TORONTO – Kostuch Media Ltd. (KML) has announced the winners of its Top 30-Under-30 awards program for 2024.
The annual recognition program celebrates and salutes the foodservice-and-hospitality industry’s top young professionals ― both in front of the house and back of the house as well as in various segments of the industry ― in the process of fostering and inspiring tomorrow’s hospitality leaders. Being chosen as a Top-30-under-30 winner helps create a sense of pride and self-esteem for young professionals while, at the same time, highlights exemplary role models for those who choose to pursue a career in the foodservice-and-hospitality industry.
“This year’s collection of Top-30-under-30 winners was amongst the best in our almost 20-year history of producing this program, making it very challenging for our jury of judges to choose only 30 winners,” says Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Kostuch Media’s Foodservice and Hospitality and Hotelier magazines, and custodian of the program. “We’re happy to see the continued growth of this program as well as the increased national representation since expanding the program’s reach four years ago.”
Individuals chosen as winners are judged by an adjudication committee that includes previous winners as well as industry leaders representing various segments of the industry. Candidates are graded in eight different categories including: Education and Learning; References, Awards & Recognition; Work Experience; Career Trajectory; Industry Leadership; Business Leadership; Developer of People; Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Winners must also submit a short video highlighting why they’ve chosen hospitality as their field of interest and what makes them a noteworthy candidate.
The Top-30-under-30 winners (see list below) represent a cross-section of the industry including restaurants, hotels, entrepreneurs, tourism-related businesses and suppliers. The idea for the program was developed by Bruce McAdams, professor at the University of Guelph, and launched in 2006 by the Ontario Hostelry Institute, under the guidance of J. Charles Grieco to recognize the hospitality industry’s young leaders. Sadly, Grieco passed away in 2019, at which time KML assumed stewardship of the recognition program and quickly expanded its reach nationally.
This year’s KML Top-30-Under-30 honourees are:
- Georgy Pyle, Sustainability manager, Fairmont Royal York
- Meghan Reutlinger, director of Event Operations, The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver
- Michael Hauschild, private chef
- Rachel Burt, director, Front Office, Fairmont Royal York
- Rebecca van Bommel, chef & sales specialist, C.W. Shasky & Associates Limited/ Culinary & Baking professor, Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts
- Justine Nadeau, Sustainable Development project manager, Germain Hotels
- Lindsay Weatherall, general manager, The Glen Tavern
- Joshua Anwar, director, Front Office, St. Regis Toronto
- Adam Simpson, regional director, York Region, Earls Kitchen and Bar
- Luc Espaillard, senior associate, HVS
- Adrianna Remlinger, head butcher, The Inn at Bay Fortune
- Akshay Kumar, Operational Training manager, Fairmont Waterfront
- Jordan Thompson, regional Digital Marketing manager, Talent Acquisition, Fairmont’s Canadian Western Mountain Region
- Winnie Sun, bartender/owner, Zarak by Afghan kitchen
- Shannon Richards, Operational Training manager, Fairmont Pacific Rim
- Kevin Collins, director of Rooms, Park Hyatt Toronto
- Nicholas Iaboni, chef de cuisine, Bar Prima
- Carrie Wong, Complex Marketing manager, Hilton Toronto
- Afzal Wasi, restaurant manager, Black+Blue, Toronto
- Aaron Foster, stewarding manager, The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel
- Suzuki Sayako, assistant People and Culture manager, Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto
- Saarah Tennakoon, general manager, Oretta Hospitality Inc.
- Bhavarth Dholakia, general manager, Best Western Premier Freeport Calgary Airport
- Ludovica Quaranta, assistant general manager, Osteria Giulia
- Liam McLoughln, chef de cuisine, Restaurant Pearl Morissette
- Ryan Moore, manager, Financial Planning & Analysis, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Toronto Corporate Office
- Audrey-Anne Guilmain, Business Development manager, Le Germain Hotel Montreal
- Shivank Savant, director of Housekeeping, Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
- Kalene Finnegan, Event manager, Friday Harbour Resort
- Shantay Brown, assistant general manager, e11even/Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Helping KML to determine each year’s winners is an adjudication committee comprised of Bruce McAdams, professor, School of Hospitality & Tourism, University of Guelph; Liana Carniello, director, Human Resources, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel; Jane Gibson, national account manager, Arterra Wines; Keith Müller, Dean of the School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, and Institute of Food Processing Technology, Conestoga College; Amber Douel, senior Rooms Operations manager, Delta Hotels; Brooke Gregoire, Hospitality Services, University of Guelph; Emily Robinson, Food Education manager & academic advisor, University of Guelph; Joel Rivera, senior Human Resources consultant, JNR Consulting; Rebecca Gordon, culinary projects lead at the Arrell Food Institute, University of Guelph; Vish Mayekar, chef, Pepino’s; Kevin Barrington, manager, Talent & Culture – North & Central America, Fairmont Hotels; Jeroen Vanderwolf, Operations director Vancouver and Whistler, Keg Restaurants Ltd., and Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher, Kostuch Media Ltd.
The Top-30-under-30 winners will be celebrated on May 28 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto. Click here to order tickets.
