Categories & Criteria
2026
UNSUNG HERO
WHO SHOULD YOU NOMINATE?
- We invite General Managers or Owner/Operators to nominate an outstanding individual, operating at any level in any hospitality, leisure or tourism business with true potential/ability that does not exclusively fit in any of the other award categories.
- This award category is slightly different to the other categories as the nominee will not be interviewed; instead the nominator will be interviewed by a panel of independent judges and will be required to outline exactly what makes this individual so special.
This category is open to any sector within the Northern Ireland hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
This individual will have taken on additional responsibilities with active participation in company initiatives and informally recognised for being exceptional within their environment.
They will go above and beyond obligatory duties to deliver first rate customer experience and outstanding customer rapport.
The most suitable recipient of this award will have shown excellence in service and standards and will excel in all aspects of their duties within their operating environment
BAR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- General Manager of licensed premises
- Bar Manager
- Head Bartender
This category is open to any sector within the Northern Ireland hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
This individual will have taken on additional responsibilities with active participation in company initiatives and informally recognised for being exceptional within their environment.
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
CHEF OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Executive Chef / Head Chef of a Tourism NI registered hotel
- Executive Chef / Head Chef of a contract catering venue
- Executive Chef / Head Chef of a venue
- Head Chef of independent restaurant/group of restaurants
- Chef/Owner of independent restaurant/group of restaurants
This category is solely for chefs working within a Northern Ireland hotel, venue or contract catering venue or independent restaurant, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
**This is not a cooking competition. Candidates will be judged solely on their ability to lead and manage within a kitchen environment**
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
COFFEE SHOP / CAFÉ MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Manager of coffee shop / group of coffee shops
- Head Barista with managerial responsibility
This category is for coffee shops (including store brands) in Northern Ireland that have been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
COMMERCIAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
Roles within:
- Business Development
- Commercial
- Sales
- Marketing
- Events
This category is open to any sector within the Northern Ireland hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, that has been operational for the last six months
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
The development and implementation of an exceptional sales or marketing strategy
Financial performance
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Their own continuous professional development
CONTRACT SERVICES MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Manager for a single contracted services environment
- Manager of a multi-site contracted services environment
- Venue / Tourism attraction
This category is solely for managers within contract services (catering / facilities management) in Northern Ireland. The contract venue/s must have been awarded and operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Night Manager
- Guest Relations Manager
- Reception Manager / Front Office Manager
- Head Concierge
This category is solely for front of house managers within Tourism NI registered hotel venues in Northern Ireland. The hotel must have been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE FUTURE
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Departmental Head or Manager
- Assistant Manager
- Supervisor
This category is open to any sector within the Northern Ireland hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE FUTURE
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Departmental Head or Manager
- Assistant Manager
- Supervisor
This category is open to any sector within the Northern Ireland hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
-
General Manager of a Tourism NI registered hotel / accommodation provider
This category is solely for general managers working within a Northern Ireland hotel, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Housekeeping Manager
- Cleaning Services Manager
- An individual with ultimate responsibility for managing the cleaning provision within a property or properties
This category is open to any sector within the Northern Ireland hospitality, leisure and tourism industry, that has been operational for the last six months.
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
LECTURER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
- Lecturer of any hospitality and/or tourism related discipline
This category is solely for Further and Higher Education
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Innovative learning & teaching techniques that address current challenges in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry.
Inspiring Hospitality and Tourism students through enhancement of the student learning experience
Their own continuous professional development
OPERATIONAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
Any outstanding operational duty manager or operational departmental head working within a Tourism NI registered hotel property or a venue / visitor attraction with responsibility for an area such as;
- Duty Management
- Conference / Banqueting
- Eventss
- ARestaurant / Bar / Street Food Venue
- An individual with ultimate responsibility for managing the cleaning provision within a property or properties
This category is solely for hotels and venues / visitor attractions in Northern Ireland, that has been operational for the last six months
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development
OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
Any outstanding operational duty manager or operational departmental head working within a Tourism NI registered hotel property or a venue / visitor attraction with responsibility for an area such as;
- Duty Management
- Conference / Banqueting
- Eventss
- ARestaurant / Bar / Street Food Venue
- An individual with ultimate responsibility for managing the cleaning provision within a property or properties
This category is solely for hotels and venues / visitor attractions in Northern Ireland, that has been operational for the last six months
CRITERIA
The most suitable candidate will be able to demonstrate success and personal impact that they have made towards
Employee attraction, performance and retention
Guest satisfaction and experience
Financial performance
Their own continuous professional development