A toast to the industry

Awards in catering and hospitality are important. Not only do they recognise achievement, but they attract attention to the industry and offer the opportunity to say to the outside world, "Look, this is what we can do. This is what we are good at."

Although a number of awards schemes have come into the industry over the past few years, the Caterer & Hotelkeeper Awards, the Cateys, remain the most prestigious and sought-after. Why? Because candidates in each category are nominated by the industry and then judged by the industry. This makes them unique. There is no hidden agenda, they are not a vehicle for company publicity or the basis for a television spectacular; they exist for the industry to applaud the industry.

The judges for each of the categories - and there are 15 categories this year - are drawn from appropriate areas of expertise. They may be proven operators, previous Catey winners or members of such respected industry bodies as the Automobile Association.

The rigorous task of selecting the winners has been aided this year for the first time by the team at consultants Arthur Andersen, who compiled a detailed dossier on each nominated candidate, making the judging procedure fair and equal.

The sponsors, too, are an essential part of the Cateys. Without their support, the awards could not operate to the high standards that the industry has come to expect.

These may be the first Cateys of the new millennium, but they bring with them a significance that has been earned and proven over the past 17 years. Long may they provide that unique opportunity to say "This is good". n

FORBES MUTCHEditor, Caterer & Hotelkeeper