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Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland has appointed Alan Halliday as chair and Crerar Hotels CEO Chris Wayne-Wills as vice chairperson as the charity celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Halliday, a trustee for over 23 years, takes over from Angela Vickers of Apex Hotels, who has led as chair since 2018.
Halliday, with his extensive business experience from Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd, Brakes, and currently as a McDonald’s franchisee, brings a “wealth of business acumen and deep strategic insight” to his new role where he will continue to drive impact.
Meanwhile, Wayne-Wills boasts over 25 years of leadership experience and a passion for developing future leaders.
A former recipient of the HIT Scotland Leadership Scholarship and Trustee since 2020, Wayne-Wills is committed to nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Since 1994, HIT Scotland have supported the hospitality sector, funding scholarship experiences to upskill and inspire hospitality talent.
In 2024 the group reached a significant milestone, awarding its 7,000th scholarship, all made possible by industry support and donations.
In 2023 alone, 414 scholarships were awarded across Scotland with 92% of recipients saying it would help them progress in their career and 94% believing it would enhance their current roles.
HIT Scotland hosts around 24 annual industry events, with over 3,000 attendees from 250 companies, and raising more than £150,000 through auctions alone.
These events, from black-tie dinners to sports matches, provide important fundraising and networking opportunities for industry professionals.
Wayne-Wills said: “I look forward to working closely with Alan and the rest of the team to advance our mission and support up-and-coming hospitality talent.”
David Cochrane, CEO of HIT Scotland, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Alan Halliday and Chris Wayne-Wills as Chair and Vice Chair of HIT Scotland, as they set out to continue the remarkable work Angela helped establish.
“With their extensive experience and passion for the hospitality industry, I am confident their leadership will be instrumental in advancing our initiatives and amplifying our influence.”
