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The restaurant and bar manager at the Best Western Plus in Stoke-on-Trent has taken the ‘Outstanding Service’ award in the recent Taste Staffordshire Good Food Awards.
Marc Hodgson, only a recent addition to the Best Western team, was lauded for his unrivalled levels of customer service at the awards, which aim to celebrate the quality and distinctiveness of the food and drink produced and served across Staffordshire.
Entrants included a range of businesses from fine dining restaurants to visitor attractions with all entered businesses receiving accreditation by Taste Staffordshire. Each of the 12 nominees in Marc’s category received a mystery shopper-type visit from a qualified restaurant inspector who judged aspects from quality of food and service, through to use of local produce.
Marc, who joined the team in April, said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s the first time the hotel has entered someone for this award. I feel privileged. I didn’t know I was being judged, so it’s all come as a big but very welcome surprise.”
The Staffordshire-based manager beat off the strong competition, citing the main reason for winning as creating a strong team, who take a genuine interest in each guest and have the knowledge and confidence to make recommendations from the menu, as key to achieving his award.
Judges were impressed with Marc’s service, with one commenting: “[Marc was] totally amazing and re-wrote the customer service manual in my view. A true bastion of a dying trade.” Another described Marc as having “a perfect blend of professionalism, customer care and friendliness”.
Other winners can be found by visiting the Enjoy Staffordshire website.
