Women in hospitality honoured in Shine Awards

Women working in hospitality came up trumps at last night's annual Shine Awards celebrating women's achievements in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

Robyn Jones, chief executive of contract caterer CH&CO, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at a ceremony held at London's Savoy hotel.

Jones is one of the most successful women in catering, and was awarded an OBE in the New Year honours list this year for her services to the hospitality industry. She co-founded CH&Co with her husband, Tim, in 1991 and the business currently boasts an annual turnover of around £75m and employs almost 2,000 people across its five divisions.

Meanwhile Jillian MacLean, managing director of London bar firm Drake & Morgan, won the outstanding entrepreneur award. MacLean launched the group in 2008 and currently operates four bars in the capital, with a fifth in the pipeline, and employs 175 members of staff.

The Rising Star award went to Xoe Donovan, general manager at the Longford House Beefeater and Cannock South Premier Inn hotel, while the Mentor of the Year award was handed to Lou Willcock, founding director of IndieCater for her work with the Bacchus Alumni Association at Oxford Brookes University.

Businesses recognised for their involvement of women were Abode Hotels, which won the Small Business award, and contract caterer Sodexo UK & Ireland, which was handed the Large Business award.

Organised by People 1st, the Shine Awards were launched by Alessandra Alonso and Gaby Marcon of shine People and Places in 2004.

Shine Awards results in full

Lifetime Achievement
Robyn Jones, chief executive, CH&CO (winner)
Gill Benwell, director, Bourne Leisure
Maggie Berry, former chair, Farm Stay UK
Vivien Sirotkin, operations director, Q Hotels

Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
Jillian MacLean, managing director, Drake & Morgan (winner)
Camellia and Namita Panjabi, co-owners, Masala World
Wendy Shand, founder, Tots to Travel
Lou Willcock, founder and director, IndiCater

Rising Star Award
Xoe Donovan, general manager, Longford House Beefeater and Cannock South Premier Inn (winner)
Anna Baker, senior marketing executive, Bourne Leisure
Wendy Halsall-Bennett, general services manager, Sodexo

Mentor of the Year
Lou Willcock, founding director of IndieCater (winner)
Jez Langhorn, vice president people, McDonald's
Carrie Wicks, director of operations, Firmdale Hotels

Small Business Award
Abode Hotels (winner)
Drake & Morgan
Firmdale Hotels
Teletext Holidays

Large Business Award
Sodexo UK & Ireland (winner)
Bourne Leisure
McDonald's
Merlin Entertainments Group

Woman of the Year
Victoria Sanders, Managing Director, Teletext Holidays (winner)
Michelle Hanson, commercial director, Sodexo
Jill McDonald, chief executive officer, McDonald's UK and president Northern Division
Jane Sunley, chief executive officer, Learn Purple

The Caterer Interview Robyn and Tim Jones >>

Robyn Jones and royal chef Mark Flanagan honoured in New Years honours >>

Women 1st unveils Shine Awards shortlist >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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