A WEDDING co-ordinator from Windermere has picked up a major prize at a North West hotel group’s annual staff recognition awards.

Emma Sanders, from The Wild Boar, Crook, has won the English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues ‘MRWB’ memorial award, made in tribute to former chairman and managing director Michael Berry, for making the most significant contribution to the company’s success in the last 12 months.

“It’s such an honour to win this prestigious award especially given the high calibre of the other shortlisted candidates,” said Emma. “I’m looking forward to the year ahead and working with the team here to provide the high level of individual service that our guests enjoy at The Wild Boar.”

Eight individual awards were presented in total, with The Wild Boar and Waterhead sharing the spoils in five of the categories.

English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues managing director Simon Berry said: “Emma richly deserves her award for her dedication in making The Wild Boar one of the top wedding venues in the North West. The results speak for themselves with wedding business significantly up year on year.

The roll of honour for the awards included joint winners in two categories where the performance of nominees proved impossible to choose between. The 2015 winners were:

• Chef of the year - Sam Pierce, Lancaster House and Angelo Ambrosio, The Wild Boar

• Food & beverage - Attila Boros and Tamas Nagy, both Waterhead

• Housekeeping - Enrique Olmedo-Ruiloba, Waterhead

• Unsung hero - Alan Inston, The Wild Boar

• MRWB memorial award - Emma Sanders, The Wild Boar

• Support staff - Abby Porter, Group sales

• Front of house - Brian Jenkins, The Midland

• Directors award - Kath Pennington, Lancaster House.