Robin Sheppard, chairman of the Institute of Hospitality and the Bespoke Hotels Group, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Tourism Society.
He was presented the award by Lord Thurso, president of the Tourism Society, at a celebratory lunch at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London.
Sheppard recounted his colourful career including general manager roles at the Lygon Arms in Broadway, the Royal Berkshire Hotel in Ascot and the Bath Spa Hotel.
He also drew references from his book, A Solitary Confinement, which documents the serious illness he suffered and recovered from to go back to work in the hotel industry.
A tribute to Robin Sheppard’s lifetime achievements was made by Mike Jones, managing director of Hospitality Impact Limited, Fellow and Board Member of the Tourism Society and former vice-president of global distribution for Hilton International, InterContinental and the Forte Group.
Previous honorees include Chris Brown, the UK’s first female airline COO, Peter Long, former CEO of the TUI Group, and the travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder.
