Age 25
Position Deputy general manager, Hand Picked Hotels - Audleys Wood
Nominator Andrew Colley
Proudest career moment Winning an Acorn award, of course. Other than that it has to be witnessing my restaurant team win the Best Eating Experience while at the Felbridge Hotel and Spa.
Greatest inspiration Robin Hutson - just seeing how he built his career; the creation of Hotel du Vin and now Lime Wood hotel. Wow!
Ambition In the short term I want to enter the London hotel market and broaden my horizons. In the long term I would like to manage a group of small luxury hotels and build a brand that people recognise and respect.
Matthew Drinkwater has worked in a number of roles within the hospitality industry including events manager, conferences and banqueting manager, and food and beverage manager.
He became operations manager at the Felbridge Hotel and Spa in West Sussex in 2009 and is now deputy general manager at Audley's Wood hotel in Hampshire where he is responsible for 80 staff and a turnover of more than £4m.
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