Roy Ackerman appointed CBE
Some of the hospitality industry's leading names were recognised in the New Year Honours list, including veteran restaurateur and consultant Roy Ackerman, who was appointed CBE.
"It's gratifying that at last we are being put up there with all the other industries and being taken seriously as one of the big earners," said Ackerman.
Winner of the 1985 Catey Special Award, Ackerman helped develop restaurant concepts, including Locanda Locatelli, Brian Turner Mayfair and Simply Nico (all in London), through his consultancy Tadema Studios, as well as publishing guides and working on television.
"Roy has quietly and relentlessly raised the image and profile of our industry," said chef and restaurateur Raymond Blanc. "His other great quality is his compassion and his ability to listen and advise others without thought of reward for himself."
Chef Anton Mosimann was appointed OBE for his contribution to the tourism and food industries. The 1985 winner of the Catey Chef Award revolutionised food in this country when he became, aged 28, the youngest ever maître chef des cuisines at London's Dorchester hotel in 1975. He went on to open the highly acclaimed club, Mosimann's, and more recently, in 1996, founded the Mosimann Academy of Culinary Excellence.
"He was among that generation of chefs, like the Roux brothers, who gave culinary confidence back to this country," said David Nicholls, food and beverage director of London's Mandarin Oriental hotel, who trained under Mosimann at the Dorchester in the late 1970s. "They believed in the UK's infrastructure and talent and employed British chefs. The generations after, from Paul Gayler and myself to Marco [Pierre White] and Gordon [Ramsay], all stem from that."
Other appointments included OBEs for Paul Dermody, former chief executive of the De Vere hotel group; Felix Mooney, chief executive of the three-strong Northern Irish hotel group, Mooney; Michael Hirst, chairman of the Business Tourism Partnership and consultant for CB Richard Ellis Hotels; and Philip Wilkinson, chairman of the Dairy Council. MBEs went to Anne Walker, managing director of the hospitality charity Springboard; restaurant critic Fay Maschler for services to journalism; Richard Booth for services to tourism in Powys; and Kui Shum Yeung, co-owner of Manchester's Yang Sing restaurant.