By Angela Green: Institute of Hospitality Restaurant Manager of the Year 2024 finalists announced.
The shortlist for the Institute of Hospitality’s Restaurant Manager of the Year 2024 (RMOY), sponsored by Menzies and The Hari, London will see twenty-three semi-finalists battle it out for this year’s coveted title.
Now in its 14th year, the competition received applications from candidates from all corners of the UK. And for a second year, all the finalists will receive a special follow-up mentoring session from one of the RMOY judges.
The RMOY shortlist finalists 2024 are:
- Luis Miguel Santos Carvalho – Marco Pierre Steak House, Leicestershire
- Sofia Chatzistergiou AIH – Cakes & Bubbles, London
- Wesley Davies – The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales
- Salvatore De Rosa – Kerridges Bar and Grill at Corinthia, London
- Olivier Fasolo AIH – Deloitte/ Compass UK & Ireland, London
- Michael Anthony Fiducia – Stirling’s and Hurricane Bar, Royal Automobile Club, Surrey
- Eduardo Fernandez Gomez – Lima, London
- Tom Hanlon – Northcote, Blackburn, Lancashire
- Adam Hughes MIH – The Jetty, Harbour Hotel Salcombe, Devon
- Rizwan Khan AIH – Junsei Marylebone, London
- Domenico Kotori – BiBo Shoreditch, London
- Andrei-Sebastian Lixandru – Dormy House Hotel, Worcestershire
- Ingrid Maend – The Stratford Hotel, London
- Marco Joseph Mammone AIH – Buchanan Arms Hotel & Leisure, Drymen, Glasgow
- Nadia Nonnis – Compass UK & Ireland, Deloitte, London
- Antonio Palombo – Delta Hotels by Marriott Worsley Park Country Club, Manchester
- Alessandro Passaglia – Aviator Hampshire, Brasserie Restaurant, Farnborough
- Marco Pittella – Ham Yard Restaurant and Bar, Ham Yard Hotel, London
- Liam Simpson AIH – Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland
- Andrew Smith MIH – Fingal Hotel, by The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh
- Jessica Louise Thompson MIH – Mingary Castle, Acharacle, Scotland
- Baki Tzepetziou – Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, London
- Cameron Walker – The Tollemache Arms, Northampton
All the shortlisted finalists had to show they fulfilled the role of Restaurant Manager, regardless of their job title. Showing they took responsibility for business performance and coordinated the operation of a restaurant.
The lucky shortlisted finalists will now progress to be judged on a range of tasks at The Hotel Café Royal on Friday 26 April 2024.
These will include being interviewed by industry professionals and tested on their Restaurant Management skills. With the top four candidates then asked to participate in a Restaurant Management Skills scenario in front of an invited VIP audience.
The day concludes with the live final, where the winner will be announced at the UK Restaurant Manager of the Year Winner’s Reception in front of industry guests, media, friends and family.
Aiming to acknowledge and reward the best in the industry, whether small individual boutique establishments, popular fine-dining sites or those part of a larger food and beverage operation, the competition has uncovered some formidable industry names in the past including Peter Avis FIH, GM at Galvin’s at Windows, who was the first person to scoop the title in 2009.
Last year’s winner Christie Hayes MIH, who is now Hotel Manager at Penmaenuchaf in Wales, was overwhelmed when she won the competition. “Since winning Restaurant Manager of the Year I have progressed my career and am now Hotel Manager at a stunning venue in Wales. I wish all the finalists the best of luck and hope they have as much fun this year as I did last year.”
This year’s judges have also been announced and include a formidable list of industry talent.
Led by the Chair of Judges Alper Zan MIH Food & Beverage Director, Celtic Manor Resort in Wales are:
- Roy Sommer FIH – Chairman, Food & Beverage Manager Association (FBMA)
- Ludovic Solmi – Hospitality Consultant, Food & Beverage Consultants
- Munya Badze MIH – Kent & Medway Youth System Volunteering Project Manager, NHS Kent & Medway
- Daniel Greenock – Director of Food & Beverage, Gleneagles Hotel
- Stephane Davaine – Front of House Operations, RBC Brewin Dolphin
- Ashley Shaw – General Manager, The Stratford
- Alan Tang MIH – Restaurant Director, Gouqi
- Jakob Gowin MIH – General Manager, Meliá White House
- Micaela Barlow FIH – Quality Director, HIT Training
- Matthew Randall FIH – General Manager, Searcys
- Max Lawrence FIH – Finance & Administration Director, Hospitality Assured
- Holly Hewett – Group Director of Marketing Apex Hotels
- Ama Ampofo FIH – Founder & Director, Bafowama Hospitality Inspirations
- Chris Maloney – Advisory Partner, Menzies LLP
Congratulating the shortlisted finalists, IoH CEO Robert Richardson FIH MI said: “All the shortlisted candidates should be extremely proud to have made it this far in the competition. There is some amazing talent across the industry, and I can’t wait to see who will be crowned Restaurant Manager of the Year 2024. I would also like to say a massive thank you to our headline sponsors Menzies and The Hari, London, and to The Hotel Café Royal again for their kind support in hosting this event. The judges will definitely have their work cut out for them this year.”
Along with the trophy and prestigious title of Restaurant Manager of the Year 2024, the winner will also receive:
- A professional development programme designed around the winner, to assist them in their current role and develop their career
- A year of tickets to attend the top 2024 IoH events, including Above & Beyond and the Fellows’ Dinner
- One year’s membership of the Institute of Hospitality
Plus, more to be announced.
IoH Head of Events & Commercial Sarah Peters FIH who plans and organises the annual competition commented: “It is wonderful to see so many amazing restaurant managers come forward this year from all over the country and from so many different sectors of the industry. It is encouraging to see the excellent talent we have in the hospitality industry.”
She continued: “This year will be a hard-fought final, but all our talented semi-finalists will be supported by a RMOY judge to help them through their individual journey to the final. I wish all of them the best of luck.”
Tickets to the Institute’s Restaurant Manager of the Year 2024 Winner’s Reception are available here.
The industry’s Master of Ceremonies soon to be accompanied by Keenbot T5