THE hotel industry’s brightest stars have been honoured at a glittering awards ceremony.

Around 350 employees from hotels across the region gathered for the annual North-East Hotel Excellence Awards, at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, County Durham on Thursday, February 26.

The awards, organised by the North-East Hotels Association, celebrate staff members who have provided outstanding service in ten categories.

These include cleanliness excellence, won by Susan Brougham, housekeeper at Matfen Hall Hotel in Northumberland, and service excellence, won by Chris Main at MacDonald Linden Hall, also in Northumberland.

Durham Marriott Royal County Hotel’s Alison Rutherford scooped the inspirational leader award with the community award going to the Lite@Nite team at Middlesbrough’s Thistle Hotel.

The best arrivals experience honour went to Rachel Common at Hotel Indigo, Newcastle, while the city’s Copthorne Hotel triumphed in two categories; sales champion reactive, won by Susi Lennie and the shooting star award, which went to Nicola Steele.

Other awards included support services, won by Brian Hutchinson at County Thistle Hotel, Newcastle; leisure excellence, won by Kerry Watson at Northumberland’s Close House Hotel and sales champion proactive, awarded to Debbie Brook at Jury’s Inns, Newcastle and Gateshead.

Bernard Bloodworth, vice chairman of the North East Hotels Association, said: “Our industry plays a vast role in the economy and success of the North East and these awards are particularly important as they celebrate the people who make that happen.

“We are hugely fortunate in having some of the hospitality sector’s brightest and best performers across all departments – from sales to service - and this is our chance to thank them.”