About the 2010 Finalists
Rising Star (individual)
An award that recognises an executive new to the industry, making an impact this year.
- Steve Conway, head of marketing at Premier Inn (PI)
PI came first in the budget sector for the second successive year in the JD Power European Guest Satisfaction Survey 2009 awards. - Cosmo Fry, Big Sleep
Has kept the momentum up at a fledgling three-strong brand in the teeth of the recession. - Leslie McGibbon, head of media at IHG
Won Young Leader Award at IHIF in Berlin to start a busy year for the world's largest hotel group.
Rising star (brands)
An award that recognises a brand new to the industry, making an impact this year.
- All Seasons
Accor launched its first UK All Seasons in London this October marking a new arrival in the middle market sector. - Missoni Edinburgh
Long awaited collaboration with fashion brand Missoni and hotel operator Rezidor, set to spawn many more sites, launched this summer. - Baby Abode
The very first Baby Abode launched in May 2009 in the 21-bedroom Sydney House in Sydney Street in London's Chelsea, Abode's first brand extention. - Starwood's Aloft
Aloft really got going internationally with a busy openings programme with one a week opening In October 2009 bringing the worldwide total at the year end (forecast) to 40 in just 18 months. - Q Hotels
Was lauded for a very strong performance in the tough meetings market.
Deal of the Year
The deal that has been either the most innovative or market-changing of the year
- The Stafford sale, London.
The acquisition of the Stafford hotel in London by the El Sharkawy family for £77.5 million in September was one of the stand outs in the UK in 2009's, achieving a good price to boot. - Accor's €272m HotelF1 sale
Accor sold 158 of its budget HotelF1 sites in France as part of a sale and leaseback deal for €272m (£246.24m), one of the largest deals of its type in 2009. - Starwood sale of W San Francisco
The luxury operator sold its hotel for $90m to Keckseng Investments, which was the first hotel sale in the American city since 2007. - Von Essen's acquisition of the Forbury hotel, Reading
The Luxury group picked up the property, on the market at £7m, from administrators for a snip (£6m had recently been spent on refurbishment alone) and used it to launch its Metropolitan brand. - Starwood Capital's purchase of Golden Tulip
Starwood Capital bought Dutch company Golden Tulip, side stepped its debt and gained access to its Louvre brand.
Advisor of the Year
The advisor or team that has contributed the most to the sector in terms of innovation or expertise this year.
- TRI Hospitality Consulting
Have picked up this category two years in a row. Have provided essential analysis and data during the downturn. - CMS Cameron McKenna
Helped lead the ‘green' debate and assisted with Hotel Report's environment issue in June. - Jones Lang LaSalle
Worked on the Starwood sale of W San Francisco for $90m to Keckseng Investments, the first hotel sale in the city since 2007. - Savills
For the sale of the Stafford hotel, the stand out single asset deal in the UK market this year. - CBRE
Worked on the Great Northern Hotel deal, securing Robson Asset Management to helm what should be one of the capital's hottest hotel when it opens in 2011.
Individual of the Year
An individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the industry over the course of their career, in particular over the past 12 months.
- Alan Parker, chief executive, Whitbread
Head of the UK's largest budget player in a year that has seen the sector bloom. Set to bounce back from recession quickly and strongly with ambitious expansion plans. - Kurt Ritter, chief executive, Rezidor
Eastern Europe and African expansion and decent, compared to rivals, revpar declines at a tightly run operation, as well as the launch of Missoni. - Andrew Cosslett, chief executive, IHG
The boss of the world's largest hotel company InterContinental Hotels Group has succesfully helped reinvent and reposition the company's key brands, including Holiday Inn, creating a strong marketing message. - Grant Hearn, chief executive, Travelodge
The budget hotel chain has had a productive year with plenty of new launches and its Marston's joint development partnership offering a new avenue for growth. - Michael Hirst, consultant CBRE Hotels.
A wise head in troubled times.
Innovator of the Year
The company that has inspired the industry this year.
- Travelodge
Joint venture partnership with pub company Marston's to develop hotel/pub sites in concert. - Premier Inn
Bought budget to the weddings market with a headline stealing £58 honeymoon deal at nine of its hotels. Just don't tell the bride. - Jumeirah
Launched the £1bn Palm Jumeriah in Dubai at the end of November 2008, a staggeringly ambitious project as the world slumped into recession. - Arora International/Whitbread for JV Premier Inn deal
Surinder Arora's joint venture with Whitbread will see four new Premier Inn hotels at Heathrow and Gatwick, with the latter the first airport terminal-based budget hotel in the UK.
Innovator in CSR
The best ethically motivated innovations and products that have potential to change the way the industry operates and decreases our ethical footprint.
- Premier Inn for its new green hotel at Tamworth
Tamworth (opened December), uses 80% less energy than a standard hotel thanks to radically different approach to heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation. - Dexter Moren Associates
The architects firm continues to work with the industry, especially Travelodge and Marriott, to build sustainable buildings. It is overhauling King Cross's Great Northern hotel. - Marriott
Continues to work hard to minimise its impact on the environment. Industry first in its $2m tie-up with Juma Sustainable Development Reserve, which safeguards the Amazon rainforest. - Jurys Inns
The budget hotel group has become the first to receive either gold or silver awards at each of its 20-plus sites from the Green Tourism Business Scheme and is set to reap £1m in savings over three-years as a result.
Investor of the Year
The group or individual who has made the investment with the most impact, success or creativity.
- Surinder Arora, who secured a £125m joint venture with Whitbread to build four airport hotels
The deal with Premier Inn - Whitbread's budget hotel brand - will create 1,570 rooms, adding to the Arora family's 16 airport hotels. - Barclays
Has continued to invest in the sector when others have had no appetite (or means) - RAM
Robson Asset Management signed up to redevelop the Great Northern Hotel at King's Cross Central and reopen it as a boutique hotel in 2011.
Emerging Markets Deal of the Year
A deal outside the traditional US and European markets which has caught the attention of the industry.
- Premier Inn comes to India
Whitbread opened its first hotel in Bangalore in October as part of a £25 joint venture deal with up to seventy hotels planned in the next five years. - Rocco Forte Collection to go to Egypt
The Rocco Forte Collection held off the big luxury players to seal a management deal at Egypt's 275-room Shepheard Hotel in Cairo, which opens in 2012. - Gordon Campbell Gray in Lebanon.
CampbellGrayHotels opened its first hotel, Le Gray, in Beirut in one of the world's up and coming destinations after years of delay, not least to two wars in the region. - Fours Seasons Mexico City sale
Strategic Hotels & Resorts sold the hotel for $54m to private equity group Meridia Capital, making a book gain of $4.5m. - Rezidor's 20 Park Inns in Russia
Rezidor Hotel Group entered into an agreement with Regional Hotel Chain to develop at least 20 Park Inn branded properties in Russia earlier this year with the first to open mid-2011.
