Hotel Cateys 2026 open for entries

Entries open today for the Hotel Cateys 2026, which showcase the exceptional work and talent across the hotel sector.

The Hotel Cateys 2026, held in partnership with Bidfood, recognise and reward the individuals and teams that work tirelessly to make sure their business delivers an exceptional guest experience.

The ceremony will return to the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London on 23 November.

The 23 award categories will recognise those from across the breadth of the hotel industry, from front of house teams to housekeepers, as well as those making an outstanding contribution to the wider hotel industry. 

This year three new categories have been added to the awards, to celebrate those leading the way in purchasing, sales and housekeeping. 

The new Housekeeping Team of the Year category, sponsored by Out of Eden, has been launched to recognise the vital contribution housekeeping teams make to the guest experience, while Procurement Professional of the Year, sponsored by Green Procurement, will honour an individual with purchasing responsibility within a hotel business.

The new Salesperson of the Year category will recognise an outstanding sales professional who has demonstrated exceptional success in generating new business, building long-term client relationships and driving revenue growth for their hotel or portfolio.

‘Winning felt surreal’

The Ned’s Jack Cohn, who won Food and Beverage Manager of the Year in 2025, said: “It is a very proud and humbling moment in my career to be awarded Food and Beverage Manager of the Year, an accolade that is the best possible acknowledgment for all the hard work that goes into making the F&B department at the Ned such a success.”

Meanwhile, winner of last year’s Revenue Manager of the Year, Acorn Award 2025 winner Benoit Raffi from Kimpton Fitzroy London, said winning a Hotel Catey “felt surreal”.

He added: “It was something I wanted since I started in hospitality. Both the Acorn and the Catey happened in the same year, and I feel very proud of those moments.”

Enter the Hotel Cateys 2026 now

Vicki Philpott, business development controller for hotels and restaurants at Bidfood, said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Hotel Cateys 2026 and recognise the exceptional contribution the UK hotel industry continues to make. Recent years have presented economic and operational challenges, yet the sector has responded with resilience, creativity and an unwavering commitment to service. Time and again, hotel teams have demonstrated their ability to adapt, innovate and deliver outstanding experiences for guests.

“The Hotel Cateys have long celebrated the very best of our industry, and we’re excited to see this year’s nominations showcase the talent, dedication and achievements that continue to define the sector.”

Peer-to-peer nomination

Winning a Hotel Catey is significant because recipients are nominated, selected and rewarded by their peers, as Francesca Rowland from the Calcot Collection, who won Spa Professional of the Year last year, acknowledged when receiving her award. She said it was “made all the more special knowing that this recognition comes from my industry peers. I’m genuinely humbled”.

So if you know of an individual, business or organisation worthy of this prestigious award, we want to hear from you. But be quick – entries for nominations close on 12 August at 5pm.