Hotels CEO is a big HIT after lifting prize at annual national hospitality industry awards
Stephen Leckie, chairman and CEO of the Crieff Family of Hotels, has been named the HIT Industry Award winner for 2021 in recognition of the work he has done looking after the interests of the hospitality industry over the past 19 months.
The Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland (HIT Scotland) - a Kinross- based charity “empowering inspirational development within Scottish hospitality” - recently held one of the biggest industry dinners seen in Scotland for almost two years.
Ov e r 495 industry professionals enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the Glasgow Hilton and raised over £42,000 for the HIT scholarship programme.
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Industry Award.
This is the only award that HIT Scotland gives out and it is in celebration of an individual within the industry who is recognised as head and shoulders above his or her peer group for championing the interests of the industry in Scotland, going above and beyond their day job.
Mr Leckie, chairman and CEO of the Crieff Family of Hotels, was named as the worthy winner on the night.
His nomination was universally agreed by the judging panel.
A HIT Scotland spokesperson said: “Our winner has had a long spanning career within the industry.
“Stephen actually started off life in the supply chain of sorts.
This involved picking tatties and berries in his local area.
“He has always worked in the family business and this carries on today with his wife and children all contributing to the life of the resort.
“He has many strings to his bow and his sphere of influence runs deep.
“Stephen has spent the last 19 months looking after the interests of the industry and in addition to managing his own portfolio of hotels, he has spent countless hours informing the politicians and industry groups of the strategy and route towards recovery. He is the epitome of someone who cares passionately about the industry and all the people who work within it.”
The HIT Scotland team concluded: “There are many people in our industry who have looked for guidance from our winner during the pandemic and have benefitted from his wise counsel. Indeed most recently he has become the Lord Lieutenant for Perth and Kinross, acting on behalf of Her Majesty on local matters.”