Tej Walia FIH MI, Managing Director of Foxhills Club & Resort, has been shortlisted as a Hotelier of the Year finalist at the Hotel Magazine Awards 2026. The recognition places Walia alongside leading figures from across the UK hospitality sector ahead of the awards ceremony on 20 April at the InterContinental London.
The nomination caps a period of sustained achievement for both Walia and the Surrey-based resort, which secured AA Four Red Star status in September 2025 – a distinction held by just 152 hotels across the UK. Foxhills was also named Best Spa in Surrey at the Surrey Awards 2025 and received high commendations in the Best Hotel and Best Fine Dining Restaurant categories.
Now in its second year, the Hotel Magazine Awards recognise excellence across multiple categories including Hotel of the Year, Best Hotel Group and Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. The Hotelier of the Year category spotlights individual leaders who have driven measurable impact through operational leadership, team development and guest experience.
Walia’s career spans more than 25 years across India and the UK. He began at some of Asia’s most prestigious hotel groups – Oberoi, Kempinski, Grand Hyatt and The Leela Palaces & Resorts – before spending eight years at Hilton developing his management expertise. Subsequent leadership roles at Fawsley Hall Hotel, Dartington Hall and Macdonald Hotels in Scotland followed before he joined Foxhills in 2018 as General Manager.
Promoted to Managing Director in 2023, Walia now oversees the 400-acre estate and its sister property, Farleigh. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, a Master Innholder and a St Julian’s Scholar – credentials that reflect deep professional engagement beyond the day-to-day demands of running a resort.
Under his leadership, Foxhills has undergone significant transformation. A £25 million investment programme delivered The Pavilion, a £7 million family building featuring indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness studios, a creche and restaurant. A separate £1.5 million golf course modernisation project has enhanced both championship courses, which rank 17th in Great Britain and Ireland and third in England in Golf World’s Top 100 Resort rankings for 2025.
The resort’s workforce strategy has been equally notable. More than 70 of Foxhills’ 300-plus staff have served for five years or longer, with six employees surpassing 25 years. Clear career pathways from department heads to senior management, combined with a distinctive benefit – staff receive full club membership after completing probation – have contributed to retention rates well above industry norms.
Foxhills marked its 50th anniversary in 2025 with a £50,000 pledge to its Community Camp initiative supporting disadvantaged children in Surrey. The resort also introduced an Anglo-Indian dining concept in The Fox dining rooms, led by new head chef Achal, signalling continued investment in its food and beverage offering.
The nomination was announced by Foxhills on LinkedIn, where the resort described Walia as “a leader who believes deeply in empowering people, building strong culture and creating environments where teams and experiences can thrive.”
Marc Hayton, CEO of the Foxhills Collection, has previously credited Walia with making “a real difference to the business, to our members and to more than 300 colleagues” since joining the property.
For an industry grappling with workforce challenges – UK hospitality has lost approximately 89,000 jobs since the October 2024 Budget, according to industry estimates – Walia’s people-first leadership approach offers a counterpoint worth examining. His ability to retain talent, invest in development and maintain service standards during a turbulent period for the sector is precisely the kind of leadership the Hotelier of the Year category is designed to recognise.
Winners will be announced at the InterContinental London on 20 April 2026.
