Hospitality charity HIT Scotland has presented its highest individual honour, The Industry Award, to Crerar Hotel Group founder Paddy Crerar CBE.
The award, presented at HIT Scotland’s annual Industry dinner held at the Hilton Glasgow, is said to honour those ‘whose legacy and influence have helped strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a world-class hospitality destination’.
Crerar – who received the SLTN Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 – 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.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Crerar was described as having played a defining role in shaping Scotland’s modern hospitality landscape.
After becoming managing director of British Trust Hotels, he successfully led that 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 world-class tourism destination.
Beyond his commercial achievements, Crerar was said to have 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’.
Chief executive of HIT Scotland David Cochrane MBE 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 said: “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.”
HIT Scotland’s Future Leader Award, supported by Braehead Foods, was presented to 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.
Cochrane commented: “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.”
