Suffolk-based hotels group TA Hotel Collection has announced the winners of its 2016 team awards during a celebratory evening held at its Thorpeness Country Club venue near Aldeburgh.

The group, which also includes the Brudenell and White Lion hotels in Aldeburgh, Thorpeness Hotel and Golf Club, the Crown at Woodbridge and the Swan at Lavenham, stages an awards event every year to reward employees who have excelled in their duties.

Staff members are invited to nominate they colleagues they consider to be the most deserving, and they are then shortlisted for final judging by the TA Hotel Collection directors.

The awards recognise those who have gone the extra mile to develop their skills and expertise and who deliver the highest quality experience for guests.

They cover a range of categories, from receptionist/front of house, food and beverage, chef/kitchen and head office person of the year to housekeeping and greenkeeping and maintenance.

There are also special Employee of the Year and Managing Director awards, while for the first time this year new Spa Person of the Year and Best New Role awards were created.

Announcing the winners, Grahame Tinnion, managing director of the TA Hotel Collection, said: “Tonight we get to recognise the very best of the best in our businesses who continually achieve excellence. We are lucky to have so many colleagues who are fantastically committed to what they do and who go to great lengths to look after our guests. It is a pleasure to recognise such efforts that are truly over and above the call of duty.”

Joanne Bebbington from the Crown Hotel at Woodbridge scooped the top Employee of the Year Award, sponsored by Suffolk New College. Her nomination stated: “Joanne goes above and beyond for our customers and the team regularly, she helps guests plan their days out and the little things that make their stay special.”

The Managing Director’s Award for the person Mr Tinnion felt had made a special contribution to the business over the last 12 months, sponsored by Sumaridge Estate Wines, went to Jenny Hill, systems and administration manager, based in the TA Hotel Collection’s Thorpeness head office.

Mr Tinnion said: “The company has indeed been very fortunate to have had Jenny involved in all parts of our business; she is loyal, dedicated, committed and hard working. Her contribution has helped the company to achieve success.”

The Spa Person of the Year award, sponsored by Temple Spa, was given to Kelly Lewis from Weavers’ House Spa at The Swan at Lavenham. Her nomination read: “Kelly has proven herself time and time again, hitting targets, excelling with guest service and working extremely well as part of the team.”

Alice Iles, reservations and revenue manager at the Brudenell and White Lion hotels, took the Best New Role award, sponsored by PR Matters. Her nomination said: “Alice is happy to help any department, her team training is described as ‘perfection’ and she is always happy to support and aid other hotels with what she does best, which is managing revenue.”

Housekeeper of the Year, sponsored by Camplings, went to Gosia Wray from the Crown at Woodbridge, while Food and Beverage Person of the Year, sponsored by Adnams, was given to Donna Tanganelli from the White Lion and Chef/Kitchen Person of the Year, sponsored by Direct Seafoods, to Sam Ashdown from The Swan at Lavenham.

Nic Boulton from the Brudenell was awarded Receptionist/Front of House Person of the Year, sponsored by Guestline; Celia Page, who looks after the payroll, was named Head Office Person of the Year, sponsored by Revenue by Design, and Head of Department of the Year, sponsored by Shorthose Russell, went jointly to Deborah Tullett from The Swan at Lavenham and Mandy Whyte from the Brudenell.

Finally, the Green Keeping/Maintenance Person of the Year award, sponsored by Bunzl, was awarded to Graham Freeman from the White Lion.