The industry’s young talent were among those recognised last night at the British Travel & Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame annual dinner in London.
Helen Roberts, head of direct sales for Kuoni, picked up the gong for Young Manager of the Year at the event at the Savoy Hotel in London.
Roberts had been shortlisted with four others – Diana Evans, sales and marketing director at Hotelshop UK; Howard Ebison, head of commercial at No 1 Traveller; Laura Faragher, senior product manager at Tui Travel; and Paul Ludlow, managing director UK and Europe for Princess Cruises.
Simon Purchase, managing director for Cruising Excursions, took home the Young Entrepreneur award.
The other finalists were Jordan Makin, managing director of Easy Traveller and Luggage Mule; Eli Gray, director at G! Boutique Hotel; Martin Johnson and Jessica Bain, co-directors at Latin Routes; and Danny Waine, director of Perfect Weddings Abroad.
New members inducted into the Hall of Fame (pictured below, left to right) were Michael Batt, founder and co-chairman of Travel Leaders Group; James Hogan, president and chief executive of Etihad Airways; Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways; David Radcliffe, chief executive of the Hogg Robinson Group; and Michael East, managing director of Gisby East.
Speaking at the event Clive Jacobs, chairman of the Travel Weekly Group, said: “It’s a great honour to stand her tonight and welcome you as the new owner of the British Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame.
“Many of the most respected individuals in the travel and hospitality industry appear as previous inductees of this great institution and I firmly believe that the long-standing credibility of our market leading titles – Travel Weekly and Caterer and Hotelkeeper – will add further distinction to this event in years to come.
“My own induction to the Hall of Fame in 2003 was amongst the proudest moments in my life.”
Browne said: “It’s a true honour to be here. Those who know me well know I tend to play a bit of a feminist over the years and I would to say thank you to those female friends that I’ve got out there tonight – it wouldn’t have been so much fun without you over the years.”
She went on to thank those that gave her a break in the aviation industry and staff at Tui including chief executive Peter Long.
Tui Travel’s Jane Ashton, director of group sustainable development, was presented with The Ambassador Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Travel.
Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, received the Hall of Fame 2014 Business Achievement Award.
The British Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame was added to Travel Weekly Group’s portfolio of events when it acquired Kingley Event Management in March.