Danny Pecorelli and Celtic Manor Resort lead winners at 2025 Hotel Cateys

The winners of The Caterer’s 2025 Hotel Cateys were revealed on Monday night with Exclusive Collection managing director Danny Pecorelli honoured with the Outstanding Contribution Award.

Around 750 of the hotel industry’s finest from across the country gathered at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London to celebrate some of the top talent in their sector.

Pecorelli, one of the most respected hoteliers in the UK, has grown Exclusive Collection into an award-winning group and become a sector leader, pioneering workplace culture and championing hospitality careers.

He has long promoted environmentally conscious business practises; the Exclusive Collection was the first hotel group in the UK to achieve B Corp status and it won the Sustainable Business Award at the 2024 Cateys.

Sue Williams, founder of Positive Hospitality and former general manager of Whatley Manor, said: “Once in a generation a hotelier comes along who enriches and positively influences the sector for all of us and for me this is Danny.”

Andrew Stembridge, executive director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, said that Pecorelli’s contribution to the industry was “nothing short of extraordinary”.

“Whether sharing his time, wisdom or energy, Danny leads with integrity, humility and heart. He is quietly unassuming, yet his impact is profound," Stembridge added.

Meanwhile, Celtic Manor Resort, a luxury hotel and spa in Newport, Wales, received the Extra Mile Award for its work supporting disadvantaged communities.

Since partnering with the Newport Place Programme initiative, nearly all 900 of the hotel’s employees have volunteered their time to deliver meaningful, long-lasting change in the local area.

Alassim Mohamed, strategic lead, Business in the Community – Newport Place Programme, said the hotel had made a “tangible difference” to Newport.

He added: “The people of this city will never forget the generosity, compassion and determination the Celtic Collection has shown. They are truly driving real, transformational change, proving what’s possible when a business leads with purpose and heart.”

Other Hotel Catey winners included Red Carnation, which took home two awards for its exemplary service. The Montague on the Gardens, London, won Front of House Team of the Year, while Charles Banks, rooms division manager at the Rubens at the Palace, London, was named Front of House Manager of the Year.

2025 Acorn Award winner Benoit Raffi, director of revenue at Kimpton Fitzroy London, took home Revenue Manager of the Year.

The Headland hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, scooped the award for Sustainable Hotel of the Year, while Restaurant Interlude at Leonardslee House near Horsham in Sussex was named Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year.

The hotel chef awards went to Paul Bates, Hilton London Metropole (more than 250 covers); Douglas Balish, Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire (fewer than 250 covers); and Jack Bond, the Cottage in the Wood, Keswick, Cumbria, who was named Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year.