FOR a man who grew up on an island which didn’t have a single chain hotel, Donald Morrison has done rather well for himself.
He has recently been appointed vice president food & beverage Europe, UK and Ireland for the massive Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Unlike many in his profession who have had access to large hotels at an early age, Donald grew up on the Outer Hebridean island of Harris.
Having left school at 15, and heavily influenced by his father who worked in hotels and his mother’s cooking, Donald became a chef.
He trained with British Transport Hotels and secured chef positions at a number of leading Scottish hotels including Rannoch Lodge in Inverness and The Newton Hotel in Nairn.
Following his success in the kitchen Donald, 54, enjoyed a number of senior positions at Stakis and Ladbroke Hotels, where he was appointed director of food and beverage for the UK estate in 1987.
He has 40 years’ experience within the hospitality industry under his belt, 21 years of which have been spent with Hilton.
Based in London, Donald is now in charge of driving Hilton’s food and beverage delivery at more than 150 hotels across more than 30 countries in the UK, Ireland and continental Europe.
Duties include responsibility for all aspects of Hilton’s food and beverage strategy, from introducing new restaurant concepts and maintaining brand standards to driving revenue and quality across the portfolio.
From fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants at the company’s Conrad, Waldorf Astoria Collection and Hilton brands, to limited service offerings of Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton By Hilton, Donald is instrumental in successfully launching food and drink concepts across a diverse portfolio of brands.
Donald’s major achievements include the launch of Hilton’s global breakfast concept, which recently became a standard across a portfolio of over 500 Hilton hotels worldwide.
He’s also been responsible for launching a number of successful restaurant partnerships with high profile chefs, including Gordon Ramsay’s Verre and Maze restaurants at Hilton Dubai Creek and Hilton Prague Old Town respectively.
A keen Scottish rugby fan, Donald now lives with his wife and son in Befordshire, where when time permits, he indulges his passions for travelling, food and wine.