Congratulations
…To Katie Field, promoted from Reservations Manager (WLP) to Reservations and HR Manager (BH) in December [pic top right].
…To Wayne Turner, Executive Chef, and the WLP kitchen team, seen here holding four years’ worth of Two Rosette awards. It is not too difficult to get Rosettes, but very hard to hold onto them, and quiet consistency and application over many years is a much more noble attribute than instant success. It is a group effort of course and Wayne has the most wonderful team working with him [pic bottom right].
…To Richard Chmiel, Matthew Croxford, Anthony Browning, Dawn Brumwell, Michelle Ricks, Lauren Pryor and Aimie Chatfield, all of whom have completed the Beales Hotels Management Development course run by Blue Mountain Training over the past few months.
…To Sally Wilkinson and Val Campbell as finalists in the Best Business Website award at the Hertfordshire Business Awards 2007. We were pipped to the post by a Hertfordshire neighbourhood watch website that has been rolled out across the county
…To all at WLP for becoming finalists last Tuesday at the O2 in the Visit London Awards in the Sustainable Tourism category. The eventual winner was the National Maritime Museum, and the other finalists were the Victoria and Albert Museum, Harpers and Collins publishers, and Madam Tussauds. To be in the company of large organisations was a pleasure, but I still felt that our case was stronger than that of the other entrants – just not as prestigious for the award organisers with one eye on sponsorship and press releases!
…To all at BH for becoming finalists in the Arts and Business Awards in the Sustainability category.
The eventual winner was One Railway, and the Norwich Festival who have been working together for 15 years. As our relationship with the University of Hertfordshire is only 4 years old, they were the worthy winners on this occasion.
Farewell
…to Sylvia Hawksford, from the breakfast team at WLP after 18 years. We willmiss her very much and wish her a very happy retirement. [pic right]
Brochures
Special Events at WLP 2008 – the stunning full colour brochure is now out. Also the new WLP tariff, the new WLP weddings insert and the new WLP Food and Drink menu. Brochures to follow soon include BH Special Events 2008 and Beales Hotels Local food and drink.
Staff party
the Beales Hotels staff party will be held this year at BH on Sunday 20th January at Beales Hotel in the evening with buffet food, cheap drinks, live music and dancing. Book the date in your diaries now for a well earned evening out!
Beales Hotel Extension
Two contractors – Hewlen Construction and CFES – are in the running for the job and one will be selected by Christmas once their quotes have come in. Interior design has started on the bedrooms and suites. Our large deposit is being saved up for!
Estates News
Bedroom 11 at WLP is complete and what a transformation from a desperately tired room to a stunning contemporary one which still sits well in an older house (pic above). Thanks to Emma Beale, Grant Cook and Robert Malleson for a wonderful design which we are now replicating in Rooms 71, 45 and 15.
And finally…
…may I take the opportunity to wish all our guests, staff, management, pensioners, shareholders, suppliers and directors a very merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years, and for those working over Christmas and New Year, my special thanks at such a busy time.
Andrew Beale
Managing Director