As in previous years, since starting in 2014, the Institute of Hotel Security Management (IHSM) security officer of the year awards (SOOTY) not only shows the work front-line staff do, to protect staff, guests and property, but the calm and professional way they do it.
Judges, hotel security managers and others, including the Safer London partnership and Professional Security, agreed that the standard of all entries was high, and that all deserved to win. Three finalists were invited to the IHSM meeting at the Ritz on Friday afternoon, December 8 (see also the January 2017 print issue of Professional Security magazine). They were: Csaba Biro, 32, security officer at the Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard for two years, and in security for four years; Daniel Andrade, duty security officer at the Savoy, who’s worked there for four years and in security for seven; and Razvan Nitulescu, who’s been in security and at the Park Tower Knightsbridge for four years. Hotel security managers and IHSM members Tim Molden (Savoy) and Graham Miles (The Ritz) read the citations.
The winner: Csaba Biro, pictured right, presented with plaque, shield and cheque for £200 by Darren Carter, IHSM chairman. Darren, pictured left, told Professional Security afterwards: “This year we have been truly humbled reading through the nominations sent in by some of our members. It is quite remarkable how the day has unfolded for some of our officers in what has been a challenging, and in some cases life-changing year. We at IHSM are privileged to be able to recognise in this small way, the professionalism and courage demonstrated by all those who were nominated. We are equally very proud of our industry and will continue to promote the careers of our young professionals wherever possible.”
For more about the IHSM visit https://hotelsecuritymanagement.org/.
