Exclusive accolade for north-east hotel manager

A north-east hotel general manager has been selected to join one of the hospitality industry’s most exclusive and prestigious national bodies.

Peter Walker of Meldrum House Country Hotel has become a Master Innholder.

The body is limited to the country’s top hoteliers and includes general managers of some of the UK and Europe’s most prestigious properties.

Entry is by strict invitation only and entrants must submit a 1,500-word paper before being shortlisted by a panel of 12 fellow Master Innholders. They are then required to take part in a rigorous interview with industry heavyweights. Mr Walker is one of the youngest general managers to ever be awarded the accolade at the age of 37.

It also entitles him to Freedom of the City of London. There are only a handful of Master Innholders in Scotland and this year Mr Walker was the only Scot to be handed the title.

Going forward he will need to demonstrate his commitment to promoting the hospitality industry locally and nationally.

He said: “I am proud to have achieved this at a pivotal point in my career. I have been passionate about the hospitality industry since I was at school and have always enjoyed promoting the virtues of working in this industry to university undergraduates and school pupils.”

In November, Mr Walker was awarded the Regional Ambassador title at the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards. He has previously been featured in Scottish Business News Network’s 40 Under 40 list.

The Innholders received their first charter, setting out their rights and privileges, from England’s King Henry VIII in 1514. The organisation is renowned for educating, setting standards, generating industry debates and identifying key trends.

Peter Walker: ‘a pivotal point in my career’