Birthday honour for hotel veteran, John

Warrenpoint man, John Toner, a director with Hastings Hotels and a former general manager of the prestigious Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, was given an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list last month.

Mr. Toner, who has worked for the Hastings Hotel Group in Northern Ireland for nearly 40 years, is well known and very highly regarded throughout the industry and is credited with playing a very significant role in the rebirth of the Europa hotel when he took over as manager there in 1993, following yet another devastating bomb attack on the venue.

He was given the award for his services to hospitality and tourism in Northern Ireland.

In 2013, Mr. Toner was the recipient of the Licensed & Catering News Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his long service to hospitality and his accomplishments. On that occasion, he said:

“”Northern Ireland has transformed over the years and I’m very proud of the part that I have had in helping do this.”

And Sir William Hastings, chairman of Hastings Hotels, added: “John has given a lifetime of service to the industry and in this time he has become one of its most respected figures.”

Our picture shows John with the LCN Achievement Award that he accepted in 2013. Included are (from left), James McGinn, former president of the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation; Rebecca Maguire, Miss Ireland; Jason Doyle of category sponsor, Bewley’s Food Service and Bill Penton, organiser of the LCN Awards.