Alastair Storey donation boosts IoH Chartered status goal

The Institute of Hospitality (IoH) has received a significant boost towards its ambition of achieving Chartered status, supported by a financial donation from hospitality business leader and Westbury Street Holdings Chairman Alastair Storey OBE FIH. 

The journey to receiving a Royal Charter is long and robust, explains IoH Chairman Kellie Rixon MBE FID. "Alastair's support and belief in helping us begin the process of Chartered status is immense," she says. "His donation is recognition that he believes in the Institute, our members and the significant position we hold within the industry we love. If successful, the IoH would be the first and only Chartered Institute in the hospitality sector. The prestige in achieving this objective would be monumental, to the Institute and our members, and would be recognised around the globe as a mark of quality and honour."

British Royal Charters have been awarded for over a thousand years and less than 2.5% of those that applied from 2000–2013 were successful. Approximately 20% of professional bodies based in the UK have a Royal Charter or Warrant. 

Storey comments: "A Charter is a mark of recognition for professional bodies. As the fourth largest employer in the UK, hospitality is critical to the economy. As the global professional body representing our industry, providing a forum for management, it is important the IoH and the professionals within our industry receive the professional recognition they deserve, reflecting their status."

The Institute has contracted the Professional Associations Research Network (PARN), to help deliver their Chartered status aspiration for its members and industry. PARN is an independent body with experience helping organisations achieve a Royal Charter. 

"The process towards Chartered status is extremely involved, costly and time consuming," says Robert Richardson FIH IoH CEO. "Incorporation by Charter is a form of regulation requiring UK Government Privy Council approval and would demonstrate the value of hospitality as an industry in the UK and abroad. To receive this major injection of support from Alastair to allow us to advance the process is incredible. We are deeply privileged that he believes in our team, our members, and the Institute as a Chartered body."

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