THE cream of York's tourism profession has been short-listed for its annual awards bash.

York Hospitality Association's 2003 Awards For Excellence celebrate and reward the people who work in the city's tourism industry. The winners will be announced at an Oscars-style ceremony at York Racecourse on Monday. It was attended by nearly 350 people last year.

Michael Hjort, of the hospitality association, said: "The ceremony is a hugely-enjoyable event where we focus not on businesses, but on their staff. The very large number of nominations demonstrates how keen the industry is to celebrate the contribution staff make."

The short-listed candidates are as follows:

Chef/Kitchen Assistant

Pauline Hornby - Bar Convent

Jon Coates - Melton's Restaurant

Claudia Lawrence - Monkbar Hotel

Steven Little - York Marriott

Housekeeping

Lesley Barnes - Bar Convent

Mary McIntosh - Dean Court Hotel

Lynn Phillips - York Marriott

Person Friday (for staff who have a combined role)

Neil Hudson - Monkbar Hotel

Katherine Braithwaite - National Railway Museum

Amanda Jane - Novotel

Julie Atkinson - Premier Lodge

George Mitchell - York Marriott

Receptionist

Alice Clegg - Dean Court Hotel

Jenna Goodridge - Monkbar Hotel

Nia Clash - Novotel

Sally Douglas - Queen's Hotel

Louise Hick - Premier Lodge

Restaurant/Bar

Sonia Short - Dean Court Hotel

Pierre Rives - Grange Hotel

Michael Ellis - Monk Bar Hotel

Shelley Gray - Queen's Hotel

Susana Ramos - York Marriott

Supervisor/Dept Manager

Suzanne Newman - Grange Hotel

Suzanne Price - Novotel

Michael Brown - Premier Lodge

Dawn Butterfield - Superbreak

Abby Hudson - York Marriott

Tourism Employee

Helen Williams - Barley Hall

Brenda Mitchell - Jorvik

Kate Waddon - National Railway Museum

Rosie Bowes - Superbreak

Darren Walker - Superbreak

Trainee of the Year

Kerry Thorp - Holiday Inn

Andrew Brabbs - Queen's Hotel

Lisa Storey - Quality Hotel

Martin Durrant - WTI Training Group

Customer Care (sponsored by the Evening Press)

Tony Calvert - Ramada Jarvis

Rebecca Kent - Rish

Jeanette Hutchinson - York Marriott

Employer of the Year

Le Meridien

Monkbar Hotel

Rish

Updated: 08:40 Wednesday, April 02, 2003