General Manager of the Year

Category Overview

The General Manager of the Year award celebrates an exceptional individual whose leadership has not only driven outstanding performance within their venue but has also set a benchmark for excellence across the wider business events and hospitality sector. This award recognises strategic thinking, operational expertise, and commercial acumen – underpinned by a deep commitment to people, culture, and guest experience.

More than just a role model within their venue, this General Manager will be an ambassador for best practice across the industry. From nurturing internal talent to contributing to sector-wide initiatives and charitable causes, they embody the values of resilience, innovation, ethics and quality.

This award honours those who inspire through action – creating exceptional environments for guests, cultivating inclusive and motivated teams, and driving meaningful change in the events and hospitality community.

Entry Criteria

1. Key Achievements

Please provide an overview of the individuals key achievements and how they have positively impacted their venue’s performance (financial, operational and reputational). Please provide evidence of tangible results and strategic leadership.

2. Team Leadership

How has the nominee inspired and developed their team to deliver excellence in service, culture, and guest experience? You may wish to focus on people leadership, retention, and culture-building.

3. Industry Impact

In what ways has the nominee contributed to the wider industry including nurturing talent within their own organisation or the industry at large, acted as an ambassador for best practice within the events sector, and engaged in charitable work?

4. Why Is This Person Award-Worthy?

In your own words, tell us why the nominee deserves to be recognised as General Manager of the Year. You may wish to reflect on leadership style, personal values, and the difference the nominee has made to their team, guests, business, or the wider industry.

What Judges will be looking for:

An exceptional venue leader who demonstrates a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and authentic people leadership. Judges will look for robust, tangible evidence of how the nominee’s leadership has driven performance across financial growth, operational efficiency, and venue reputation. Beyond metrics, successful submissions must illustrate a strong culture-building mindset, showing how the General Manager inspires, retains, and develops their team to deliver outstanding service and guest experiences. Crucially, winning entries will highlight the nominee’s broader industry impact—evaluating how they act as an ambassador for best practice, nurture emerging talent, and contribute to charitable or community initiatives.

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