“Most hotels today have environmental policies, but as a guest, you cannot necessarily see them in action,” said Assia Riccio-Smith, Guest Service Manager at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire and overall winner of the Olive Barnett Award 2011.
“This idea has the advantage of demonstrating very clearly the hotel’s commitment to the environment. It also saves money, because if you are throwing away the soap you are charged for its weight.” she added.
There were many highlights of the judging weekend enjoyed by the eight finalists, said Riccio-Smith. These included being at the Savoy, the teamwork, the training sessions on presentation skills led by Learn Purple and a speech by Ian Scarth FIH, Professeur of F&B Management Strategy, Ecole Hoteliere Lausanne, on the ‘experience economy.’
As a prize Riccio-Smith will receive a career development grant of £1,750 a year for two years, courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust, as well as a week on the Lausanne Executive Education Summer Programme, provided by the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland.
Riccio-Smith added: “I want to give back to the industry and promote front-of-house to young people, become a Springboard ambassador and mentor the next Olive Barnett candidates. It’s a two-way thing. I want to give back to Le Manoir and my General Manager there Philip Newman-Hall who has always supported me; and the same is true of Raymond Blanc. He came to see me when I returned to work and he wrote a blog about me.”
First runner-up of the award was Shankhanhil Roy, assistant food and beverage manager at the London Marriott hotel Regent's Park, who will receive a development grant of £1,250 per year, for two years.
Second runner-up was Adam Beck AIH, assistant restaurant manager at the Grove Hotel, London, who will receive a development grant of £750 per year, for two years. Both are also entitled to attend a short course at the prestigious École Hôtelière de Lausanne.
The other finalists were:
Laura-Anne Cawston - Assistant Front Office Manager, The Savoy
Katie Lister, Head Waiter, Stratheam Restaurant, The Gleneagles Hotel
Polly Robertson, Conference Services Manager, The Savoy
Kasia Slawinska, Receptionist, Crown Plaza London The City
Ramona Webley, Assistant Executive Housekeeper, The London Marriott Hotel, County Hall
For further information go to: http://events.springboarduk.net/sgoba/
