Russell Kett – Managing Director of leading hotel advisory firm, HVS, and a former Chairman of BAHA (1988-1994) – receiving the special HOSPA ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from HOSPA Chief Executive Carl Weldon (left); and HOSPA Chairman Paul Dukes (right). — Photo by HOSPA
Richard Harrington, Regional Director of Finance, The Langham, London, is pictured holding the crystal trophy for being HOSPA ‘Hospitality Finance Professional 2011’, flanked by Stuart Collins (left) and Robert Barnard (right), Partners at PKF who sponsored this award category. — Photo by HOSPA
British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA)

The winners of the prestigious Annual 'Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management and IT Awards of the Year 2011' were announced last Thursday (15 December) in London by HOSPA (formerly BAHA) – the UK's leading educational organisation for professionals involved in financial management, revenue management and IT within the hospitality industry.

In the presence of over 220 guests at the 2011 HOSPA Annual Christmas Awards Luncheon – held at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London – the winners of the major HOSPA 'Hospitality Professionals Awards' and HOSPA 'Company Commitment to Professional Development Awards'; and the 'HOSPA Student Awards', were honoured. In addition, a special 'Lifetime Achievement Award' – an engraved crystal trophy – was presented to one of the world's most distinguished and respected hotel advisors, Russell Kett, Managing Director of leading hotel advisory firm, HVS, and a former Chairman of BAHA (1988-1994). He received the award – only the fourth ever given – in recognition of his 'Outstanding commitment to improving Best Practice in Hospitality Financial Management'.

Commenting on Russell Kett's award, HOSPA Chief Executive Carl Weldon said: "It was a great honour and privilege for me and HOSPA Chairman Paul Dukes to present Russell – a Fellow of HOSPA – with this well deserved award. He is one of the world's great hotel professionals to whom BAHA owes an enormous debt of gratitude. His tremendous belief in the Association and his commitment to its development and success in promoting financial 'best practice' – right from its inception in 1969 and subsequently as BAHA Secretary, Chairman and Councillor – has been a major contributory factor over the past 40 years to our current success, and our re-branding as HOSPA.

"Russell's time as BAHA Chairman from 1988 to 1994 was one of the most productive in the Association's history. For example, BAHA membership increased by 50%; the Association became truly educational with the introduction of our highly successful Education and Training Programme (ETP) for Finance, and the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme with Oxford Brookes University; the Association's 25th Anniversary Dinner in 1994 attracted a then record 300 attendees; and BAHA launched its groundbreaking 'Recommended Practice on Valuation of Hotels' publication."

The 2011 HOSPA award winners – all recipients of engraved crystal trophies and certificates – were:

1. HOSPA Hospitality Professionals Award Winners 2011:

  • Hospitality Finance Professional 2011, sponsored by PKF, was awarded to Richard Harrington, Regional Director of Finance, The Langham, London
  • Hospitality Revenue Management Professional 2011 was presented to Gary Mills, Revenue Manager, Mint Hotel Manchester and Mint Hotel Leeds
  • Hospitality IT Professional 2011, sponsored by Fourteen IP, was won by John Reid, IT Department Manager UK, QMH UK

2. HOSPA Company Commitment to Professional Development Award Winners 2011:

  • Corporate Employer of the Year 2011 was awarded to Starwood Hotels & Resorts
  • SME Employer of the Year 2011 was presented to Red Carnation Hotels

Nominations for the above top HOSPA award categories, put forward by Members of the Association to a special HOSPA selection committee, had to have: an exemplary track record; be willing to train and lead their staff; be totally dedicated to the hospitality industry, with the intention of remaining in the profession; demonstrate strong attention to detail; keep abreast of current codes of practice; and command respect within the hospitality sector and wider business community.

3. HOSPA Student Award Winners 2011 for Education and Training Programme (ETP) in Finance and Accounting

The HOSPA Education and Training Programme (ETP) is the entry route to Associate membership of HOSPA for new and inexperienced finance personnel in the industry. The programme provides learning and skills development for aspiring hospitality accounting professionals wishing to gain the skills and knowledge required to manage hospitality finance divisions, or gain an understanding of the accounting function of a hospitality unit. The 3-stage blended learning programme, studied over three-6-month periods, provides the flexibility for accounts personnel to fit their learning around their busy working day. Stage 1 is an Introduction to Financial Accounting; Stage 2 is Operational Management Accounting; and Stage 3 is Strategic Management Accounting.

At yesterday's HOSPA Awards Luncheon, the Association recognised the outstanding student successes in the three stages of the ETP programme:

· 'HOSPA Outstanding Student of the Year' 2011 – based on HOSPA Education and Training Programme (ETP) examination results 2010/11 – was won by Ricarda Neims, Reservations and Revenue Manager, St James's Hotel & Club, London She received a crystal trophy, certificate, a Samsung Netbook, and a free pass to the Annual HOSPACE 2012 Conference and Exhibition. Ricarda – who also won a cash prize and certificate for best performance in the September 2010 HOSPA ETP examinations for Stage 1: Introduction to Financial Accounting – took the best overall student accolade by achieving the highest overall HOSPA examination score in 2010/11.

Cash prizes and certificates were then given to the top HOSPA ETP students, based on their results in each of the HOSPA examination categories, taken in both September 2010 and February 2011.

The September 2010 HOSPA examination prize winners were:

  • Stage 2 – Operational Management Accounting: Louise Coleman, Assistant Management Accountant, Firoka (Heythrop Park) Ltd., Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
  • Stage 3 – Strategic Management Accounting: Fiona Wilson, Assistant Hotel Controller, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

The February 2011 HOSPA examination prize winners were:

  • Stage 1 – Introduction to Financial Accounting: Patrick Smekens, Hotel Manager, Hotel San Roman de Escalante (between Santander and Bilbao) in Cantabria, Spain
  • Stage 2 – Operational Management Accounting: Facundo Doce, Assistant Financial Controller, Hotel Missoni Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Stage 3 – Strategic Management Accounting: Louise Coleman, Assistant Management Accountant, Firoka (Heythrop Park) Ltd., Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

About HOSPA

HOSPA - the Hospitality Professionals Association - is a not-for-profit educational organisation, formed to bring together professionals involved in all things commercial within the hospitality industry in the UK. HOSPA is recognised as the UK's authoritative voice in the hospitality industry on financial management, technical accounting issues, as well as the leading arena for debate on investments, hospitality technology developments, revenue management and marketing. HOSPA's Professional Development Programmes provide rigorous and relevant education for all those seeking to further their careers in these important functions. It will also be launching its new course in Asset Management in September 2020. A regular programme of workshops and seminars provides the perfect opportunity for members to continue to develop their knowledge and network with colleagues. HOSPA is on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @HOSPATweets. For more information, visit: www.hospa.org

Jane Pendlebury
HOSPA Chief Executive
HOSPA