The Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) has shortlisted 15 finalists for its 2026 Inspirational Leader Awards, with winners to be announced at the HOSPACE Gala Awards Dinner at the Royal Lancaster London on Thursday, 12 November 2026.

The shortlist spans five categories — finance, revenue management, technology, ESG and commercial leadership — with three finalists each. Sponsors underwrite the individual categories: BDO backs the finance award, Right Revenue and Edwards & Finn sponsor revenue management, Exponential-e supports technology, Humelab funds ESG, and QX Global sponsors the commercial award.

Inspirational Finance Leader of the Year (sponsored by BDO)

• Sam Hartley, Group Finance Director, Dakota Hotels
• Joanna Powley, Financial Director, Nirvana Spa Collection
• Suleyman Dogan, Financial Director, Hart Shoreditch

Inspirational Revenue Manager of the Year (sponsored by Right Revenue and Edwards & Finn)

• Monica Arriero, Director of Revenue & Commercial Delivery, Axiom Hospitality
• Shaun Wright, Director of Revenue, Dakota Hotels
• Maria Forsberg, Senior Director of Revenue Management, Dominus Hospitality

Inspirational Technology Leader of the Year (sponsored by Exponential-e)

• Rebecca Prizeman, Group Head of Digital and Operational Systems, Watergate Bay Hotel & Another Place Group
• Lee Snowdon, Business Systems Manager, Cairn Group
• Liutauras Vaitkevicius, CEO, Apex Alliance Hotel Management

Inspirational ESG Leader of the Year (sponsored by Humelab)

• Alex Matulina, ESG Manager, PPHE Hotel Group
• Helen Bishop, Group Head of Sustainability and Engagement, Watergate Bay Hotel & Another Place Group
• Magaly Etter, ESG Manager, Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa

Inspirational Commercial Leader of the Year (sponsored by QX Global)

• Andrew Secker, Commercial Director, RBH Hospitality Management
• Tina O'Hara, Commercial Director, Cairn Group
• Teresa Kingston, Group Commercial Director, Luxury Family Hotels

The shortlist leans heavily toward group-level operators with multi-site portfolios. Dakota Hotels and Cairn Group each place two executives across different categories, while Watergate Bay Hotel & Another Place Group fields finalists in both the technology and ESG categories.

HOSPA CEO Jane Pendlebury said: "The calibre of this year's finalists highlights the incredible talent, passion and expertise across the hospitality industry. Each individual has demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change, inspiring others and shaping the future of our sector. We are delighted to celebrate their achievements through the awards and look forward to revealing this year's winners at HOSPACE."

The ceremony anchors the annual HOSPACE conference, which draws more than 600 hospitality professionals to London for a day of talks, industry discussions and networking. The awards recognize UK hospitality leaders who have demonstrated innovation, leadership and commitment to excellence in their fields — a cohort that now spans the back-office functions, from finance and revenue to systems and sustainability, that increasingly drive operator performance.

Registration for HOSPACE 2026 is open via www.hospace.org.