Hospitality is back among the honours

Chief executives and celebrity chefs have again shared the applause with school cooks and prison caterers as representatives of hospitality mentioned in the New Year's Honours list.

After two lean years in which representation of tourism and hospitality failed to make an impact in the honours list, 18 people in hospitality or food-related occupations have received awards this year.

Most prominent honours go to Geoffrey Podger, chief executive of the Food Standards Agency, who is appointed CB (Companion of the Order of Bath) and David Quarmby, outgoing chairman of the British Tourist Authority, appointed CBE.

Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, and chef/restaurateur Rick Stein are both appointed OBE for services to tourism.

Among those appointed MBE for their achievements are Naomi Arnold, director of hospitality networking organisation Arena; Iris Evlina, a station cook with the London fire brigade and Finbar Kelleher, a caterer working at Wakefield prison.

Charles Allen, former chief executive of Granada-Compass, is appointed CBE for his work as chairman of Manchester 2002, the company that staged the Commonwealth Games in June. Allen became chief executive of media company Granada after its demerger with Compass in 2001.

Last year only nine representatives of the hospitality industry were mentioned in the New Year Honours, although chefs Michel and Albert Roux were appointed honorary OBE and Brian Turner CBE later in the year.

by Forbes Mutch and Chris Druce