More than 170 people gathered last night at the 5-star Old Government House Hotel & Spa for the 2026 Guernsey Hospitality People Awards, celebrating the outstanding individuals and teams who help shape Guernsey’s vibrant hospitality sector.
The annual awards recognise professionals from across the island’s restaurants, hotels and venues, highlighting the passion, dedication and talent that create memorable experiences for both locals and visitors.
The Rising Star Award, sponsored by GR8 Recruitment and presented by Emma Holliday, was awarded to Jose Alejandro Cigana Rivas from the Old Government House Hotel.
Jose’s journey began in Venezuela, where he grew up watching British afternoon tea programmes and dreaming of one day mastering the craft himself. After opening a small pastry shop with his savings, he moved to Guernsey in 2022, initially working as a linen porter.
Determined to pursue his passion, Jose spent hours after every shift in the pastry kitchen, learning and offering help wherever possible. His dedication quickly stood out and by January 2023 he became a commis pastry chef, developing a particular skill for vegan and gluten free baking.
After completing a professional pastry course in Spain, Jose returned with fresh creativity and confidence. Promoted to Pastry Chef de Partie in October 2025, he now creates every cake and scone served during the hotel’s afternoon teas. Jose received a hotel stay and dinner for two with Sarnia Hotels.
Jose Alejandro Cigana Rivas, Rising Star Award Award Winner
The Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Guernsey Dairy and presented by Jon Taylor, was awarded to Marius Pricop, Manager at The Slaughterhouse.
Marius has more than twenty years of international hospitality experience, having worked across Romania, the United Kingdom, Greece, Austria and Cyprus. Beginning his career as a waiter and bartender, he steadily progressed into supervisory and management roles.
Since joining The Slaughterhouse in 2018, he has overseen daily operations, trained staff and maintained consistently high service standards. Known for his calm leadership and strong work ethic, Marius is always ready to support colleagues wherever needed, even stepping into the kitchen during busy service.
Fluent in Romanian, English and Italian, with additional knowledge of German, he is widely respected for his professionalism and reliability. Marius received an overnight stay kindly provided by Hand Picked Hotels.
Marius Pricop, Unsung Hero Award Winner
The Chef of the Year Award, sponsored by MFF and presented by Richard Torode, was awarded to Billy Etheridge, Head Chef at Alba Restaurant.
Billy leads the Alba kitchen with creativity, professionalism and strong leadership. Impressively, the restaurant’s entire original opening team has remained together under his guidance, reflecting the positive culture he has created.
His distinctive culinary style, paired with a commitment to sustainability and locally sourced produce, helped Alba secure recognition in the prestigious Michelin Guide within just six months of opening.
Despite this being his first Head Chef role, Billy has demonstrated remarkable maturity, working closely with front of house and wine teams while engaging directly with guests at the open kitchen counter. Beyond the restaurant, Billy also supports the next generation of chefs through his work with C.H.O.W Cookery School.
Billy received a Craft Guild of Chefs trophy, a tour of the House of Commons kitchens, dinner with Guild leaders at a leading London restaurant, and an overnight stay at a top London hotel courtesy of Red Carnation Hotels.
Billy Etheridge, Chef of the Year Award Winner
The Front of House Star Award, sponsored by Bean 14 and presented by Chris Bader, was awarded to Gianluca Pori, Restaurant Manager at Copenhagen Bar & Grill within Hotel de Havelet.
Originally from Rome, Gianluca has been a central figure at the restaurant for more than three decades. His warmth, professionalism and genuine care for guests have earned him a loyal following, with many diners returning year after year and asking for him by name. He has also mentored many young hospitality professionals, guiding them through the early stages of their careers and helping to shape the next generation of talent within the industry.
Gianluca Pori, Front of House Star Award Winner
The Special Recognition Award, sponsored by Close Finance and presented by Richard Elliott, was awarded to Carlos Aguiar from St Pierre Park Hotel.
Carlos has dedicated more than 41 years and eight months to hospitality at St Pierre Park, building an extraordinary legacy within the island’s catering industry.
Throughout his career, he has emphasised the importance of employee happiness and exceptional customer care, believing that every guest should be treated like royalty regardless of their status. His famously positive outlook led him to coin the phrase “top of the world man”, reflecting the attitude he brought to his work every day.
One of Carlos’s greatest achievements has been the number of people he has mentored and trained during his time in hospitality. His approach included welcoming local casual staff into the industry and helping them learn the ropes while instilling the same passion for hospitality that has defined his own career. Carlos received a bottle of Champagne kindly donated by Randalls.
The final award of the evening, Top Team, sponsored by Butterflied and presented by Jacob Cockcroft, went to the team at Dhaka, recognising their collective dedication, warm welcome and teamwork. They received a £300 drinks voucher to spend at Pingquay Bar.
Dhaka, Top Team Award Winners
The People Awards once again highlighted the exceptional talent and commitment that define Guernsey’s hospitality industry. From emerging chefs to experienced leaders and dedicated teams, the evening celebrated the individuals who continue to raise standards and strengthen the island’s reputation for hospitality.
Thanks to the generosity of attendees, the evening also raised £1,000 for the Guernsey Cheshire Home, supporting the charity’s important work on the island.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, and thank you to the sponsors whose support helped make the evening possible.
Click here to view the winner videos
