CH&Co chief exec Bill Toner to be inducted into the British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame

Bill Toner, chief executive of catering giant CH&Co, is among five industry leaders to be inducted into the British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame on 23 March.

Catering heavyweight Toner has been at the helm of several industry giants during his career, including Aramark where he was CEO between 1999 and 2005, overseeing annual turnover grow from £150m to £400m and clinching a Foodservice Caterer of the Year Catey in 2002.

After a brief retirement Toner bought into Host Management in 2010 and became chief executive. In 2015 Host Management merged with CH&Co, with Toner named as CH&Co Group CEO.

Many acquisitions have followed including the Brookwood Partnership in 2016, Harbour and Jones and Concerto Group in 2017 as well as Gather and Gather and Company of Cooks in 2019. Under Toner's guidance the company now has an annual turnover of approximately £500m and employs 10,000 people across almost 1,100 sites.

Joining Toner to be inducted in the Hall of Fame will be Jamaican tourism minister Edmund Bartlett, Simon Cooper, founder and chief executive of On the Beach, former World Travel Market chairman and founder of Just a Drop, Fiona Jeffery and Larry Pimentel, president and chief executive of Azamara.

The Hall of Fame is owned and hosted by Jacobs Media Group, the parent company of flagship brands Travel Weekly and The Caterer, and will be held at The Dorchester hotel in London.

It recognises the highest achievers in the travel, hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors, honouring those who have achieved significant business success while inspiring and shaping the wider industry.

In addition to recognising those with a track record of success, the Hall of Fame also celebrates rising talent with awards for young managers and entrepreneurs.

Further awards recognise business excellence and commitment to sustainability.

Clive Jacobs, chairman of Jacobs Media Group, said: "Membership of the Hall of Fame is the ultimate recognition of outstanding achievement in the travel and hospitality industries, and I am delighted that we will be welcoming four worthy inductees this year."

Tickets for the event are now on sale at £249 + VAT per place or £2450 + VAT for a table of 10. www.bthof.com