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Meet the People’s Choice finalists in the York Hospitality Awards – and vote for your favourite!

The York Hospitality Awards are back – and it’s time to choose your hospitality hero.

Hospitality Association York (HAY) launched the awards last year to celebrate those who go above and beyond to give a warm welcome to visitors.

They’re back, and you can again play a part – by voting for your favourite in the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by YorkMix.

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Below are 2025’s People’s Choice Award finalists – you can vote at the end.

Remember, the People’s Choice award acknowledges team members who have made an exemplary contribution to their business or the wider industry or community.

The closing date for voting is Sunday 24 August.

Alison Walker

Alison Walker

Duty Manager 
Dean Court Hotel

Alison has worked at Dean Court for more than ten years, working mainly on the bar and in the restaurant but she’s also worked as an events co-ordinator and a receptionist.

She has a fantastic attention to detail, is meticulous and completely dedicated to her work.

She often stays behind later or comes in early to help, including at Christmas when she worked 45 hours over three days, giving up her own Christmas to ensure the customers have the Christmas they deserved.

When one of the hotel’s regular guests collapsed, Alison was Duty Manager and took control of the situation. It became apparent that the guest had stopped breathing, and Alison brought the guest back to life using a defibrillator.

The guest was taken to hospital, and Alison accompanied the guests’ husband at the hospital until 2am in the morning and then returned several times over the following ten days with him while the guest remained in a coma.

The guest sadly passed away; however the husband is still a good friend to the hotel and said “I would not have got through this had not been for Alison and I will be forever grateful.”

The police and ambulance service were so impressed with Alisons actions on the night that she (along with two other team members) is to be awarded a commendation from the Police Commissioner later this year.

Georgina Warwick

Georgina Warwick

Head Waitress
Middlethorpe Hall

Georgina has been employed at Middlethorpe Hall since July 2018 as Head Waitress and is a reliable, trustworthy and hard-working member of the team.

Her sense of organisation is second to none and makes her a strong and dynamic leader, especially in challenging circumstances. She is resourceful and focussed and shines under pressure. Her ‘can do’ attitude is most helpful in the busy hospitality environment.

She’s a strong and fair leader able to handle the most challenging situations. Members of the team are able to confide in her and she is always present to give care and support to all; On numerous occasions, her ‘motherly’ approach has been vital in rectifying incidents and unfair/unsuitable situations.

Georgina is a volunteer Scout Leader, looking after groups of cubs and beavers twice a week and a busy fund raiser, collecting donations for local food banks and has taken part in Cancer Research UK fun runs too.

As well as her responsibilities in the dining rooms, Georgina is a trained first aider. On 29t November 2024, during a busy dinner service when she was in charge of the fine dining room, one of the diners collapsed with a suspected heart failure.

As a trained First-Aider, her prompt reactions successfully performing CPR on the person until the emergency services arrived and were able to take over, resulted in the best possible outcome.

She was deeply affected by this experience, but she continued working until the end of the service, despite being overwhelmed by emotions. She lost many nights’ sleep over a dramatic situation that she handled so well.

Anna Czarnik

Anna Czarnik

Food and Beverage Assistant
Middletons Hotel

Anna has been a dedicated Food and Beverage Assistant at Middletons for 11 years, working on breakfast service. She brings a natural warmth to the team, creating a positive atmosphere where colleagues and guests alike feel genuinely looked after.

Often seen as a motherly figure, Anna nurtures those around her and leads by example. Her positive attitude is infectious, she lifts the spirits of both colleagues and guests, creating a welcoming environment every morning.

She builds genuine relationships with our regular guests, many of whom know her by name, and she remembers their preferences and orders without being asked. These thoughtful touches make a lasting impact and set our service apart.

Remarkably, she also works as a cleaner at York Hospital in the afternoons and evenings. Her dedication, kindness, and ability to deliver exceptional standards across two demanding roles is truly inspirational.

Originally from Poland, Anna has made York her home and become an integral part of the team over the past 11 years. She’s known for her reliability, sense of humour, and strong work ethic. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her.

Over the past 12 months, Anna has consistently gone above and beyond in her role, earning recognition from both guests and industry professionals, including named in numerous mystery guest reports for her exceptionally warm and genuine welcome.

Secondly, during our most recent AA inspection, Anna was specifically mentioned for her presence on the floor and her clear sense of organisation. The inspector noted how smoothly the breakfast service ran under her guidance and how her leadership positively influenced the atmosphere and service delivery.

Finally, Anna has shown unwavering commitment by managing two demanding jobs, working mornings at Middletons and evenings at York Hospital as a cleaner. Despite this heavy workload, she never lets her standards slip.

Her energy, reliability, and positive attitude never falter, and she continues to support and train new team members with patience and care.

Anna’s consistent performance, exceptional guest feedback, and strong leadership qualities make her a shining example of dedication in hospitality.

Vote here

People’s Choice Award 2025