World's Best Receptionist
Every year, the AICR UK hosts a competition with a chance to become the World's Best Receptionist. Hoteliers can nominate their best team members to battle in this competition and show off their true hospitality skills. The winner will be sent to a worldwide destination for a final round and perhaps be awarded the coveted World's Best Receptionist title!
The Receptionist of the Year competition consists of various stages where your skills will be judged by industry experts against other Hotel Receptionists from all over the UK. The winner will then go on to represent the country at the international competition during the congress in Malta in March 2027 to compete for the David Campbell trophy!
The Details
The AICR UK Receptionist of the year 2026 will receive:
-
Free online professional development workshop
-
Participation in the AICR UK Mentorship scheme
-
One year’s Junior Membership to the AICR UK
-
Free attendance to all AICR UK events for the year
-
One week of cross-training at a UK 4* or 5* hotel of their choice (subject to that property’s availability)
-
Golden ticket to represent the United Kingdom and participate at the International Competition which will be hosted in Malta in March 2027
Timeline:
-
Closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday 28th August.
-
Semi-finals will take place via Zoom and will be held at the end of September.
-
Final stage and the UK Receptionist of the Year Award Ceremony to be held in November at a central London hotel.
-
The winner will go on to compete internationally at the AICR International Congress in Malta in March 2027.
Receptionist Of The Year Winners over the years...
2025 Andrea Garcia - Rosewood London
2024 Sonia Bharj - Pan Pacific
2023 Chelsea Lacey - Pennyhill Park
2022 Jude Haddad - The Ritz London
2021 Nathan Jeffreys - Four Seasons London Park Lane
2020 Katharina Strasser - Gleneagles
2109 Erika Natalini - Hotel Café Royal
2018 Vicky Klinkhammer - Four Season Park Lane
2107 Sarah Woods - The Vineyard at Stockcross
2016 Beatriz Gallo - Connaught
2015 Harriet Henderson - Gleneagles
2104 Paula McMinn - The Savoy
2013 Johanna Dlugosch - Gleneagles
2012 Arian Roehrle - The Connaught
2011 Maria Holzapfel - London Marriot Grosvenor Square
2010 Adina Wallingford - Four Season Canary Wharf
2009 Magdalena Zuchowicz - Sheraton Belgravia
2008 Smita Appadoo - Crowne Plaza Docklands
2007 Markus Marmames - Four Season Canary Wharf
2006 Uta Tweler - Four Season Canary Wharf
2005 Danie Buirski - Radisson Edwardian Hampshire
2004 Oliver Ormind - The Savoy
2003 Martino Delbuono - The Savoy
2002 Pru Craig - Copthorne Tara
2001 Bryony Watts - The Berkley
2000 Nicola Avramides - One Aldwych
1999 Anika Deline - Claridge’s
1998 Hannah Francis - Royal Garden Hotel
1997 Joanne Walker - Four Seasons
1996 Claire Adams - Cadogan
1995 Karen Bowne - Sheraton Park Tower

