The winners of the prestigious annual 'Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management and IT Professionals of the Year Awards 2016', were announced and presented on Thursday night (10 November) by HOSPA – the UK's leading educational organization for those involved in hospitality finance, revenue management and IT – at the Association's HOSPACE2016 Conference & Exhibition Gala Awards Dinner, held at the Sofitel London Heathrow, Terminal 5.

The recipients of this year's prestigious HOSPA awards were:

  • 'Hospitality Finance Professional of the Year 2016', sponsored by BDO: Janine Marshall, Executive Assistant Director, One Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
  • 'Hospitality Revenue Management Professional of the Year 2016', sponsored by IDeaS: Carol Dodds, Vice President of Commercial for the UK, Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts
  • 'Hospitality IT Professional of the Year 2016', sponsored by Fourteen IP: Nick Whiteside, Senior Director, Hotel Opening – IT Europe at Marriott International.

HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton announced the winners and presented each of them with an engraved crystal trophy. The three winners were nominated by HOSPA Fellows and Members, and then put forward to a special HOSPA selection committee. The recipients 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.

Commenting on the awards, HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury said: "Huge congratulations to our three fantastic winners, who have all demonstrated exceptional ability and professionalism in, and dedication to, their chosen fields of hospitality expertise."

‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality IT Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; Neil Tolley,  
Managing Director, award sponsor Fourteen IP; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; the winner Nick 
Whiteside, Senior Director, Hotel Opening – IT Europe at Marriott International; and Bryan Steele, Chairman of 
HOSPA’s IT Committee.— Photo by HOSPA‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality IT Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; Neil Tolley,  
Managing Director, award sponsor Fourteen IP; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; the winner Nick 
Whiteside, Senior Director, Hotel Opening – IT Europe at Marriott International; and Bryan Steele, Chairman of 
HOSPA’s IT Committee.— Photo by HOSPA
‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality IT Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; Neil Tolley, Managing Director, award sponsor Fourteen IP; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; the winner Nick Whiteside, Senior Director, Hotel Opening – IT Europe at Marriott International; and Bryan Steele, Chairman of HOSPA’s IT Committee.— Photo by HOSPA
‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality Revenue Management Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): HOSPA Chairman 
Chris Upton; Warren Mandelbaum, Sales Director UK & Ireland, award sponsor IDeaS; the winner Carol Dodds, 
Vice President of Commercial for the UK, Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane 
Pendlebury; and Michael Heyward, Chairman of HOSPA’s Revenue Management Committee.— Photo by HOSPA‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality Revenue Management Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): HOSPA Chairman 
Chris Upton; Warren Mandelbaum, Sales Director UK & Ireland, award sponsor IDeaS; the winner Carol Dodds, 
Vice President of Commercial for the UK, Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane 
Pendlebury; and Michael Heyward, Chairman of HOSPA’s Revenue Management Committee.— Photo by HOSPA
‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality Revenue Management Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; Warren Mandelbaum, Sales Director UK & Ireland, award sponsor IDeaS; the winner Carol Dodds, Vice President of Commercial for the UK, Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; and Michael Heyward, Chairman of HOSPA’s Revenue Management Committee.— Photo by HOSPA
‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality Finance Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): Stuart Collins, Partner, award 
sponsor BDO; HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; the winner Janine 
Marshall, Executive Assistant Director, One Aldwych, London; and Paul Nisbett, Chairman of HOSPA’s Finance 
Committee.— Photo by HOSPA‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality Finance Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): Stuart Collins, Partner, award 
sponsor BDO; HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; the winner Janine 
Marshall, Executive Assistant Director, One Aldwych, London; and Paul Nisbett, Chairman of HOSPA’s Finance 
Committee.— Photo by HOSPA
‘2016 HOSPA Hospitality Finance Professional of the Year’ (from left to right): Stuart Collins, Partner, award sponsor BDO; HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton; HOSPA Chief Executive Jane Pendlebury; the winner Janine Marshall, Executive Assistant Director, One Aldwych, London; and Paul Nisbett, Chairman of HOSPA’s Finance Committee.— Photo by HOSPA

In addition to the three awards, there was a special honour for former HOSPA Chief Executive Carl Weldon, who became only the sixth recipient ever to receive the 'Outstanding contribution to HOSPA' award, for exemplary service to the Association. In Carl's case, it was over an 11-year period, which came to an end in March of this year when he left HOSPA to join the Association's strategic partner, US-based HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals), and take up the newly created position of HFTP Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Europe.

Carl was appointed Chief Executive of HOSPA's forerunner BAHA (British Association of Hospitality Accountants) in 2005, and was responsible for the development and growth of the Association – resulting in the transformation of BAHA into HOSPA, with a broader remit to meet the current needs of hospitality professionals. This was not only for those in finance, but also the major growth areas of revenue management and IT. Allied to the 2011 rebranding, the BAHA Annual Conference and Exhibition became HOSPACE.

"Well-deserved congratulations to Carl on this special award," said Jane Pendlebury. "He has laid an extremely strong foundation for me to build upon as his successor. Under Carl, the Association was reorganised and re-energised. For example in 2012, HOSPA invested in Social Media – starting with 178 followers on Twitter, which now has risen to over 18,000 followers. Equally, HOSPA's LinkedIn Group now has over 5,500 members. Another landmark in his leadership of the Association was the introduction in 2011 of HOSPA's hospitality focused Professional Development Programme in Revenue Management, in addition to BAHA's/HOSPA's existing and highly popular Programme in Financial Management. Demonstrating the success of the two courses, a record number of learners enrolled on HOSPA's Professional Development Programmes in 2015."

Also commenting on Carl's special award, HOSPA Chairman Chris Upton said: "HOSPA owes Carl a great debt for his drive and determination to transform BAHA into HOSPA and make this Association relevant to today's needs, and one to be proud to belong to. Under his tenure, HOSPA became a major voice in the industry, its membership grew significantly, global recognition was gained; and HOSPACE became one of the biggest and most successful annual events on the hospitality calendar."

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