Institute Fellows in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Willie Willie McCurrach FIH and Norman Springford FIH have been awarded OBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Curriculum head of food at City of Glasgow College, Willie McCurrach FIH (pictured above), was awarded the OBE for services to education in the hospitality industry. He said the honour was “absolutely incredible”.

“I’ve been in the job for 50 years and I still love it. I love seeing the students move forward and I enjoy nurturing their skills while they’re here. Seeing their knowledge develop and being able to work with such incredible staff is the real honour.”

McCurrach has been working at the college since 1978 and in that time has mentored hundreds of students – including Scotland’s National Chef and MasterChef 2016 winner Gary Maclean. He has made pancakes for HRH Prince Charles and won countless awards including the industry’s most prestigious accolade, the Catey Award.

Norman Springford FIH, executive chairman, Apex Hotels, was awarded an OBE for services to the Scottish tourism industry. Apex Hotels is a Company Patron of the Institute of Hospitality.

Springford said: “Our company was founded on the principle of good old fashioned hospitality and service with a smile. Fast forward 22 years and we still remain as committed as ever to extending a warmer welcome to every guest in all of our hotels.

“The success of the Apex brand comes down to the tremendous work of the amazing, talented and dedicated people working across the group. I am humbled to receive this honour which is testament to a huge team effort.”

 

Institute of Hospitality at ScotHot 2017

The Institute is delighted to be participating in ScotHot on 15 & 16 March at the SECC Glasgow. Come and visit the Institute of Hospitality stand number 4834. Here you will find out about all the activities of our Scotland Branch. We also have some specially-designed membership offers for all ScotHot delegates who are not already members of their industry professional body.

ScotHot is Scotland’s biggest food, drink, hospitality and tourism trade show. Over the two days, key buyers and decision makers from top hospitality and catering establishments networked with a wide variety of suppliers from all areas of the hospitality, tourism and catering industries.
Register now to attend ScotHot2017.

A new feature of ScotHot 2017 is The Buell Business Advice Centre which has been developed to enable owners and operators of hotels who are visiting the show to obtain free advice and guidance on matters that are impacting on their businesses.

It brings together a group of professional and advisory companies from the hotel and leisure sector which will be on hand to advise visitors to the show on a broad range of topics from Strategy to Property, Funding to Financial Management, Operations to Marketing, and Procurement to Revenue Management.  This new drop-in centre will allow owners and operators of hotels to talk to professionals and advisors on an entirely confidential basis and on virtually any subject of interest.

Through The Buell Business Advice Centre, visitors to the show have access to a one-stop-shop which will connect them with leading advisory and service providers who really understand the dynamics of the hospitality sector.

Book a free session with a business advisor at ScotHot