Honoured to Be AWTE Mentor of the Year

There are moments in your career that take you completely by surprise in the best possible way. Being named Mentor of the Year at the AWTE Annual Awards, during the Christmas Lunch at Church House, Westminster, was one of those moments for me. Standing in a room full of people I admire, hearing my name announced, is something I won’t forget in a hurry.

A Special Day with a Bigger Purpose

This year’s AWTE Christmas Lunch was about so much more than good food, festive sparkle, and catching up with friends. It was a powerful reminder of what community looks like in the travel industry. AWTE raised an incredible £10,400 for its charity partner Reuben’s Retreat, a remarkable organisation supporting families facing child loss or a life-limiting illness with counselling, respite and emotional support. Knowing that the event was helping to make a tangible difference to families in such difficult circumstances made the afternoon feel even more meaningful.

To have the Mentor of the Year award presented in that setting, surrounded by so much generosity and compassion, was deeply moving. It captured everything I believe mentoring should be about: care, humanity, and showing up for people when they need it most.

What Mentoring Means to Me

Mentoring has never been a “nice extra” in my life; it’s woven into everything I do. From the early days of my travel career to co-founding Antella Travel Recruitment, people have invested time, advice, and belief in me. This award feels, in many ways, like a reflection of all those who have supported me along the way.

For me, mentoring is about seeing the person behind the job title. It is listening properly, asking questions that help someone find their own answers, and being honest when there are things they might not yet see in themselves. It’s also about being there in the messy middle, not just at the celebratory moments: when confidence dips, when change feels daunting, or when someone simply needs to hear, “You’re not alone in this.”

Celebrating a Community of Role Models

One of the things that made the awards so special was seeing the breadth of talent and impact recognised across our industry. From the Outstanding Achievement Award to the Rising Star, Sustainability, Male Ambassador, Unsung Hero and The Gillyan Shebbeare Award, every category highlighted people who are quietly and not so quietly changing our sector for the better.

It was inspiring to stand alongside women and allies who are driving sustainability, championing others, and doing the unseen work that keeps teams and organisations moving forward. It’s a powerful reminder that progress is never down to one person; it’s always shared.

Why This Recognition Matters

Being recognised by AWTE, an organisation that has long championed women in travel, tourism and hospitality, means a great deal. AWTE has been creating spaces for learning, connection, and professional development since 1954, and it continues to evolve while staying true to its core values of community and support.

For me, this award shines a light on the importance of mentoring within our industry. We talk a lot about attracting talent and retaining talent, but mentoring is one of the most practical, human ways to do both. It helps people feel seen, heard, and supported in a sector that can sometimes feel overwhelming from the outside.

Thank You to Those Who Made It Possible

To everyone who has trusted me as a mentor thank you. Your courage in sharing your stories, ambitions, and doubts is what makes mentoring so meaningful. Watching you grow in confidence, take on new roles, negotiate better for yourselves, and step into your own power is the real reward.

Thank you to the AWTE board for this honour and for creating such a wonderful and uplifting event. And to Tony for always encouraging me to give back and for being such a steadfast supporter of mentoring and representation in our industry.

Looking Ahead: Keeping the Momentum

This award is not the end of a journey; it’s a reminder to keep going. There is still so much work to do to ensure people at every stage of their career particularly women and underrepresented groups feel supported, championed, and given real opportunities to thrive.

I’ll continue to mentor wherever I can, formally and informally, and I hope this recognition encourages others to do the same. You don’t need to have all the answers to be a mentor; you just need to be willing to listen, to share, and to stand alongside someone as they work things out.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this recognition. It’s a privilege to be part of such a strong, generous community and I can’t wait to see where we all go from here.

Warm wishes,
- Elena Ktori, Founder, Antella Recruitment