Chevalier Willy Bauer’s OBE in the New Year’s Honours recognises more than 30 years of service to the hotel sector.

After training in the hotel industry in his native Germany, he took a position as a waiter at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne. His distinguished career includes turning around the fortunes of three iconic London hotels in the 1970s, London’s Hyde Park hotel (now the Mandarin Oriental), the Savoy ( became known as the Saviour of the Savoy) and Grosvenor House.

He moved on to become chief executive of the Wentworth Group in 1989 followed by consultancy projects and directorships that included the Walpole Committee, Mosimann’s, Molton Brown, The Groucho Club and Wilton’s. Today Willy is the chairman of AB Hotels.

Willy’s commitment to the industry continues with his charitable activities. He co-founded the Ark Foundation, which helps hospitality workers fight drink or drug dependency. His current charity work includes being a governor of the Academy of Culinary Arts, the Edge Hotel School, and is involved in the Chefs ‘Adopt a School’ scheme.