Glasgow’s voco Grand Central Hotel has announced that its guest service manager, Kenan Gastasab, has been named as one of hospitality’s youngest rising stars at this year’s Acorn Awards.
The Acorn Awards annually celebrate 30 of the UK hospitality industry’s brightest talents under the age of 30, recognising individuals who are ‘making a significant impact through innovation, leadership and dedication to the sector’.
Gastasab, aged 26, is said to have already made an ‘indelible mark’ on the Glasgow hotel’s team since joining in 2024, having since earned two promotions to progress into his current role.
Amongst his achievements, last year he developed and launched the hotel’s Quiet Arrival Experience – a thoughtful initiative designed to support neurodiverse guests, as well as those who prefer a check-in process with reduced sensory stimulation.
First introduced at voco Grand Central, Kenan hopes to see this rolled out more widely, helping to create a more comfortable and inclusive experience for the voco group’s guests across the UK and Ireland.
“Winning the Acorn award is a real honour and something I’m incredibly proud of,” said Gastasab. “Both personally and professionally it’s a true reflection that hard work and dedication can be very rewarding.
“Hospitality is such a people-focused industry, and I love the fact that no two days are ever the same. The ability to create memorable moments for guests, work within passionate teams and constantly learn and evolve is what drew me in and continues to inspire me every day.”
General manager at voco Grand Central, Marcello Ventisei, said: “Kenan embodies everything that makes hospitality such a rewarding industry – passion, dedication, innovation and genuine care for others.
“What makes this recognition particularly special is that it reflects Kenan’s commitment to ensuring hospitality is welcoming and accessible for everyone.
“The Quiet Arrival Experience is a fantastic example of how he identifies opportunities to improve the guest journey and then turns those ideas into meaningful action. This achievement is thoroughly deserved.”
The Acorn Awards have been running since 1986 and are considered a benchmark of success for young talent across the industry, with its winners selected not just for professional achievement but for their potential to shape the future of UK hospitality.
