Sir Terence Conran is to be inducted into Hotelympia‘s Hall of Fame, collecting a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award which recognises the impact he has made on the London restaurant and hotel scene during more than five decades in hospitality.
The respected design guru and restaurateur will collect the award – a unique piece by highly respected glassblower, Peter Layton – in person on the first day of the event (April 28th) on Hotelympia’s main Stage (15.30).
Toby Wand, Managing Director at Fresh Montgomery, said: “An innovator, a pioneer and a true giant of the hospitality world – the contribution Sir Terence has made to the industry throughout his career is truly remarkable. There are few more deserving candidates, therefore, to recieve our highest honour and be inducted into the Hotelympia Hall of Fame. Once there, he will be amongst auspicious company; I urge show visitors to come to the stage to help toast the man who is often credited with turning Britain onto good design.”
Sir Terence founded furnishings retailer Habitat in 1964 and, as the founder of the Storehouse Group, he acquired the Heals furniture business, set up Next and ran British Home Stores and Mothercare.
His first restaurant, The Soup Kitchen, opened in London in 1953 while his most recent, The Albion Cafe, opened on the Southbank in 2013. He has opened, operated and designed restaurants all over the world with his current portfolio including Bibendum in Michelin House, the Boundary Hotel and Restaurant in Shoreditch and Lutyens on Fleet Street.
His impact and legacy will also be discussed on Hotelympia’s Design Stage on the second day of the event (13.00). Tina Norden, Director of Designers, Conran & Partners, and Joel Kissin, restaurateur and former business partner, will look back over his life in hospitality.
Sir Terence joins previous inductees, Raymond Blanc and the Roux Brothers, in the Hall of Fame which celebrates a small group of people who have made a huge impact in terms of their industry contribution.
