Hilton Worldwide’s European boss Simon Vincent (pictured) has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list.
Vincent, who is the hotel company’s president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), receives the award “for services to the hospitality industry”.
London-based Vincent, who has worked for Hilton since 2007, is responsible for around 300 hotels in 49 countries across six of the company’s brands. He previously worked as CEO for online travel agency Opodo and also spent 13 years with tour operator Thomas Cook.
Other travel and tourism figures to receive honours included former Visit Britain chief executive Sandie Dawe who received a CBE, and Michael Cantlay, chairman of Visit Scotland, who has been given an OBE.
Entrepreneur Brent Hoberman, who co-founded pioneering travel website lastminute.com in the 1990s, was also awarded a CBE.