Head of Projects Toby takes home Acorn Award
There was cause for celebration this weekend as Head of Projects, Toby Bonnett, was awarded an Acorn Award, one of the hospitality industry’s greatest accolades, at a celebration held at The Belfry Hotel and Resort.
The annual awards ceremony now in its 38th year, celebrates the achievements of 30 of the industry’s brightest stars, aged under 30, with each winner nominated for their outstanding contribution and success.
Toby has seen meteoric growth in his career, after joining us in 2017 as a trainee manager on our Graduate Programme. With a hunger to develop, at just 23 years of age, he single-handedly mobilised one of our flagship locations in Canary Wharf, transforming the hospitality experience by introducing chef masterclasses, rooftop yoga and a fully carbon neutral wine offering.
In between roles as retail services manager and commercial manager, in June 2022, Toby transitioned to the role of Head of Projects. Witnessing the team grow from one to five, Toby’s been instrumental in designing hospitality spaces for state-of-the-art buildings, specialising in introducing holistic technology eco systems.
Judges praised Toby for his ability to build bespoke apps to revolutionise the foodservice experience – enabling customers to navigate the building, book tables, click and collect and identify allergens using AI. Toby introduced SMART fridges at locations, representing a ground-breaking solution to address food waste. Integrated with his app, customers can check the fridge’s contents, pricing, and nutritional information from their desks.
Commenting on the award, Toby said: “I’m honoured to receive an Acorn Award. It’s not just validation of my efforts, but also a fantastic opportunity to build a network and raise awareness of hospitality tech as a career path. This is my way of giving something back to BaxterStorey, to thank them for all their support”.
Regional managing director, Shane Kavanagh added: “Toby is an exceptional talent in my team and has delivered incredible results over recent years. This award is testament to Toby’s innovation, leadership, and dedication to transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary, tech-enabled havens. As one of our brightest young talents, he is a true hospitality professional and exemplifies the spirit of an Acorn Award”.