Hospitality rising stars to be acknowledged by Virgin Limited Edition

7th June 2010, 3:31pm

Virgin Limited Edition (VLE), Sir Richard Branson’s private collection of award-winning retreats which includes The Roof Gardens in Kensington, has been announced as the title sponsor of a new award in the hospitality industry.

The Virgin Rising Star Award will form part of the Academy of Food & Wine's Annual Awards for Excellence, which recognises outstanding talent and acknowledges the future leaders of the hospitality service in the UK.

The sponsorship follows last year's accolade for one of The Roof Gardens' own leaders in hospitality – Peter Avis, Babylon's Restaurant Manager - who was awarded 'Restaurant Manager of the Year 2009' by the Academy.

VLE will decide on the winner who must be under 30 years of age and currently holding a position within the front-of-house hospitality function. A shortlist of the top five candidates will be selected and invited to attend the awards ceremony in September.

Companies or individuals can nominate candidates for The Virgin Rising Star Award who they believe show great promise as a result of their skills, career path and achievements to date. The winning individual will be given a 'stage' at The Roof Gardens; where they will have the unique opportunity to be immersed in all aspects of the business and learn from some of the industry's experts.

Peter Avis, Manager of Babylon Restaurant and a judge on the panel for this year's Academy of Food & Wine Annual Awards for Excellence said: "We are delighted to be the sponsor of such a prestigious and important award in the field of hospitality. The front-of-house role is an essential element in the whole customer experience that requires an individual of the highest calibre."

Entries to The Virgin Rising Star Award must be made by 30 July 2010.

To nominate a candidate please write a covering letter detailing your nominee (date of birth, job title, brief CV, key achievements) and outline, in no more than 800 words, why you believe he or she should win The Virgin Rising Star Award.

Send your nomination to Helen Glen at the Academy of Food & Wine or email her on helen@acfws.org

Related Articles:

• 09 Sep 2010 - Babylon Restaurant introduces 'Glitz and Glamour' this Christmas

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