The people who keep BCP’s multi-million pound hospitality sector running everyday have been celebrated at the annual BH Area Hospitality Association (BAHA) Recognition Awards.

Returning for their fourth year, the awards, sponsored by NFU Mutual with support from Bournemouth Coastal BID, recognise staff who work in hotels across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

More than 110 staff from all the different hotel departments, as well as 50 sponsors and partners from businesses across the area, attended.

Held at Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel, the evening kicked off with a reception with drinks from various suppliers organised by Tolchard’s.

They included Midas Prosecco, Shandy Shack, E18hteen Distillery & Fentimans.

Andy Brennan, pictured left, hosted the event.

He said: “It’s great to have been asked to host these awards for the third year running.

“The hotel industry is an important industry to the region and the staff should be praised for their ongoing commitment.”

Nino Nikolov entertained guests on his electric violin.

Famous for his audition on series 12 of Britain’s Got Talent, he helped the staff party the night away after the awards ceremony.

Rosie Radwell took over as Chair of BH Area Hospitality Association in March this year.

She said: “I’m pleased to have been involved with these awards since their conception back in 2021 after a difficult time for our sector.

“It is a pleasure to have seen so many nominations again this year and to be able to celebrate the talent and loyalty of the staff we have in this area.

“This is my first Recognition Awards as Chair, and I feel honoured and privileged to have worked with so many hoteliers, sponsors, partners, staff and individuals to help make the awards what they are today.

“A special mention must go to Coastal BID for partnering with us and NFU Mutual New Forest, Isle of Wight & Bournemouth, who after agreeing to be one of our main sponsors last year, agreed a three year contract as our sole main sponsor .

“We look forward to working with them again for the next two years on these prestigious awards.

“I am also thoroughly privileged to have been able to award Kris Hall from The Burnt Chef Project a special award for his contribution to hospitality.

“The work Kris and the team do is so important to our industry, and I hope to help them spread the word about the importance of what they offer in the way of support to our industry.

“Mental health is a growing concern and the burnout that comes with it, and we need to support our teams more and prevent this from continuing this in the future.”

Darren Seward, Agent and Partner at NFU Mutual’s New Forest, Isle of Wight and Bournemouth agency, said “NFU Mutual Bournemouth are delighted to be the sole sponsor of the BAHA Recognition Awards and its an honour for us to present the Exceptional Customer Service and the Future of Hospitality (aged 18-25) awards.

“These awards recognise the commitment, hard work and success of the young adults working in the hospitality and tourism sector. “

“We are committed to and work closely with the hospitality sector.”

The full results were:

Contribution to Hospitality Industry sponsored by BH Area Hospitality Association.

Winner: Kris Hall, The Burnt Chef Project.

Bournemouth University Hospitality Student of the Year.

Joint winners: Angshuman Guha & Dora Andriani Sinaga.

Bournemouth & Poole College Hospitality Student of the Year.

Winner: Eva Crease.

Runner-up: Jackson Warwick.

Receptionist of the Year sponsored by BCTC.

Winner: Oliver Baudet.

Runner-up: Renata Poprawa.

Waiter or Waitress of the Year sponsored by New Forest Fruit Company.

Winner: Ciara Thomson.

Runner-up: Rita Alvarez.

Kitchen Porter of the Year sponsored by Simon Scarborough Associates.

Winner: Les Stokes.

Runner-up: Cameron Kay.

Bar Person of the Year sponsored by Power Audit UK.

Winner: Siddhesh Devkar.

Runner-up: Elysha Dorey.

HR, Administration or Accounts Person of the Year sponsored by Ellis Jones Solicitors.

Winner: Carole McStocker.

Runners-up: Lucia Cerezo Melgarejo & Sushmitha Jatoth.

Housekeeper of the Year sponsored by CLEAN Linen & Workwear.

Winner: Dorota Gornik.

Runners-up: Gunta Garance & Jim Kerr.

Breakfast Chef, Chef de Partie or Commis Chef of the Year sponsored by Comax.

Winner: Billie Stock.

Runner-up: Marvin Narnor.

Leisure & Spa Person of the Year sponsored by Rock Reef.

Winner: Ravan Hutchings.

Runner-up: Katy West.

Maintenance Person of the Year sponsored by Waste Management Facilities.

Winner: Patrick McCourt.

Runners-up: Lukasz Duda & Simon Cutler.

Night Staff of the Year sponsored by R & R Executive Travel Ltd.

Winner: Scott Nickels.

Runner-up: Sergio Syriopoulas.

Sales & Events Manager of the Year sponsored by A-One Insurance.

Winner: Chamane Epps.

Runners-up: Hannah Attwater & Megan Templ-Edwards.

Restaurant or Food & Beverage Manager of the Year sponsored by Chinastack Catering Equipment Ltd.

Winner: Eduardo Fernandes.

Runner-up: Scott Meek.

Head Chef or Sous Chef of the Year sponsored by County Foods.

Winner: Anthony Alexander.

Runners-up: Louis Cruz & Maciej Dorcz.

Reservations & Revenue Person of the Year sponsored by Charminster Dry Cleaners.

Winner: Kirsty Speller.

Runner-up: Larissa Sucher.

Assistant or Duty Manager of the Year sponsored by The Coffee Bean Company.

Winner: Iva Velinova.

Runner-up: Emma Walters.

Deputy or Operations Manager of the Year sponsored by Harvest Fine Foods.Winner:

Zakaria Abdalla.

Runners-up: Maurizo Laudato & Rui Teles.

Career Progression In Partnership with Coastal BID.

Winner: Alex Ribeiro, Granito.

Runners-up: Filip Pijacki & Silvia Passera.

Exceptional Customer Service sponsored by NFU Mutual.

Winner: Olivia Falconer.

Runner-up: Alison Longman

Future of Hospitality (18-25 years old) sponsored by NFU Mutual.

Winner: Alex Myatt.

Runner-up: Eva Crease.

• All images by Paul Collins/PC Visuals.