General Manager of the Year

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.

Submission Requirements:

  • Respond to all four criteria questions below.
  • Maximum 300 words per question.
  • Submissions must focus on work undertaken or completed in the last 12 months.
  • Support your answers with evidence such as:
    • Performance data
    • Visuals
    • Client or stakeholder testimonials
    • Media or press coverage

Award Criteria:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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.

Nomination Form
Return to Awards Page

Featured blog articles

Joint first options – the benefits, challenges and frustrations
A debate has erupted on how hotels and booking agents navigate the complexities of holding hotel space with everything constantly changing. One of the most intriguing and controversial trends over recent years in this process is the use of joint first options.
Why Sustainability in Events Can’t Wait — And What We Can Do About It
At the recent beam Members Meeting in Manchester, Sam Cande and Sue Robinson from Greengage delivered a powerful presentation on Sustainability for Events
Stronger together – Insights from beam’s board on growth, advocacy, and member empowerment
At beam’s All Members Meeting on 30 April 2025 at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly, Chair Louisa Watson led a panel discussion with members of the beam Board. Vice Chair David Tremmil, Finance Director Linden Beattie, Marketing Director Ben Hull, and Joint Commercial Directors Tracy Winsworth and Ben Hioco shared insights into how beam empowers members, its plans, and opportunities for members, and how we can all play a part in shaping its future

Subscribe to beam communications.

Get notified about new events, industry announcements and relevant news stories.

What you need before applying

Make sure you have the following ready to upload:

  • Legal/business registration proof
    Document showing the legal form and ownership of your business (e.g. certificate of incorporation or equivalent).
  • Business registration & tax ID
    Your official business registration number and/or tax registration number.
  • Business bank account proof
    A bank letter or statement in the business name.
  • One recommendation letter
    From an IATA airline, a GDS (e.g. Amadeus, Sabre), or a major travel industry supplier.
  • Travel-services licence (if applicable)
    Only needed if your country requires a licence to sell travel services.
  • Signed TIDS Terms & Conditions
    These are included in the application and must be accepted before submitting.