This year’s BH Area Hospitality Recognition Awards – celebrating the crème de la crème across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – have been officially launched.

Hoteliers met with sponsors at the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa in Christchurch for the 2022 launch following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

This year’s main sponsors are Yellow Buses and Savills.

The main supporter is Bournemouth Coastal Bid.

The speakers included Alison Broderick, Associate Director, Savills, pictured and Fiona Harwood, Yellow Buses’ Marketing & Sales Manager.

Guests were welcomed by a glass of fizz or BH1 Gin and canapes with a chance to network and catch up with each other.

Niloofar Hoy, pictured right, gave a moving testimony of what winning the exceptional customer service award in 2021 meant to her and how the awards were needed to recognise the talent of people in the industry.

Tim Seward, Chair of BH Area Hospitality Association, said: “I am pleased to see these awards grow from their inaugural year in 2021 with more categories enabling more hotel individuals to be recognised for the work they do.

“These awards are important to recognise so many staff that work across the industry in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and celebrate the industry as a whole.”

Fiona McArthur and Sonia Shaw, of main supporters Bournemouth Coastal Bid, with BAHA Chair Tim Seward.

This year’s awards have 24 categories

• Rising Star: 18-25  – sponsored by Savills
• Exceptional Customer Service – sponsored by Yellow Buses
• Sales/Events – sponsored by A-One Insurance
• Reception – sponsored by Merley House Events
• Housekeeping – sponsored by Comax UK
• Chef – sponsored by County foods
• Kitchen Porter – sponsored by Clean Linen Services Ltd
• Bar – sponsored by Smugglers Cove Golf
• Mixologist – sponsored by SP Safety Consultancy
• HR/Admin/Accounts – sponsored by The Clinic@78
• Waiter/Waitress – sponsored by Cater Elite
• Reservations & Revenue – sponsored by Charminster Dry Cleaners
• Assistant/Duty Manager – sponsored by The Coffee Bean Company
• Spa/Pool – Sponsored by UMC Air Conditioning
• Maintenance – sponsored by Waste Management Facilities
• Night staff – sponsored by Taylor Made Design
• Bed & Breakfast – sponsored by Anytech Solutions
• Deputy/Operations Manager – sponsored by Harvest Fine Foods
• Community Team Awards – sponsored by Dorset Police Hotelwatch
• Front of House Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by SWRAC
• College Chef Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by SWRAC
• Bournemouth & Poole College Student of the Year – sponsored by Bournemouth & Poole College
• Bournemouth Univeristy Student of the Year – sponsored by Bournemouth University
• BAHA Judges Choice – sponsored by BAHA

Nominations are now open for all categories until September 6, 2022.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Andy Brennan, will take place on Sunday October 2 at The Mercure Bournemouth.

• bhhospitalityassociation.co.uk