Institute Fellows recognised in New Year Honours list

3 January 2012 - Our warmest congratulations go to Laurence Geller, Willy Bauer, Vic Laws -  Fellows of the Institute of Hospitality recognised in the New Year Honours List.

Laurence Geller CBE FIH

Laurence Geller, chief executive officer of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).  The designation was made in recognition of Geller’s exemplary service to The Churchill Centre, along with his extensive charitable and humanitarian work in the UK, US and throughout the world.

Geller currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Churchill Centre, the leading organisation celebrating the life and relevance of Sir Winston Churchill.  Geller has been instrumental in the Centre’s preservation, financial solvency and growing success.  The Churchill Centre’s US office is in Chicago.

In May 2011, Geller was appointed Chancellor of the University of West London.  In addition, he serves on the President’s Council of the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF where his philanthropic activities have significantly contributed to the improvement of many needy children’s lives in Africa.  Geller is a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, the American Jewish Committee and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Geller’s philanthropic endeavors include donations to charities dedicated to leadership, education, research, and children’s causes, previously serving as a member of the City of Chicago’s Low Income Housing Board of Trustees, funding the Victor Ceserani Scholarship at the University of West London, sponsoring the London School of Hospitality and Tourism, and personally fundraising more than US$20m cumulatively to a variety of humanitarian, cultural and civic causes over the years.

“I am most humbled by this very special honor,” said Geller. “Giving back to society and serving causes beyond oneself has always been, and will always be an imperative of mine. In addition to speaking volumes about the importance of The Churchill Centre, I hope this distinction will help bring recognition to a wide variety of deserving charities, organizations and causes.”

Geller founded Strategic Hotels & Resorts in 1997, following executive and leadership positions with Hyatt, Holiday Inn and Grand Metropolitan. Laurence has over 40 years of experience in the hotel industry and has received numerous awards.

Willy Bauer OBE FIH MI

Willy Bauer is today the chairman of AB Hotels, but his OBE recognises more than 30 years of service to the hotel sector. During a highly distinguished career, Bauer is credited with turning around the fortunes of three iconic London hotels and establishing a model of excellence for the management of golf and country clubs.

His UK career began in 1962 at the Grand Hotel Eastborne.  He then worked at a series of Trust House properties in Swansea, Sheffield, Colchester, Harrogate and Liverpool and rose quickly through the ranks of Trust House Forte (THF).

He was then set the task of transforming the ailing Hyde Park Hotel ( now the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge) into the jewel in THF’s crown. He followed this with similar turnarounds of the Grosvenor House and the Savoy.

Looking back on his career German-born Willy says: “There are many things that I am proud of.  Every place I went was always a new start.  I never had to ask for a promotion.  As they say in Yorkshire, you don’t get nowt for nowt.  If you show total commitment and passion for what you do, these are the real keys to success. I have I had some marvelous opportunities and I made the most of them. Early in my career I couldn’t get a job as a waiter at the Savoy; I ended up being named as its saviour.”
Moving from hotel to hotel across the country enabled Bauer to get to know England, build relationships and gain experience working in every hotel department. He says that it is important for general managers to be visible on the floor and take responsibility for problems.

After his tenure at the Savoy, Bauer entured into the world of golf as the chief executive of the Wentworth Group in 1989.  “Some people thought I had lost my marbles, but Wentworth became the blueprint for how gold clubs should be run,” he comments.

Willy’s commitment to the industry is illustrated by his charitable activities.  He was the co-founder and chairman of the Ark Foundation, which helps hospitality workers fight drink or drug dependency.  Amongst his current charity work, he is a governor of the Academy of Culinary Arts, on the advisory board of the Edge Hotel School, and is involved in the Chefs ‘Adopt a School’ scheme.

Vic Laws MBE FIH

Vic Laws, a former president of the Institute of Hospitality, was honoured with an MBE for services to the UK hospitality sector.  Vic is the founder of AVL, one of the leading consultancies providing services to the food service sector of the catering industry.

Since the inception of competitive tendering and benchmarking, the company has provided expert services to many local authorities, colleges and universities.

Vic has over 25 years experience of contracting from his previous positions as managing director of Spinneys and ARA (now Aramark), and a director of Grandmet (now Compass) and Forte's airport companies.

Since April 2010 Vic has been an ambassador for the Clink, the restaurant at High Down prison in Surrey that trains inmates so they can have a career in hospitality when they are released.

Several other industry figures were recognised in the New Year Honours list:

• Fiona Jeffrey OBE, chair, World Travel Market. For services to the tourism industry.
• Jeanette Orrey MBE, school meals policy advisor, Food for Life Partnership. For services to food in schools.
• Anna Hansen MBE, chef/proprietor, The Modern Pantry.  For services to the restaurant industry.
• Paul Gould MBE, executive head chef, NEC Group, Birmingham. For services to hospitality.
• Bajloor Rashid MBE, restaurateur and president, Bangladesh Caterers Association. For services to Bangladeshi catering.
• John Williamson MBE, owner, Valley Hotel, Fivemileton. For services to tourism in Northern Ireland.

The UK Honours system

The UK honours system recognises people of outstanding merit.  Anyone can be nominated for an honour. The vast majority of the awards do not go to stars but to people who are serving their local communities. Most recipients have been recognised for making a real difference to those around them through volunteering, fundraising, social action and philanthropy.

The 2012 New Year Honours list is varied, reflecting the range of skills and talents across the country. The list includes a Formula One racing driver, a stone mason, a greyhound trainer, a master glazier and the managing director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach. 43 per cent of the awards went to women.

Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the date of The Queen's official birthday. Anyone can nominate someone for an award. For more information on making a nomination, click here.

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