How to make your Hotel Cateys nomination stand out

Not sure if your Hotel Cateys entry hits the mark?

 

With just three weeks until nominations close, there’s still time to submit your application. But with open-ended questions and plenty of space to make your case, it can be difficult to know whether you’re including the right information or telling your story in the most compelling way.

 

To help you strengthen your submission, we asked judges from the 2025 Hotel Cateys across a range of categories to share the advice they wish every entrant knew. They share their practical tips which will help you craft an entry that gives them every reason to put you on the shortlist.

 

So, as you write your nomination, make a checklist of the questions below and see if you are hitting the mark!

 

Enter now

 

The judges:

• Hrishikesh Desai, managing director and chef patron, Farlam Hall hotel, judged Hotel Chef of the Year (less than 250 covers) and Hotel Chef of the Year (more than 250 covers)
• Kerry Hudson, spa director at Iconic Luxury Hotels, judged Spa Professional of the Year
• Nicki Kurran, spa consultant, judged Spa Professional of the Year
• Liz McGivern, vice president people and culture, Red Carnation Hotels, judged People Manager of the Year and People Team of the Year
• Jane Pendlebury, chief executive officer, HOSPA, judged Revenue Manager Award and Best Use of Technology
• Sean Wheeler, founder, Sean Wheeler Consulting, judged People Manager of the Year and People Team of the Year

 

What question are you answering?

The most important aspect of the nomination, said Desai, is to keep answers “clear, focused and genuine”.

 

Read the award criteria carefully and make sure every part of the submission addresses the question and criteria. Keep your answers focused, relevant and easy to follow, avoiding repetition or information that doesn’t support your entry.

 

The Michelin-star chef and hotelier added: “Do not try to impress the judges with unnecessary language. Let the person’s work, character and results speak for themselves.”

 

What story are you telling?

The strongest entries go beyond a list of achievements and instead take judges on a journey by explaining the challenge, the actions taken and the impact you made.

 

McGivern said that “nominations that go beyond the expected and tell a compelling story – stories of resilience, innovation and genuine care for people which is so needed in our profession” are the ones which “reflect the heart of hospitality – where people are at the centre of everything” and stand out.

 

What’s your impact?

Judges want proof of the impact made, so include measurable results such as revenue growth, guest satisfaction scores, staff retention figures, employee engagement data or financial improvements. 

 

Hospitality consultant Sean Wheeler said the strongest nominations “always use hard data and statistics”. Before-and-after comparisons, clear outcomes and measurable results help judges understand the impact you’ve made.

 

Wheeler said if employee turnover fell from 40% to 20% over a set time period, don’t just share the figures – explain the actions you took to achieve that improvement and the journey behind the results.

 

Similarly, Hudson said guest and team testimonials can help bring the story to life and “give judges confidence in the impact you’ve made”.

 

What role did you play personally?

If nominating a person, be specific about what they personally led, influenced or achieved. While hospitality is always a team effort, Desai said judges need to “understand what that individual personally led, influenced or changed”.

 

What were your challenges?

“You don’t need to be flawless to win,” shared McGivern, whose team won Best Employer Award at the 2023 and 2025 Cateys.

 

The nomination isn’t about showcasing how perfect you or your business is; entries that stand out explain how you’ve responded to setbacks, learned from challenges and continued to improve.

 

Kurran said: “An entry that only lists successes can come across as less credible than one that shows a genuine challenge, a difficult review, a staffing issue, a launch that didn’t land as planned and explains what was learned and changed as a result.”

 

She added that including these reflects “the professionalism and resilience” of a business or individual.

 

What makes you different?

All judges want to understand what sets you or your business apart from the competition. Showcase the initiatives, ideas or approaches that make your entry unique, whether it’s an innovative people programme, a creative commercial initiative or an exceptional guest experience. Explain why it’s unique and the results it delivered.

 

Does your voice shine through?

It might be tempting to rely on AI to write the entry, but judges can spot the difference between an AI voice and an authentic human voice.

 

While judges’ views on whether to use AI to help write an entry were varied, they were unanimous in making sure you review before submission, so it genuinely reflects an individual’s or business’s achievements.

 

The same advice applies if you’re working with a PR agency; Pendlebury recommended that the person submitting the nomination reads the final draft and, where necessary, rewrites sections in their own tone of voice to ensure the entry feels authentic.