and Shine Awards 2011 - People 1st

Th e Top 100 Most Influential Wom en in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism
Alex Polizzi, Hotelier/TV Presenter, Hotel Endsleigh
A British hotelier, and the presenter of the 4th through to 7th series of
TV series The Hotel Inspector, Alex comes from a long line of hoteliers,
her grandfather being Lord Forte. She trained at the Mandarin Oriental
in Hong Kong, and worked for Marco Pierre White before working in
the family business The Rocco Forte Collection. She manages the Hotel
Endsleigh which is owned by her mother.
Alison Cryer, Managing Director, Representation Plus
Alison was instrumental in the launch of the Copthorne Hotel brand and
was one of the first recipients of the prestigious Acorn awards. In 1988
Alison founded Representation Plus as she had identified a need for small
owner-managed hotels to be represented in the same professional way as
hotel chains in order to compete through resource sharing.
Alison Frith, Owner and Managing Director, Artizian Catering
Alison formed Artizian in 1997 with the vision to supply high quality food
and support services. Her vision to offer a rounded service gained the
company a reputation as ‘the alternative quality contract caterer.’ Artizian
recognises the importance of other business support services by providing
comprehensive catering, vending and hospitality services.
Alison Tyler, Managing Director, CH&Co
CH&Co is a leading independent catering group with five specialist brands
including Charlton House (staff catering), Lusso (City and fine dining)
and Chester Boyd (livery halls and private venues). Alison has been key
in helping develop the business to one with an annual turnover of £76
million and employing 2,000 people nationally.
Amanda Brady, Head of HR (UK Operations), Whitbread
Amanda leads a team of 20 who are ultimately responsible for the
development, engagement and recruitment of some 28,000 managers and
team members who work across five businesses: Premier Inn, Beefeater,
Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Taybarns. Amanda has worked tirelessly to
champion a talent agenda and has achieved 80% internal appointments
to all general manager roles within the business.
Amanda Wills, Managing Director, Virgin Holidays
Amanda joined Virgin Holidays at a time when the travel industry was
in turmoil after the tragic events of 9/11. Within her first year, she had
revamped the company creating new structures, products and a new
brand image. Virgin Holidays is now one of the most successful tour
operators in travel, being No. 1 to Florida, USA and now also No. 1
scheduled tour operator to the Caribbean.
Angela Day, Chief Executive, Affordable Car Hire
Angela originally started the business in her garage, re-mortgaging the family
home, selling her car, cashing in savings, extending credit on credit cards and
living off beans on toast for the first 18 months! The business expanded at a
phenomenal rate culminating in the company becoming the first ever car hire
ABTA member which sets it apart from competitors. Angela is also a member
of the Institute of Travel and Tourism board of directors.
Angela Hartnett MBE, Chef Patron, Murano Restaurant and the
York and Albany Pub
Angela is one of the most high-profile women in the restaurant
world and has worked with Gordon Ramsay at Aubergine and with Marcus
Wareing at Petrus. In 2002 she opened The Grill Room at
The Connaught winning Square Meal Guide’s Best New Restaurant award
and her first Michelin star in 2004. She has made numerous appearances on
television, including Hell’s Kitchen and the Great British Menu competition.
She was awarded an MBE in 2007. She opened Murano in 2008, achieved a
Michelin star in 2009 and took it over as her own in 2010.
Angela Vickers, Managing Director, Apex Hotels Ltd
Over the past five years, Angela has steered Apex into an organisation
that now operates 7 Hotels, employs 670 people, turns over £41 million
per annum and converts this into £12.5 million profit. The company was
awarded the AA Small Hotel Group of the Year accolade in 2010.
Anna-Marie Dowling, General Manager, Guoman Hotels –
The Royal Horseguards
Since joining the industry as a chambermaid, Anna has worked through
the ranks gaining her first general manager role at the Brewery in 1998.
Since then, Anna has gone on to run such iconic London properties as
Marriott County Hall and Le Meridien Piccadilly & Café Royal. In 2008,
Anna was named Emerging Director of the Year by the Institute of
Directors. The Royal Horseguards was recently named AA Hotel of
the Year for London 2010-2011.
Top 100 Most Influential Women and Shine Awards 2011
Ann Elliott, Managing Director, Elliott Marketing and PR
Ann set-up the business in 2001 after a corporate career in marketing
and operations including 18 years with Whitbread as marketing director
for both Pizza Hut and Beefeater. Elliott Marketing & PR now has a team
of 12 and over 35 associates with extensive knowledge, expertise and
experience in the leisure, tourism and hospitality market.
Anne Pierce MBE, Chief Executive, The Springboard Charity
Anne joined Springboard in 1997 as managing director and was later
made chief executive. Under her leadership, Springboard now supports
over 2,000 teachers and 30,000 pupils in secondary schools on industry
related courses, facilitates over 20,000 work experience opportunities and
helps almost 1,000 young and unemployed people enter the industry.
Anne is a governor of Westminster Kingsway College and a visiting fellow
of Sheffield University. She was awarded an MBE in 2004 and won a Catey
Special Award in 2008.
Avril Owton MBE, Owner, The Cloud Hotel
A former professional dancer with the Tiller Girls, Avril took over the running
of the Cloud Hotel when her husband died suddenly at the age of 45, leaving
her with an ailing family hotel, four children and no insurance. With no
business experience she refurbished the hotel, began to make a significant
profit and soon had increased her business turnover by 800%. Avril, a past
Hampshire Business Woman of the Year, was awarded the prestigious Shine
Woman of the Year Award in 2006. In 2007, she was made an honorary
member of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World.