HOSPA honours industry excellence at the 2026 Professional Development Learner Awards

Some of the hospitality industry’s brightest talents were celebrated last week as HOSPA hosted its 2026 Professional Development Learner Awards at the world-renowned Savoy Hotel in London.

The ceremony, which took place on Thursday 5 March 2026, saw graduates, industry leaders and mentors gather for an elegant afternoon tea to recognise the exceptional achievements of those who have excelled within HOSPA’s prestigious training programmes.

Determined by ongoing assessments throughout their courses, the awards highlight individuals who have gone above and beyond in their studies, demonstrating a level of commercial acumen and technical skill that sets them apart in the sector.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the Employer of the Year award, which was won by Leonardo Hotels. The hotel group was commended for its outstanding commitment to professional development and for consistently championing the career progression of its team members through accredited education.

Amongst the individuals celebrated were five standout professionals, who have been named as the overall ‘Learners of the Year’ for the 2024/2025 cohort, representing the pinnacle of achievement in their respective fields of learning:

• Revenue Management for Short Term Rentals: Corrinne Scarrett – The Lansdowne

• Revenue Management: Katie Lockhart – Lighthouse Hotel Management

• Finance Management: Khamis Abdulla – Hilton

• Asset Management: Bernadette Dremmel – Legacy Hotels & Resorts

• Commercial Restaurant Management: Ilenia Cirina – Camino Restaurants

The awards were made possible through the continued support of key industry sponsors, with FM Recruitment sponsoring the Finance categories and Right Revenue sponsoring the Revenue Management categories.

Jane Pendlebury, CEO, HOSPA, said: "It was a privilege to host our 2026 winners at The Savoy yesterday. Balancing a demanding career in hospitality with high-level professional study is a significant undertaking, and the individuals who have been recognised have performed with distinction throughout. These awards celebrate the technical expertise that keeps our industry competitive and commercially sound, and it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate the wealth of talent we’re so fortunate to have in our sector. A huge well done to all our winners for their incredible perseverance and success."

 Janel Clark, Head of Professional Development, HOSPA, said: "The calibre of our 2026 cohort has been truly remarkable. In an increasingly complex commercial landscape, the need for specialised skills, from asset management to revenue strategy, is more vital than ever. It’s inspiring to see such a diverse range of talent investing in their futures, and these individuals are undoubtedly the future leaders of our sector. We are incredibly proud of everything they’ve achieved."

Alongside the individual learners of the year, the awards also celebrated the highest achieving learners from the various course levels and intakes.

The full list was as follows:

Revenue Management for Short Term Rentals

• Timothy Arum (Villa Plus): Foundation Certificate (Nov 2024)

• Barry Green (Villa Plus): Foundation Certificate (May 2025)

Revenue Management

• Foundation Certificate (March 2025): Connie MacClare (The Address), Sinead Petty (Bluestone), Rosa Rosado (Native Places)

• Professional Certificate (March 2025): Sarah Noble (Lighthouse Hotel Management)

• Professional Diploma (March 2025): Emma Harries (Lighthouse Hotel Management)

• Foundation Certificate (Sept 2025): Liliana Goncalves (The Lansdowne Hotel)

• Professional Certificate (Sept 2025): Will Brown (Ragdale Hall)

• Professional Diploma (Sept 2025): Lee Graham (Nelson Hotels)

Financial Management

• Foundation Certificate (March 2025): Vishal Shah (The Landmark)

• Professional Certificate (March 2025): Ruvarashe Zvaraya (Leonardo Hotels)

• Professional Diploma (March 2025): Sanoj Ebrahim (Jumeirah)

• Foundation Certificate (Sept 2025): Joana Machado (Hilton)

• Professional Certificate (Sept 2025): Travante Russell (Ambergris Cay)

• Professional Diploma (Sept 2025): Claudine Attard (Independent)

 Asset Management

• Foundation Certificate (March 2025): Tori Ackling (Legacy Hotels)

• Foundation Certificate (Sept 2025): Nicola Sani (Pan Pacific)

• Professional Certificate (Sept 2025): Damian Frewer (Axiom Hospitality)

Commercial Restaurant Management

• Foundation Certificate (March 2025): Meg Pritchard (1A PSQ)

• Foundation Certificate (Sept 2025): Bethan Hallet (The Priory, Wareham)

  
  

For more information on HOSPA and its professional development courses, please visithttps://www.hospa.org/hospa-professional-development