The front of house manager at The Principal Blythswood Square Hotel, Glasgow has been presented with a prestigious industry award.
Emma Kirk was handed an Acorn Award for her hard work and innovation and has been welcomed into an exclusive club within the hospitality industry.
Held in the Grade II-listed Lygon Arms hotel, the annual Acorn Awards seek to highlight and celebrate the achievements of 30 of the industry’s most talented stars aged under 30, with each winner nominated by their peers for their outstanding ability in their field.
Kirk joined Blythswood Square in 2014 as the first ever guest relations manager. Just 18 months later she was made front of house manager. Responsible for a team of 25, she delivers a revenue budget of £5m and has driven additional revenue through bedroom upgrades.
Through her own initiative, Kirk also launched a voicemail service encouraging employees to provide snippets of guest information for the guest relations team. This year she has taken an apprentice under her wing, nurturing them to stay on in a senior receptionist role.
Kirk said, “To be recognised as a future leader of the industry is such a huge achievement and one I am immensely proud of. It has truly been the stand out moment in my career to date. The winners weekend was brilliant and full of fun. Spending time getting to know like-minded people was a fantastic experience.”
Murray Thomson, general manager of Blythswood Square, said, “We are extermely proud of Emma, she is an integral part of the team and is instrumental in the success of the hotel on a daily basis. She goes above and beyond for the team and her expertise, knowledge and attitude make her a huge asset to the hotel.”