By James Wilkinson

Hotelier and Orient-Express Hotels’ regional managing director – Australia, Patrick Griffin, has been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Industry stalwart Patrick Griffin OAM

Griffin, who also holds the office of National Accommodation Division President with the AHA, was recognised for ‘service to the tourism and hospitality industries, particularly through the AHA, as per the medal’s citation.

“I am deeply honoured to be recognised in this manner, for something that I love in an industry that is so rewarding,” Griffin said.

A total of 598 awards were announced in this year’s list and Griffin’s OAM in the General Division is only the third to be handed out to a hotel general manager in Australia.

“People ask me why I am so passionate about hospitality and really, I think it’s because of the opportunity that this industry offers young people,” said Griffin, who has spent 22 of his 46 hotel industry years of service in Australia.

“You can gain hands on experience in a variety of areas, go on to travel the world and continuously be improving your skills and career prospects simultaneously. Hospitality is a global industry.”

Griffin is also a previous winner of ‘Australian Hotel Manager of the Year’ at the HM Awards and for a full interview, read the August issue of HM magazine.