The Municipal Hotel & Spa Liverpool has announced that its Director of Operations, Ella Pearson MIH, has been recognised as one of the UK’s most promising hospitality leaders after receiving a prestigious Acorn Award from The Caterer.
The Acorn Awards celebrate the top 30 hospitality professionals under the age of 30 who are making an exceptional contribution to the industry, recognising future leaders from across the UK’s hospitality sector.
At just 29 years old, Ella has played a key role in the success of the Municipal Hotel & Spa Liverpool since joining ahead of its opening in 2023 as Director of Rooms & Spa. Within two years, she was promoted to Director of Operations and now oversees four departments, leads a team of 140 employees and manages an eight-figure turnover.
Over the past year, Ella has helped drive significant business growth. Her impact has been particularly notable across the hotel’s food and beverage offering, where she has overseen a 48.8% increase in gross operating profit through initiatives including the launch of a new cocktail concept and the redevelopment of the hotel’s afternoon tea experience, which received an Award of Excellence at the 2025 Afternoon Tea Awards.
Alongside her commercial achievements, Ella is passionate about developing future talent. She mentors colleagues within the hotel, helping team members progress through the ranks, while also working closely with St Helens College, along with our Executive Chef, to promote careers in hospitality.
Her commitment to people has also contributed to employee engagement levels rising to 91%, reflecting a highly motivated and engaged workforce.
Speaking about receiving the award, Ella said:
“It is a huge honour and a proud, and slightly emotional, milestone in my career. More importantly, it represents the incredible teams and individuals I’ve had the privilege of working alongside throughout my journey, because achievements like this are never individual; they’re collective.”
Commenting on the award, Annie Brown, General Manager at the Municipal Hotel & Spa Liverpool, said:
“Ella’s recognition with an Acorn Award is incredibly well deserved. She consistently demonstrates outstanding leadership, commercial awareness and an unwavering commitment to both our guests and our team. We are immensely proud to see her achievements recognised on a national stage.”
Reflecting on her career, Ella says the best advice she has received is that “pressure is a privilege”, a mindset she believes has helped build resilience and prepare her for leadership.
Her Acorn Award recognition highlights both her individual achievements and Liverpool’s growing reputation for developing exceptional hospitality talent.
