercure Inverness & Mercure Perth 
• Julia Taylor – S Hotels M&E Hub 

Congratulations to Jade Jones from S Hotels!

General Manager of the Year, Sponsored by Amadeus

This award recognises our general managers who have exceeded revenue targets, driven service delivery and guest metrics, supported staff retention and team career progression, made strong strategic decisions for their business and owner and ultimately been fundamental to their hotels’ sucess.

Select service shortlist:

• Peter Baerwinkel – Hampton by Hilton Canterbury  
• John Lambourne-Richardson – Hampton by Hilton Stockton-on-Tees 
• Aret Bulbul – Hilton Garden Inn Paris Orly Airport 
• Paul Wood – Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End 
• Stergos Karasavvas – Holiday Inn Express London Excel 
• Alex Cameron – Hampton by Hilton Hamilton 

Congratulations to Paul Wood, Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End!

Full service shortlist:

• Sarah Bestwick – Holiday Inn & ibis Budget Manchester Airport  
• David Cooke – Mercure Hull  
• Jean Marc Poumel – Holiday Inn & Staybridge Suites Heathrow 
• Kshitijj Arora – Mercure York 
• Paul Borg – Crowne Plaza Newcastle Stephenson Quarter 
• Paula Stuart – AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast and Novelli at City Quays 
• James Conaghan – Novotel & Adagio Leicester 

Congratulations to Paul Borg, Crowne Plaza Newcastle!

Hotel Team of the Year, Sponsored by Booking.com

These awards recognise outstanding teams who work collaboratively, drive performance, profit and GOP, exceed budget, and achieve incredible guest metric scores. 

Select service shortlist:

• Holiday Inn Express London Excel  
• ibis budget Manchester Airport  
• Hilton Garden Paris Inn Orly Airport 
• Hampton by Hilton Hamilton  
• Hampton by Hilton Stockton-on-Tees 

Congratulations to Hilton Garden Paris Inn Orly Airport!

Full service shortlist:

• Holiday Inn Manchester Airport 
• Novotel & Adagio Leicester 
• Mercure Livingston 
• Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter 
• AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast 

Congratulations to AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast!