The Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha) is delighted to announce that Sir Garry Hawkes CBE has joined the aha Advisory Board with immediate effect. His appointment follows a series of other notable additions, as the aha’s purpose — creating a hospitality world that welcomes everyone — continues to resonate with likeminded leaders across the industry.
Sir Garry Hawkes CBE has enjoyed a career of rare distinction, holding senior leadership positions that few ever reach. Most notably, he served as CEO of Gardner Merchant, the contract catering firm acquired by Sodexo in 1995 for £800 million — equivalent to approximately £2 billion today. Under his leadership throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, Gardner Merchant grew into a people-first organisation employing 57,000 people worldwide.
It was this deep-rooted focus on people that struck a chord with the aha management team during early discussions about Hawkes joining the Advisory Board. In turn, Hawkes found strong alignment with aha’s purpose and was impressed by the success of the recent aha Forum, which clearly demonstrated a meaningful way forward for the hospitality industry.
Reflecting on what inspired him to join the aha Advisory Board, Hawkes said: “I am always pleased to do anything which raises the profile of our industry, and the necessary skills and training required to move it forward and I look forward to working with Robin Sheppard, Peter Jones and Denis Sheehan. I was pleased to read about Peter Jones’ recent experience at the Edge Hotel School and am delighted to hear of its progress and success after 13 years. The Edge Hotel School represents my philosophy in action, as does the Edge Foundation itself, and the Accessible Hospitality Alliance.”
Robin Sheppard, Chair of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, echoed this sentiment, commenting: “Sir Garry’s passion for our industry remains as vibrant as it has always been, and we are “chuffed” that he would like to help the aha movement to prosper and thrive. His track record of success in every venture which he has previously entered into will inspire us.”
Denis Sheehan, Managing Director of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, added: “Having met Sir Garry previously and knowing how deeply people-focused he is in his business philosophy, and how much he cares about our industry, I wasn’t entirely surprised when he agreed to join us. But I was relieved, and now, truly delighted to welcome him to the team.
“Sir Garry, Robin, Peter, and I share a clear belief: that the most important route to any business reaching its full potential is through its people. With that shared lens, we look forward to Sir Garry’s counsel and to working closely with him to further shape the aha opportunity.”
Professor Peter A Jones MBE, a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board, also attended the meeting and played a central role in bringing it together. Reflecting on its outcome, he said: “Sir Garry has, during the years that I’ve known him, always had a vision that people are the most important asset of any organisation. This strong ethos has guided both his significant business success and his total commitment to education and training. This thoughtful approach and unwavering commitment will be a huge asset to the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, and I look forward to working with him in this most important initiative for our industry.”
Following the success of the inaugural aha Forum, the next edition will take place in October 2025 in the City of London. The date, venue, and itinerary will be announced soon. Tickets for the first Forum were quickly snapped up after release, if you’re interested in attending the next one, you can register your interest here.
