Hospitality industry people in birthday honours list… For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say

Hospitality industry people in birthday honours list
Among figures from the hospitality industry included in The Queen's Birthday Honours List were:

Knighthood David Michels, former chief executive of Hilton Group PLC
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, serial entrepreneur and founder of EasyJet

CBE Karen Jones, former chief executive of Spirit Group

OBE
Gary Rhodes, chef
Simon Woodroffe, founder Yo! Sushi

MBE Michael Caines, chef
Graham Tinsley, co-owner of The Castle Hotel, Conwy and Nant Hall, Prestatyn for services to cooking
Constance Brown, Brown's Cafe in Pembroke, West Wales

London Gazette, 17 June

Honeycombe pubco looking for a buyerHoneycombe LeisureThe Times, 17 June

Greene King on acquisition trail again East Midlands-based brewer and pub operator Hardys & Hansons, which owns 268 pubs, has backed the terms of a £270m offer from the Suffolk pub company Greene King. - Yorkshire Post, 17 June

VisitBritain to introduce new grading system In an attempt to improve hotel standards in time for the 2012 Olympics, VisitBritain has embarked on a scheme to rate hotels and guest houses under a single system. A blue-quality rose will be the new national benchmark to guarantee good service and standards. - The Times, 17 June

Big Issue sellers to sell hotel bedrooms in Scotland Big Issue sellers could be tourism ambassadors under a plan to revolutionise Scotland's tourist industry. VisitScotland believes the vendors could be used to sell the country's attractions to foreigners. Under the plan, they would act as mobile tourist information centres, offering visitors advice on accommodation and accepting credit card payments for hotel rooms. - Sunday Times (Scottish edition only), 18 June

New favourite emerges for De Vere sale
The boss of the property company Marylebone Warwick Balfour has emerged as the favourite to buy De Vere. Richard Balfour-Lynn, who is bidding through his privately owned vehicle Alternative Hotels Group, is thought to have edged ahead of rival bidders, such as Starwood and Permira. - Sunday Times, 18 June

VisitScotland wants a green tax on all tourists Visitors to Scotland will be asked to opt-in to a new "green tax" under a scheme being drawn up by VisitScotland. The charge - expected to be between £5 and £10 - would be used to offset the environmental damage tourists cause while visiting the country. - Sunday Herald, 18 June

De Vere in legal row with Belfry owner Quinn Group, the Irish building materials company, is in a legal row with De Vere over the operation of the Belfry. De Vere has rejected allegations that it has breached the terms of a 25-year contract to operate the Belfry. Quinn purchased the Belfry from De Vere in a £186m deal last year. De Vere retained the contract to manage the hotel. Quinn, which is seeking to have the contract terminated, is thought to be planning a new five-star development at the Belfry. - Sunday Times (Irish edition only), 18 June

Troubled sandwich chain Benjys loses its chairman Sandwich chain Benjys has lost its chairman Richard Raworth who has stepped down amid concerns over the future of the troubled business. Last month Benjys reported losses and ballooning debt. - Mail on Sunday, 18 June

Roadchef may be put up for sale Roadchef has been holding talks with potential advisers for a strategic review. The group, owned by Nikko Principal Finance, is said to favour hiring Hawkpoint, the boutique investment bank. A review would most likely lead to a sale. Roadchef has 29 motorway service areas, making it number three in the sector, behind Moto and Welcome Break, with about 26% market share. - Sunday Times, 18 June

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