A WINDERMERE hotel assistant who spoke no English three years ago is in the running for a top customer service award.
Patricia Torre, from Santander in Spain, came to work at the Cedar Manor Hotel and Restaurant two years ago, a year after coming to England.
After a ‘timid’ start, the 22-year-old’s employers say she “has an excellent command of English,” and has now been shortlisted for the Cumbria Tourism ‘Outstanding Customer Service’ award.
The hotel’s owners, Caroline and Jonathan Kaye, said: “Patricia is a real treasure. She is singled out by so many of our guests for her kindness, thoughtfulness and her cheerful smile day and night.”
She added that Patricia was especially attentive with guests who are elderly or disabled, saying: “She has helped with our charity fundraising efforts, often giving her own time to work on days like charity tea parties and annual Christmas fair.”
Patricia is one of more than 40 finalists in the 13th annual Cumbria Tourism Awards.
Dozens of businesses from around the county have been recognised for their quality, service and care for visitors across 15 categories.
The organisation said the quality of this year’s entries has resulted “in an unprecedented number of shortlisted businesses for 2015.”
The shortlisted businesses in each category will attend the glitzy black tie award ceremony the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal on June 16.
The 2015 finalists are:
Guest Accommodation of the Year
l Beech House (Kendal)
l Hazel Bank Country Guest House
l Askham Hall
Holiday Park of the Year
l Hillcroft Park
l Hollins Farm Park
l Park Cliffe Camping & Caravan Estate
l Castlerigg Hall Caravan & Camping Park
Large Hotel of the Year
l The Trout Hotel
l The Waterhead Hotel
l Laura Ashley The Beslfield Hotel
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
l Grizedale Forest
l The Beacon Museum
l Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
l Wordsworth House & Garden
l Keswick Museum
l Treetop Trek & Nets
Self-Catering Holiday of the Year
l Hidden River Cabins
l Monkhouse Hill
l The Cottage at Hill Top
l The Hyning Estate
The Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Customer Service
l Patricia Torre, Cedar Manor Hotel
l Charlie Spiller and team, Elterwater Hostel
l Albert Waldon, Laura Ashley The Belsfield Hotel
Small Hotel of the Year
l Langdale Chase Hotel
l Merewood Country House Hotel & Restaurant
l Holbeck Ghyll
l The Leathes Head
Tourism Event of the Year
l Brathay Windermere Marathon
Keswick Mountain Festival
Sustainable Tourism Award
l Blencathra Centre
l Woolpack Inn
l The Hyning Estate
l Appleby Manor Country House Hotel
Taste Cumbria Award
l The Wild Boar Inn, Grill & Smokehouse
l Askham Hall
l Low Sizergh Barn
l The Bridge Bistro
Tourism Experience Award
l PodnPedal
l Yew Tree Barn
l Upfront Puppet Theatre
New Tourism Business Award
l The Cottage at Hill Top
l Caffe Riva
l Lake District Paddleboarding
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