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Thirteen hotel professionals have been awarded Master Innholders Innholder Scholarships for 2026.
The scholarships provide recipients with the opportunity to undertake one of two fully funded management programmes designed to support their continued development and progression within hospitality.
The successful applicants are:
- Judit Balonka, General Manager at The Vineyard Hotel
- Gavin Fogarty, Hotel Manager at The Marylebone Hotel
- Andreas Grammatikopoulos, Food & Beverage Manager at The Grove of Narberth
- Eliot Macdonald, General Manager at Mullion Cove Hotel
- Courtney Maksymow, Hotel Manager at Northcote Hotel
- Sorin Mihalea, Deputy General Manager at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa
- Carlotta Pascual-Solera, Hotel Manager at The Bath Priory Hotel & Spa
- Parry Rathod, General Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton, Lincoln
- Sandia Scott, Head of Rooms at The Newman Hotel
- Giles Thomas, General Manager at Bromley Court Hotel
- Arnaud Valentin, Hotel Manager at COMO Metropolitan London
- Simone Villari, Hotel Manager at NYX Hotel Edinburgh
- Caroline Waite, Assistant Front of House Manager at Cliveden
Each recipient will undertake one of two management programmes combining virtual learning with residential stays at the participating universities.
The format enables Scholars to apply their learning alongside their existing roles while also spending time away from day-to-day operations to focus on professional development.
The curriculum covers leadership, strategic thinking and managing change, alongside developing a broader understanding of the business of hospitality.
Zoe Jenkins MI, Chair of the Master Innholders, said: “Education has always been central to the work of the Master Innholders, and in the current hospitality climate it has never been more important to invest in the people who will lead our industry forward.
“Hospitality is changing quickly, and the expectations placed on its leaders are changing with it. All of this year’s Innholder Scholarship winners have shown a real commitment to developing themselves and their careers, and I’m excited to see where this experience takes them as they continue to grow and develop their skills.”
The Innholder Scholarships are supported by the Savoy Educational Trust, the Master Innholders Charitable Trust and the Lord Forte Foundation.
The Savoy Educational Trust, Lord Forte Foundation and Master Innholders Charitable Trust have also approved funding towards the scholarship programme for 2027.
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