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BHA luncheon held despite terror attacks
Despite the bombings in Central London, the British Hospitality Association’s (BHA) 95th Annual Luncheon went ahead at the Royal Lancaster Hotel as planned.
Almost 100 of the expected 400 plus members and guests managed to attend this year’s event, as many were unable to make the journey after London’s transport network was closed.
All ministers, MPs and civil servants were confined to Westminster and Whitehall under police advice, including the association’s original principal guest and speaker, tourism minister James Purnell.
In his absence, the chief executive of VisitBritain, Tom Wright, made a speech, in which he thanked the association for its role in co-ordinating the hotel part of London’s successful 2012 Olympic Games bid.
The BHA’s chief executive, Bob Cotton, also announced to the luncheon that the 2005 British Hospitality Awards would go to the London Olympic Bid team, to Jamie Oliver for his contribution to improving school meals and to the Savoy Educational Trust for its work in improving training in the industry. The formal presentations of these awards will take place at a later date.
At the Annual General Meeting held before the luncheon, delegates re-elected Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, chair of VisitBritain, as honorary vice president.
Three industry stalwarts – Richard Edwards, a former chair of the Academy of Food and Wine Service; George Goring OBE; and Michael Gottlieb, president of the Restaurant Association – were also awarded Fellowships of the BHA for their contributions to the industry and the association.