Acorn Awards 2025: Tonicha Baldock, the Torridon

Age 27

Position deputy manager, the Torridon

Nominator Rohaise Rose-Bristow, owner/people director, the Torridon

Tonicha Baldock is a rising force in luxury hospitality, and at just 27, she’s already shaping the future of five-star service in the Scottish Highlands.

Now deputy manager at the Torridon, Baldock’s ascent has been quick and well earned. Starting as assistant restaurant manager in 2021, she moved quickly through the ranks, working as restaurant manager, then assistant operations manager. Her leadership and operational skillset has led to Baldock joining the hotel’s senior leadership team, demonstrating the respect and valued contribution by the owners and directors.

Her passion for people has had a profound impact on the hotel. Baldock implemented an improvement plan to address leadership and engagement, particularly with front of house and housekeeping, which oversaw a 92% staff retention rate and led to recruitment cost-savings and seamless continuity of the business.

Through her Master Innholders Aspiring Leaders Diploma, she was also able to identify inefficiencies across the hotel and share her learnings with the rest of the team to create better guest experiences. 

Outside her core role, she’s an active industry ambassador. Baldock co-ordinated a career exchange programme with the Headland hotel, Newquay, supported Swiss hospitality students with their studies, and helped promote the profession at rural school career fairs. She also championed mental health awareness through initiatives like “Walk for Wellbeing” and recently joined the Institute of Hospitality’s mentoring programme.

Baldock leads by example. From completing her diploma to hosting quiz nights and kayak trips for the 45 staff living on-site, her efforts go well beyond operations. She’s created a workplace that feels like home – supportive and celebratory.

Whether it’s guiding a graduate into a new management role or fine-tuning front-of-house processes to elevate guest experience, Baldock’s influence is felt across every part of the business.