The Staff Appreciation Party

Bringing our global family together

As the year began, so did a buzz of excitement across our global team. From the early months of planning to the joyful anticipation of shared memories, our much-awaited Appreciation Party in London was finally here, and it was more than just a celebration. It was a reunion of our global family.

With teams arriving from Southern Africa, Geneva, Ireland, and Guernsey, the London teams were ready and eager to make their fellow colleagues’ time in London a memorable one. This week is always something special and close to everyone’s heart – a time we always look forward to.

In the days leading up to the big night, our visiting team members had the chance to spend time in various hotels across the city, connecting with local colleagues in similar roles. These visits weren’t just about observing – they were a great chance to learn, share ideas, and build new relationships.

The big night

There was a great sense of fun and build-up as the big night approached. Dressed up and ready to celebrate, the team came together for a night full of awards, laughter, great food, music, and plenty of dancing. It was a truly unforgettable evening that captured the spirit of our team perfectly. The night was full of love, appreciation, and energy!

These moments remind us why we do what we do – not just the work, but the people behind it. We’re proud of our teams across the globe and grateful for the strong connections we continue to build across locations. It's a moment to come together, celebrate, and reflect on the values we share - values rooted in the ethos of the Tollman family. It’s not just a party; it’s a celebration of who we are together.

The night of celebration was opened by our owners Brett and Vicki Tollman, followed by lots of applause and cheering for the award winners:

SST of the Year: Lenthapile “Letty” Andreck (Xigera)

Guest Services Person of the Year: Jacques Conradie (The Egerton)

Chef of the Year: Ashley Tinoco (The Chesterfield)

Food & Beverage Person of the Year: Govan Norbert (Hotel d’Angleterre)

Front of House Person of the Year: Taylor Masters (The Rubens)

Night Manager of the Year: Oussama Addaoui (Hotel d’Angleterre)

Degree Apprentice of the Year: Alice Daws (The Milestone)

MP of the Year: Petra Nyitrai (100 Princes Street)

Kitchen Porter of the Year: Sibongiseni Zungu (The Oyster Box)

Housekeeper of the Year: Ingrida Grigaityte (100 Princes Street)

Room Attendant of the Year: Roxana-Alina Ciorogariu (The Lodge at Ashford)

Concierge of the Year: Ranganai Nyamusenga (The Old Government House)

Doorman of the Year: Mohammad Hossain (The Rubens)

Bar Person of the Year: Victoria Saenz De Urturi (The Milestone)

Food & Beverage Manager of the Year: Tyler Brits (Ashford Castle)

Mixologist of the Year: Angela Parti-Sipeki (bbar)

Gardener of the Year: Michael “Koko” Dlabantu (Bushmans Kloof)

Executive Assistant of the Year: Suzie Norris (The Chesterfield)

Commercial Person of the Year: Sarah Glanville (Central Office)

Maintenance Manager of the Year: Kevin Devine (Ashford Castle)

Spa Person of the Year: Peta Carrera (The Oyster Box)

People & Culture Person of the Year: Magda Stabinska (Central Office)

Finance Person of the Year: Melanie Jacobs (The Twelve Apostles)

IT Person of the Year: Andrius Steponavicius (Central Office)

Assistant Manager of the Year: Levente Ciaba (The Montague)

Manager of the Year: Marlen Obertelli (Hotel 41)

Newcomer of the Year: Rommel Layco (Central Office)

Rooms Division Manager of the Year: Bea Kaczynska (Summer Lodge)

Operations Manager of the Year: Tomas Krikstanavicius (Acorn Inn)

Red Carnation Ambassador of the Year: Vitalii Puris (The Chesterfield)

Executive Team of the Year: IT Team (Central Office)

Hotel of the Year: The Twelve Apostles

General Manager of the Year: Dirk Crokaert (The Montague)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Washington Maquiolo

The Mr and Mrs T Award: Simphiwe Mahla (The Twelve Apostles)

Thank you to the team who worked tirelessly to make this week full of fun and laughter, and for sharing their hospitality with our fellow colleagues in the same way they would with our guests. Finally, a special thanks to the Tollman family for making this all possible.

Highlights of The Oyster Box's memorable trip to London

A group of our dedicated team members had the incredible opportunity to travel to London and attend the Staff Appreciation Party. It was a celebration of hard work, commitment, and the unique spirit of hospitality that defines The Oyster Box.

From sightseeing in the city to connecting with colleagues from around the world, it was an unforgettable experience filled with pride, joy, and lasting memories. They felt grateful for this special trip!

They are so proud of our team and grateful to everyone who helped make this special experience a reality.

Here's to continued success and shared celebrations!

The Twelve Apostles in London

Upon returning to South Africa, our London visitors were thrilled to share the news of winning the Hotel of the Year award. This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication, passion, and excellence demonstrated by every member of their team. Head Chef Gina created a special cake to celebrate this achievement. It was a sweet way to mark a sweet success and to thank everyone for making this achievement possible – everyone thoroughly enjoyed it!

Here’s to continued excellence and a successful 2025 ahead.

Charity and Volunteering

The Montague

On 6th April, Kleida and Andrea represented the team by participating in the 2025 London Landmarks Half Marathon. The event, known for its scenic route through the heart of the capital, attracted thousands of runners supporting a variety of charitable causes.

Kleida completed the half marathon in support of Blood Cancer Research, raising awareness and vital funds for ongoing research and support initiatives. Andrea ran on behalf of the British Red Cross, contributing to the organisation's humanitarian work both in the UK and internationally.

Well done to both of you!

The Milestone

In April, as part of their collaboration with UNLOC charity, who work with schools and colleges to inspire and empower young people to be changemakers, The Milestone hosted a class of 28 Year 10 business studies students from Chelsea Academy. The students performed a number of tasks and interacted with team members from across the hotel. Fantastic job!

In other news, Tzveta and Mariana raised £765 for Cancer Research as part of their ‘Walk All Over Cancer in March’ campaign! A great achievement for a great cause!

The Old Government House

On the UK Bank Holiday of 5th May, the OGH team took part in the 2025 World Aid Walk in Guernsey, a 20km charity walk raising funds for global development causes. Representing our organisation were Aleks, Dave, and Janine, who joined hundreds of other walkers in support of charities such as Christian Aid, The Tumaini Fund, and The Eleanor Foundation. It was a great opportunity to support meaningful change whilst enjoying Guernsey’s stunning coastal scenery. Stunning walks for a great cause!

The team in Guernsey were also proud to partner with GROW, a local charity supporting people with learning and other disabilities, to celebrate Liberation Day in a meaningful way. Together, they sponsored their Tea Tent – serving up tea, coffee, scones, and Guernsey Gâche. Their amazing team also volunteered alongside GROW to help run it. Thanks to everyone who visited and supported the cause, an incredible £4,921 was raised! Here’s to community, connection, and making a difference!

The Rubens

Adam from the reception team at The Rubens at The Palace completed the Paris Marathon last month, whilst raising £1,300, with the support of the Rubens team, for Maggie’s Cancer Centres. Adam competed in his first marathon and completed it in 3 hours 59 minutes, a fantastic achievement. Maggie's is a charity that provides essential support, advice, and care to those suffering from cancer and their families. Well done, Adam!

Ayaana, a young guest who has spent much of the past year in hospital care, and Zayan, her brother who had recently had an accident falling from a bookcase, were recently treated to an unforgettable Make-A-Wish experience. Ayaana’s wish to see Wicked came true with a magical family stay at The Rubens. The Soraiya family were welcomed to a themed King's Suite with treats and signed posters. That evening, Raj accompanied them to the Apollo Victoria Theatre for the show, complete with drinks and popcorn. The next morning, they decorated cookies and cupcakes with Cristina in the pastry kitchen. Well done to the Rubens’ team for this special arrangement!

The Chesterfield

To celebrate National Volunteer Month in April, the Chesterfield’s Sustainability Committee organised a craft session to create bright and happy cards for our new “Postpals”. This is a volunteer-run charity helping seriously ill children and their siblings in the UK by the sending of cards, letters, emails, and little gifts to ‘Post a Smile on a Sick Child’s Face’. This is such a wholesome charitable activity, and we hope these bring many smiles!

The Rubens and The Chesterfield

The Chesterfield team supports the London Soup Kitchen every month, a charity dedicated to providing meals and support to those in need across the city. Oxana, Anna, Iryna B, Iryna K, Israel, Zin, Ellen, and Johal have volunteered so far in 2025.

Last month a few members of the Rubens team from across the Reservations and Front Office departments headed over and spent the day cooking, serving, and chatting to guests; making use of their hospitality skills. An amazing day helping others!

Hotel d'Angleterre

“Futur en tous genres” day is all about the future and the many career prospects open to girls and boys studying in Switzerland today. Over the course of a day, they immerse themselves in different professional fields and discover new life paths. “Futur en tous genres” enables them to discover new horizons, and to reflect on their career choices and life prospects without preconceived ideas. It was a joy to host these students here at d'Angleterre.

The Salvation Army, an international movement dedicated to helping as many people as possible in material, moral, physical, and spiritual need, has recently been aided by Hotel d'Angleterre through the donation of supplies to be used by people in need. What amazing support!

The Oyster Box

As part of the Reach for a Dream Foundation initiative, the team at The Oyster Box were able to donate a large collection of unused hotel slippers – items that might have otherwise gone to waste. Instead, these slippers will now bring comfort and support to those in need. Well done, team!

Ashford Castle

The team of Ashford Castle was thrilled to welcome Mr Colin Gilligan and his students of Hospitality Operations from Atlantic Technological University, Galway. Maureen provided a warm welcome and both Catherine and Mary shared valuable information about the operations, covering accommodation and rooms divisions. The group also had a chance to see the castle facilities and some guest rooms, as well as dining for lunch at George V. Thank you to the restaurant and the kitchen team for making this an extra-special experience. How exciting!

Sustainability

The Chesterfield

The Chesterfield Mayfair team was delighted to welcome Michelle and Sam to their Sustainability Committee Meeting in May, where they shared initiatives and discussed the sustainability strategy for the year ahead. The team was truly inspired, and it was wonderful to see everyone collaborating and contributing their ideas to further our sustainability goals.

The Rubens

The Bee team were buzzing with excitement as they prepared for the arrival of new bees. In the meantime, they were diligently ensuring that they had everything they need to support their important work and sustain the honey supply. Sweet! Well done!

The Montague

Zoe and James have been doing a fantastic job leading the Montague Gardening Team, and their green fingers are paying off! Back in April, the team carefully planted a variety of vegetables indoors, and now – after being lovingly repotted in the Montague vegetable garden – they’re thriving!

The garden is bursting with life, and we’re eagerly anticipating a generous harvest. All this fresh, homegrown produce will soon be making its way into the colleagues’ canteen for everyone to enjoy. It’s a true garden-to-table journey, and we can’t wait to taste the results!

Awards, Achievements, and Celebrations

Ashford Castle

We’re proud to share that the George V Dining Room was awarded “Best Hotel & Guesthouse Restaurant – All Ireland” at the 2025 Irish Restaurant Awards! This is a fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition of the hard work, consistency, and attention to detail delivered every day. Congratulations to the entire George V team!

Finance Department

They’re thrilled to celebrate Fran, who successfully completed the HOSPA Professional Certificate in Operational Hospitality Finance Management with grade Distinction. She attended the HOSPA Professional Development Graduation Ceremony 2025, alongside the Finance Department’s Aleksandra Hibner and Anne Wrigley, held at London’s Savoy Hotel on 5th March. Many Congratulations! Well done, Fran!

People & Culture

Here in London, we're so proud to celebrate the recent cohort from the Ambassadors in Management 1 course.

Hannah, Jake, India, Ellie, Selwyn, Akshaya, Alaistair, Simona, Madelina, James, and Sakhile started the course last year and, through dedication and continuous learning, they’ve gained valuable skills that strengthen their readiness for future leadership roles. They concluded the course with a presentation highlighting their key learnings and progress. Amazing achievement!

In Ireland Angelica, Ciara, Franziska, Holly, Joanna, Jovan, Kevin, Madelin, Michaella, Nathan, Olga, and Shane were participating in AIM2 and spent the past year busy learning new managerial skills. Their hard work and eagerness to learn have equipped them with essential skills, paving the way for future leadership opportunities. An outstanding accomplishment – well done to everyone!

Summer Lodge

The Summer Lodge team are all delighted to have won the 2025 Visit England Award for the best small hotel in the country. This is all down to hard work and dedication of their amazing team. A fantastic achievement!

A further huge congratulations to Ross Rado, who was recently recognised as the Employee of the Month for May!

Finally, a big thanks to Alex, who hosted a fantastic lunch for our most recent team members as part of the Red Carnation induction day.

The Chesterfield

The Chesterfield Mayfair’s team have won 'Best Themed Afternoon Tea' in the 2025 AfternoonTea.co.uk Awards with their well-known Sweet Shop Afternoon Tea. Congratulations, team!

The Twelve Apostles

In May, the Twelve Apostles team monthly tea party was inspired by Mother’s Day. It was a heartfelt celebration, with a charming Bridgerton-inspired tea to celebrate motherhood, uplift one another, and simply take a moment to relax and unwind. The ladies were treated to delightful high tea snacks, and it was a truly special tea party, filled with love, laughter, and genuine connection – a memorable moment of appreciation for the incredible women who make up our team here at Twelve Apostles. Here’s to all the mothers!

May was also the month of their annual Wellness Day, which was a huge success, offering the team a full day dedicated to their physical, mental, and financial well-being, including expert health consultations and checks, professional eye testing, beauty treatments with makeovers and skincare products, financial education on improving security, professional counselling services focusing on mental health, and support for gender-based violence. The team also enjoyed a fun smoothie and bike activity promoting healthy living!

The Egerton

A standout achievement this year is stunning façade installation by renowned florist Jane Wadham, showcasing a bee-friendly English cottage garden adapted for central London. Perfectly timed with sunny weather, this natural, bee-loving plant display has become a captivating highlight, enchanting our guests and enhancing the streetscape.

The Chelsea Flower Show remains one of our most beloved highlights, with guests particularly delighting in our bespoke installation. Looking ahead, the team is already buzzing with excitement for two other guest favourites – Royal Ascot and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

In other news, the Egerton team had the chance to enjoy the Cartier-inspired Afternoon Tea, launched in April to celebrate the prestigious Cartier exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. This was arranged a special opportunity to the team to taste their new offering firsthand, followed by a visit to the V&A Museum to see the exhibition itself.

In terms of individual announcements, the Egerton is absolutely thrilled to introduce Gianfranco “Gia”, their distinguished new Head Barman. His expertise and fresh perspective will undoubtedly elevate our already renowned bar service to new heights.

Many congratulations to Scott, who recently celebrated his wedding - we’re wishing you and your husband a lifetime of happiness together!

The same to Chef Yvonne, who has been blessed with a new grandchild and a precious addition to the family.

Finally, many happy returns to Nijole on her 65th birthday, we hope you enjoyed the small celebration put on by your Egerton family.

Ashford Castle

The Castle and the Lodge teams hosted their SST meeting at the Castle’s precious wine cellar. Paul Fogerty provided vital information about the Wine Cellar Tasting Experience that we offer to our guests. With this added knowledge, team are equipped to make suggestions to guests about this great activity.

The Oyster Box

The Oyster Box is delighted to welcome their new General Manager, Philisiwe Gumede, who officially joined The Oyster Box in April. Welcome to Red Carnation and the Oyster Box family!

Easter at The Oyster Box brought a joyful burst of colour and cheer, with fun activities, sweet treats, and moments of togetherness shared by all. A celebration filled with laughter, renewal, and community spirit! A special thanks to Basetsana Nkgage, Mandisa Manana, Alicia Murugan, Executive Chef Daniel, Angel Myaka, and Nombulelo Njapha for their incredible dedication and contributions.

Team prepared an exciting surprise for Mother`s Day. The celebration began with a beautiful flower display and loads of sweets followed by delicious cakes and treats to appreciate mums on this special day! How beautiful!

Finally, it is with great sadness that we share the news of Skabenga’s passing. He passed away on 3rd March 2025, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be part of The Oyster Box. For so many years, he was not just our beloved resident cat but a true icon of the hotel, bringing joy to guests and our team alike. His presence will be deeply missed, and we know this news will be difficult for many of you who loved and cared for him.

Hotel d'Angleterre

Employees were surprised to discover numerous easter eggs hidden throughout Hotel d’Angleterre. A real egg hunt was organized to usher in some Easter fun!

The Milestone

Mr Pike had a wonderful time on his trip to Africa and loved catching up with his colleagues at Twelve Apostles, Xigera, Bushman’s Kloof, and The Oyster Box.

The family of the late artist Elie Lambert (1949 – 2024) stopped by the Stables Bar to see our large collection of Elie Lambert artwork before they went to the opening of the Elie Lambert exhibition at Osbourne Studio Gallery. They had a glass of champagne with Mr Pike, admired Elie Lambert’s works, and spoke of fond memories of their late father/husband/brother.

The Rubens

The Rubens Running Club is back again after a long winter!  Running every Wednesday at 7am. They’re looking forward to gaining new members! 

At The English Grill, we did our first St George’s Day lunch, which was a huge success. All our guests loved our famous beef Wellington with lobster sauce, followed by Sarah Houghting’s English Trifle. It's certainly a lunch we will be doing again next year! 

The Montague

Sonia welcomed her baby girl to the world on 2nd February 2025. Welcome to the world, cutie!

RCH Newsletter: July 2025

A message from JR