To view the photo gallery please scroll down

Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin took home two awards at last night’s Caterer and Hotelkeeper Best Places to Work in Hospitality awards, sponsored by Corecruitment, bagging best hotels with 11 plus sites as well as the Platinum award.

The judges praised Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin’s high levels of staff satisfaction and staff initiatives including last year’s Housekeeping Olympics and a chef apprenticeship programme, that have helped to keep staff educated as well as motivated.

Last year’s Platinum award winner McDonalds won the restaurants and bars 11 plus award with one judge saying: “If every company tried to do what McDonalds do they would be great.”

Caterer editor Mark Lewis said:  “Winning an award sets out a company as an employer of choice, which is ever more important in this day and age as it can have a major impact on your ability to recruit and retain staff, and in turn your bottom line.”

The awards were held last night at the Honourable Artillery Company in London.

To view the full photo hover over the thumbnail.

A full list of winners:

Platinum Award: 
Winner: Malmaison and Hotel du Vin

Hotels 1 – 10 Sites
Winner: Four Seasons Hotels UK
Commended: Maybourne Hotel Group
Commended: Adnams Hotels

Hotels 11+ Sites
Winner: Malmaison and Hotel du Vin
Commended: Accor Hotels UK & Ireland

Restaurants/Bars 11+ Sites
Winner: McDonald’s Restaurants
Commended: Merlin Entertainments Group

Hospitality Supplier
Winner: First Choice Coffee

Contract Catering
Winner: Bartlett Mitchell
Commended: The Brookwood Partnership

Individual Unit
Winner: The Dorchester
Highly Commended: Victory Services Club

Restaurants/Bars 1 – 10 Sites
Winner: The Peach Pub Company

The judging panel

• David Battersby, director of Hospitality and Leisure Manpower (HaLM)
• Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA)
• James Kidd, associate in the HR group of international law firm Eversheds
• Philippe Rossiter, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality
• Jane Sunley, managing director of learnpurple and talent toolbox
• Dawn Spalding, group editor of Personnel Today
• Brian Wisdom, CEO of sector skills council People 1st
• Gareth Edwards, regional director, Springboard UK

Best Places to Work in Hospitality winners 2007 >>

McDonald's wins Caterer's Best Places to Work award >>

By Christopher Walton

E-mail your comments to Christopher Walton here.