Amy Dignon, restaurant manager at the Cameron House hotel in Loch Lomond has won the Savoy Gastronomes’ Olive Barnett Award 2010.
Dignon won the award, organised by the Springboard chairty, at a ceremony in the newly-refurbished Savoy hotel in London, beating seven other finalists.
The award, set up in recognition of Olive Barnett who pioneered excellence at the Savoy, rewards one excellence in one hospitality employee under the age of 30 each year.
Dignon will receive a career development grant of £1,750 a year for two years, as well as a week on the Lausanne Executive Education Summer Programme, provided by the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland.
Commenting on her win she said: "I am completely overwhelmed and so proud of what I have achieved. This highlights that you should never give up in trying to fulfil your dreams. I will continue to strive for excellence and can not wait to see how The Savoy Gastronomes’ Olive Barnett Award helps me on my hospitality journey."
Virginia Masser of the Savoy Gastronomes added: "We had a very high calibre of entrants this year and Amy performed well in all areas of the award. She is a great ambassador for the industry."
First runner up of the award was Lucinda Creech from London Heathrow Marriott hotel, who will receive a development grant of £1,250 per year, for two years. Second runner up, was Marianne Brown from Thistle Piccadilly, she will receive a development grant of £750 per year, for two years. Both are also entitled to attend a short course at the prestigious Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.
The other finalists were:
Nick Davis - London Marriott hotel Marble Arch
Antoinette Broomfield - Red Carnation hotels
Jannes Soerensen- Connaught hotel
Nicola Sproston - Pennyhill Park hotel & spa
Alec Stansfeld - Connaught hotel