Paddy Crerar scoops HIT Scotland top honour

Paddy Crerar, chair of Crerar Trust, has won HIT Scotland’s 2026 Industry Award.

 

The honour, presented in association with The Caterer and Brakes Scotland, was announced at the Scottish hospitality charity’s annual Industry Dinner, held at the Hilton Glasgow on 4 June 2026.

 

The Industry Award honours those whose legacy and influence have helped strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a world-class hospitality destination.

 

Crerar was recognised for his outstanding contribution to Scotland’s hospitality sector and his enduring commitment to supporting people, businesses and the wider industry throughout his career.

 

The award celebrates professional achievement and dedication to driving leadership development and raising standards across the sector, qualities that have made Crerar a highly respected figure amongst his peers.

 

With a career spanning more than three decades, he has played a defining role in shaping Scotland’s modern hospitality landscape. Rising to become managing director of British Trust Hotels, he successfully led the business through a period of significant growth before founding the Crerar Hotel Group in 2005.

 

Under his leadership, Crerar Hotels developed into one of Scotland’s most respected hotel collections, renowned for its commitment to exceptional guest experiences, investment in local communities and promotion of Scotland as a tourism destination. His vision and entrepreneurial spirit have left an enduring mark on the country’s hospitality sector, creating opportunities for businesses, employees and communities across Scotland.

 

Beyond his commercial achievements, Crerar has made an outstanding contribution to the wider industry through his dedication to supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals. A long-standing champion of HIT Scotland, he served as a trustee and later chair of the charity, helping to expand opportunities for learning, development and career progression across the sector.

 

His involvement with organisations including VisitScotland, alongside his charitable and community work, reflects a lifetime dedicated to strengthening Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry.

 

David Cochrane, chief executive of HIT Scotland, said: “The Industry Award represents the highest level of recognition that HIT Scotland and the industry can bestow on an individual. It celebrates those whose careers have left a lasting mark on our sector and whose leadership has inspired countless others along the way.

 

“Paddy Crerar is an immensely worthy recipient. He has demonstrated a huge commitment to people, to excellence and to supporting the growth and development of our industry. He exemplifies everything this award stands for.”

 

Crerar himself added: “This is genuinely one of the most humbling awards I could receive. To be acknowledged by your peers is something truly special, and the feeling it gives is almost impossible to express in words.

 

“All I ever hoped to do in life was show people what a wonderful country Scotland is, to help them discover the very best of it. Over the years, I came to properly understand that the best of Scotland is more than its stunning landscapes, its bountiful larder, or even its unbelievable history. The very best of Scotland is the people who live and work here.

 

“I am extremely grateful to have been part of Scottish hospitality. I owe it everything. I’m also proud to have witnessed our industry grow in confidence, blossom in delivery, and continue striving to do more and do better.”

 

The other trophy presented during the dinner was the HIT Scotland Future Leader Award, which was won by Alex Equi, brand manager at Equi’s Ice Cream.

 

The judging panel were impressed by Equi’s “drive, determination and willingness to support the industry from the supply side of the hospitality sector”. Since joining the family business in 2021 following her graduation from the University of Glasgow, she has played a pivotal role in securing contracts with major wholesalers and supermarkets while helping drive the continued growth of the business.

 

Her passion for Scottish produce, commitment to innovation and inspiring presentation at the HIT Talent Conference earlier this year further demonstrated her leadership potential and commitment to the future of hospitality and food and drink in Scotland.

 

Cochrane said: “It is hugely encouraging to recognise talented individuals such as Alex Equi through our Future Leader Award. Alex has already made a significant impact early in her career and represents the ambition, innovation and passion that will drive our industry forward in the years ahead. Alex delivered a wonderful speech at our Talent Conference earlier in the year, and it is great to see her efforts in the industry be recognised.

 

“Together, these awards showcase the strength of Scottish hospitality, from those who have helped shape the industry over many years to those who are leading its future.”

 

The annual HIT Scotland Industry Dinner brings together hospitality professionals from across Scotland to celebrate excellence, while raising funds for the charity’s scholarship programme, which has been supporting the development of industry talent since 1994.