Women 1st Shine Awards shortlist unveiled

Those shortlisted from the travel industry include former VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe, Affordable Car Hire, and travel training and consultancy firm Debbee Dale Development, with the latter two companies both in the running for the Small Business award.

The winners of the awards, which celebrate the achievements of women working in the hospitality, passenger transport, travel, tourism and retail industries, will be announced at a dinner hosted by former England rugby player Matt Dawson on September 16 at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square.

The evening will also see Women 1st inducting 10 new members into its prestigious Top 100 Club network of the most influential women.

Shortlisted nominees in the Rising Star and Stepping Up categories and the winners of the Small Business and Outstanding Entrepreneur categories will be matched with career mentors through Women 1st’s mentoring programme, funded by a bursary scheme.

Simone Roche, director of Women 1st, said: “It’s fantastic to read so many inspiring stories of women achieving great things in our industries.

“Women are still under-represented at senior levels in the travel sector, so celebrating and sharing these stories is incredibly important to create strong role models for our future female leaders.”

The shortlist

Individual awards:

Rising Star Award

• Graziela Bittencourt – banqueting manager, London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square
• Alexandra Flinton – materials manager, East Coast Main Line Company
• Linzi Martin – district operations manager, William Hill
• Louisa May Matthews – junior sous chef, Sodexo
• Janie Stamford – foodservice editor, The Caterer

Stepping Up Award

• Catherine Barras – operations manager, BaxterStorey
• Jo Dowell – HR director, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
• Katy Green – operations manager, Premier Inn London Kings Cross/St. Pancras
• Janine Marshall – executive assistant director, One Aldwych
• Claire Maynard – retail business manager, Mitchells & Butlers

Mentor of the Year Award

• Stephanie Hamilton – executive operations director, ISS Food and Hospitality
• Jeanette Pritchard – founder and chair, Brand Amplifier
• Jayne Rees-Baynes – proprietor, Elm Grove Country House

Outstanding Entrepreneur Award

• Sally Fielding – owner, Sally’s Cottages
• Kim Kaewkraikhot – owner/chef director, Thai Leisure Group
• Kirstie Loveday – managing director, Love Drinks
• Julianne Ponan – director, CEO, Creative Nature

Woman of the Year

• Karen Boswell – managing director, East Coast Main Line Company
• Stephanie Hamilton – executive operations director, ISS Food & Hospitality
• Louise Smalley – group HR director, Whitbread
• Alison Tyler – CEO commercial, CH&Co
• Norma Unwin – route operations manager – First Capital Connect, FirstGroup

Lifetime Achievement

• Sandie Dawe MBE – chief executive, VisitBritain
• Susan Gomes – head of HR shared services, Whitbread
• Avril Owton MBE – owner, The Cloud Hotel

Business awards:

Small Business

• Affordable Car Hire
• Debbee Dale Development
• Sally’s Cottages
• Zibrant
• Large Business
• Accor Hotels
• HIT Training
• Merlin Entertainments