New trustees contribute over 60 years’ experience to HIT

Paul Jennings, Dale MacPhee and Chris Wayne-Wills

Three leading hospitality industry figures have been appointed as board trustees to inform the future progress of HIT Scotland, the charity providing inspirational learning and development opportunities for emerging talent in the Scottish hospitality sector.

Chris Wayne-Wills, Dale MacPhee and Paul Jennings will harness more than 60 years’ combined experience and business acumen to help steer the strategic direction of the organisation which was established in 1994.

For Chris Wayne-Wills, recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Crerar Hotels,  hospitality has been a family profession since his great grandfather opened the first Milk Bar in Cardiff. He is a long-term supporter of HIT Scotland, saying “I personally benefitted from their Leadership Scholarship in 2008 and hope to pay back with my time and support to ensure that the organisation continues to thrive. HIT Scotland has grown phenomenally over the last 25 years. So much has been achieved in improving the hospitality industry’s reputation as an employer, but we still have more to do to become the industry of choice for Scotland’s top talent.”

Dale MacPhee has been General Manager of Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh since 2013 and has 20 years of hospitality experience. Originally from Canada, she is proud of her Scottish heritage and has settled here after working in six different countries around the world.

Dale MacPhee says: “My goal as a trustee for HIT Scotland is to encourage people to join this fantastic industry. Working in hospitality has given me great satisfaction and so many marvellous moments. To me, people are the key to success, and I hope to help HIT Scotland provide knowledge and development for aspiring hospitality professionals.”

Paul Jennings is Partner and Head of Commercial Real Estate for Aberdein Considine, Scotland’s largest estate agent and award-winning law firm. Paul has over 25 years’ experience in commercial development law and is an enthusiastic supporter of HIT Scotland. He says,

“I have always been impressed by the spirit and attitude of HIT Scotland and its managing team. I believe in doing what we can to help young people bring about positive futures, and I will strive to support this charity’s important goals. As I see it, the primary challenge for the hospitality sector is the difficulty in attracting and retaining a strong workforce. Aberdein Considine has found great success in recent years due to its ability to put the right people in the right positions and I hope to help HIT Scotland respond quickly to market shifts.”

Angela Vickers, Chair of the Board of Trustees at HIT Scotland says, “We are delighted to welcome our three new Trustees onto the Board of HIT Scotland. Chris, Dale and Paul have a wealth of experience and expertise and a real passion for the sector and its people. We are confident that they will bring their own dynamic energy and drive future projects.”