Sponsors
The winner of the prestigious British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA) ‘Hospitality Accountant of the Year 2007' award is Joanna Chugh, Cluster Director of Finance, based at the London Marriott Hotel Kensington in the capital. In the presence of over 300 guests at last week's 2007 BAHA Annual Awards Luncheon - held at the InterContinental London Park Lane - Joanna was presented with her award by the Association's Chief Executive Carl Weldon and Membership Officer Rob Maloney.
Nominations for this category, put forward by Members of BAHA to the BAHA Council, had to have: an exemplary track record; be willing to train and lead their staff; be totally dedicated to the hospitality industry, with the intention of remaining in the profession; demonstrate strong attention to detail; keep abreast of current codes of practice; and command respect within the hospitality sector and wider business community.
In recognition of outstanding commitment in promoting and developing financial education in the hospitality industry, the BAHA ‘Corporate Employer of the Year 2007' was Jumeirah International; and the BAHA ‘SME Employer of the Year' was London-based City Inn Ltd. Carl Weldon and Debra Adams, BAHA Head of Administration and Education, presented Sylvia Matthews, Vice President of Finance, Jumeirah International, and Brian Hutchison, a graduate of the BAHA Education and Training Programme and currently Group Internal Auditor for City Inn Ltd, with cut-glass trophies. Nominees in this category had to actively promote and sponsor education and development; operate a monitoring scheme; have a written education and development policy; and recognise and reward success and achievement.
The BAHA Education and Training Programme (ETP) is the entry route to Associate membership of BAHA for new and inexperienced finance personnel in the industry. The programme provides learning and skills development for aspiring hospitality accounting professionals wishing to gain the skills and knowledge required to manage hospitality finance divisions or gain an understanding of the accounting function of a hospitality unit. The 3-stage distance learning programme, studied over three-6-month periods, provides the flexibility for accounts personnel to fit their learning around their busy working day. Stage 1 is an introduction to Financial Accounting; Stage 2 is Operational Management Accounting; and Stage 3 is Strategic Management Accounting.
At the luncheon, BAHA recognised the outstanding student successes in the three stages of the ETP programme. The top student award - the coveted ‘BAHA Overall Student of the Year Award 2006/7' - went to ETP February 2007 Stage 1 winner: Andrew Ranger, Assistant Financial Controller, De Vere Carden Park Hotel, Nr Broxton, Cheshire. Carl Weldon and Debra Adams presented Andrew with an iPod, sponsored by BAHA patrons Sevenoaks-based Brook Hotels, and a cash prize.
Cash prizes were also given to the top students in each of the BAHA ETP categories studied in both September 2006 and February 2007. The September 2006 ETP Stage 1 winner was Eleena Dennis, Credit Accounts Controller at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club, Meriden, Warwickshire. The recipient of the September 2006 ETP Stage 2 award was Britta Lehmann, Finance Project Integration Team Member, based at Hilton International head office in Watford; and the winner of the September 2006 Stage 3 award was Naresh Tamraker, Hotel Controller, Crowne Plaza Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The recipient of the February Stage 2 award was Marco Ferreira, Accounts Clerk at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London; and the winner of the February 2007 Stage 3 award was Fay Maitland, Assistant Financial Controller, City Inn Bristol.
The 2007 BAHA Annual Awards Luncheon raised £500 for the industry charity - Hospitality Action