Tim Martin inducted into British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin joined an elite group including Sir Rocco Forte, Sir Richard Branson and Michel and Albert Roux when he was inducted into the British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame this week.

 

Martin, who last month was named the second most influential person in hospitality by The Caterer, is pictured receiving the accolade from James Nicholson, managing director of sponsor Franke Coffee Systems.

 

"Wetherspoon continues to be one of the industry's most adept chameleons, trading in high streets, town centres and travel hubs, and also embracing changing trends from breakfast to a Balti and coffee to cask beer, all with aplomb," said Nicholson, presenting the award.

 

Four other 2018 Hall of Fame inductees included G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip, former Momondo Group chief executive Hugo Burge, former UNTWO secretary general Taleb Rifai and Deloitte global leader for travel and aviation Graham Pickett.

 

An audience of more than 300 people from across the travel and hospitality industries also saw Leon founder John Vincent collect the Business Achievement award and Oliver Milne-Watson, hotel manager at the Beaumont, the hospitality Young Manager award.

 

Presenting the Young Manager award, Noel Mahony, chief executive of sponsor BaxterStorey, said: "People and service are clearly at the heart of Oliver's passion and his progression from bartender to hotel manager of the Catey-award-winning five-star hotel the Beaumont is remarkable."

 

Nine Hotel Group founder Vivek Chadha collected the hospitality Young Entrepreneur award.

 

Robin Bidgood, managing director of sponsor CH&Co's commercial division, praises Chadha for spotting an opportunity to buy a hotel development he was working on as a civil engineer that was under insolvency, and using this strategy to build an empire of 18 hotels in six years.

 

Other awards on the evening included TUI's GM cruise customer experience Anna Clarke, who won the travel Young Manager award, Irra Ariella Khi, chief executive of Vchain Technology, who was crowned the travel Young Entrepreneur and Carnival Corporation, which picked up the Sustainable Business award.

 

The British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame is run by Jacobs Media Group, parent company of The Caterer and Travel Weekly. Opening the event, which was held at the Dorchester in London, chairman Clive Jacobs said: "Over the past 23 years, this event has honoured those who have made significant and lasting contributions to the British travel and hospitality industries.

 

"Tonight we celebrate our industry's heritage, but also we celebrate its ability to embrace change, to thrive and to adapt."

 

See the 11 May issue of The Caterer for an interview with Tim Martin.

 

Top 100: Tim Martin, JD Wetherspoon >>

 

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