Savoy's Paula McMinn named best in world following Singapore triumph
Paula McMinn, a receptionist at London's Savoy hotel has been named the best in the world following the finals of the David Campbell Trophy in Singapore.
She beat off competition from 49 receptionists to represent the UK at the finals of the competition, held during the annual congress of the AICR, the association for front of house managers.
Originally launched in 1995 in memory of a chef de reception at the Ritz hotel in Paris, the event aims to inspire the younger members of front office staff.
McMinn, 24, joined the Savoy hotel two years ago, initially as a reservations agent before becoming a receptionist in February last year. She has previously worked for Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida; and Beijing, China, as well as in various hotel roles in her home country of South Africa.
Kiaran MacDonald, managing director of the five-red-AA-star, 268-bedroom Savoy, said: "I am incredibly proud of Paula, as are all of her colleagues and the entire hotel. She is such a bright and enthusiastic member of our team, a wonderful ambassador of the Savoy."
McMinn, who triumphed over 12 other finalists in Singapore, will now go on to sit on the judging panel during the 2016 congress of the AICR in Vienna, Austria.
She is the third UK representative to win the David Campbell Trophy, following the success of Mr Markus Mormels of the Four Seasons Canary Wharf, London, in 2008 and Anika Dehne of Claridges, London, in 2000.