14.10.2004
BOB COTTON JOINS LONDON ICC COMMISSION
Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, has been
appointed to the London Mayoral Commission examining the potential for a London
International Convention Centre.
Bob Cotton joined the BHA as chief executive in January 2000 after a long career
with Gardner Merchant and a period as tourism adviser to the Department for
Culture Media and Sport. The BHA’s members operate over half a million
bedrooms, 15,000 restaurants, 20,000 catering outlets including all motorway
service areas, incorporating some 600,000 employees with a UK turnover in
excess of £20 billion.
Bob is also chairman of the board of the Tourism Alliance, a confederation of 30
membership associations across the whole sphere of tourism activities. He is
also a member of the Tourism Implementation Reform Group and is chairman of the
Department of Trade and Industry sponsored Best Practice Forum looking at
productivity improvements across the hospitality sector. He is a fellow of the
Hotel and Catering Industry International Management Association and was
awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to tourism and hospitality.
Gerry Acher, chairman of the Commission said: “Bob Cotton is in the unique
position of having combined an exceptional career within the hospitality
industry with now running the largest trade association of its type in the UK.
He will bring to the Commission his special understanding of both the
challenges of and possible support for a major London convention centre by the
British hospitality industry.”