Maurice Taylor, founder of Chardon Trading, which owns and operates a portfolio of six hotels throughout Scotland, has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year 2016 Honours List for services to business and to charity.
Commenting on his appointment, Taylor said: “I’m thrilled to bits. Of all the awards and honours I’ve been fortunate enough to have been presented with over the years, the CBE is one in which I will take particular pride – not bad for someone who started out in the hotel business as a junior night porter at the Turnberry Hotel – long before Donald Trump bought it!
A quite remarkable year
“2015, Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, has turned out to be a quite remarkable year. Not only did La Bonne Auberge, the restaurant I opened back in 1975, celebrated its 40th anniversary on Bastille Day, but I was recently presented with the Inspiring City 2015 Lifetime Achievement award.”
The Lifetime Achievement award recognises individuals, businesses and organisations that have gone beyond the call of duty to encourage, mentor and support investment and growth in Glasgow. It is presented to outstanding individuals and organisations who have dedicated their time to the development of the city and its people.
2015 also saw Taylor assume the role of the first and lead six figure donor to install organs in both St Aloysius Church and the Royal Concert Hall.
Chardon Trading
Chardon Trading owns the Holiday Inn Glasgow Theatreland and Holiday Inn Expresses; Glasgow Theatreland, Edinburgh Royal Mile, Edinburgh Airport, Dunfermline and Perth, along with the multi award-winning La Bonne Auberge brasserie in Glasgow. All these assets have been developed by Chardon over the past four decades.
Until last year Taylor was founder and Chief Executive of Chardon Management, the UK’s leading independent management company. It operated over 50 hotels around the UK under a variety of global brands, including: Hilton, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo. It was sold to the world’s largest independent hotel management company, Interstate Hotels and Resorts.
Throughout his years in the industry, Maurice has been the proud recipient of a plethora of awards, including a Lifetime Excellence Trophy at the CIS Excellence Awards 2015 and Entrepreneur of the Year from a number of august bodies. He is currently visiting Professor at the Scottish Hotel School and holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Strathclyde.
Taylor is an inaugural member of the Strathclyde Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, a Hall of Fame created to celebrate the achievements of students and alumni that Strathclyde has produced over the years.