Hilton Park Lane manager named as Alumni Award winner
Monday 25 March 2013
University of Surrey honours graduate Michael Shepherd, general manager of the London Hilton on Park Lane and veteran hotelier.
The new Alumni Award was introduced by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Christopher Snowden as part of the University's Celebrate Surrey campaign.
The award is open to graduates who have made a positive impact in areas including business, community, sport and education.
The Vice-Chancellor presented the award to Mr Shepherd, who graduated with a BSc in Hotel and Catering Management in 1976, at the Hilton Park Lane.
On receiving the award, Mr Shepherd said: “I feel very privileged to have been recognised in this way. I was surprised and delighted – it is always an honour to be rewarded for doing your work. It also gave me a chance to reflect on the hospitality business and remember how fortunate we are to be involved in it, meeting so many different people.
“I remember my time at Surrey very fondly – my year group (1976) was a very close one and we had a very enjoyable and enriching experience. It was fantastic.”
Mr Shepherd has more than 30 years of international industry experience, having travelled extensively and managed a number of five star hotels across the world and was also managing director of the London Savoy.
He played an instrumental role during the London Olympics in ensuring the capital could accommodate 25,000 visitors. The Hilton Park Lane itself was the headquarters for the International Olympic Committee.
Since working for Hilton his efforts have earned the hotel several accolades including the ‘Best Business Hotel in the UK 2011’ award, for the fifth time in the row, by Business Traveller magazine, and ‘England's Leading Business Hotel 2009’ by the World Travel Awards.
