THAILAND/INTERNATIONAL. Highly respected SSP America Deputy CEO Pat Murray was honoured with the Outstanding Career Contribution Award at the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards in Bangkok last week.
The much-admired leader was visibly moved as he collected the accolade from The Moodie Davitt Report President and Co-owner Dermot Davitt, amid a standing ovation from industry colleagues and friends at the five-star Anantara Riverside Hotel.
Murray was singled out as a “pioneer” for his ability to preempt trends, forge successful partnerships and for his “extraordinary commitment” to not only the SSP role that he has held for 16 years, but also to the industry at large. He was also praised for generosity of time and expertise to staff at all levels.
Building up to the award, Dermot Davitt gave the audience hints, saying, “This person has shown leadership and extraordinary commitment to the industry through good times and bad. Not least through the most testing of periods for our sector amid COVID when they pulled people from all sectors together to protect concessionaires in his region, both large and small, from the impacts.
“This is also someone hugely well respected by his peers, from competitors to partner airports, as someone who is generous with their time, encouragement, advice and mentorship, not to mention a great heart. And although I wasn’t a judge in this matter, I’m personally delighted to see someone with a strong Irish connection recognised here tonight!”
Pat Murray manages business development, brand & concept development, airport partnerships and much more in his role at SSP, one of the world’s leading providers of travel retail solutions.
A long-committed advocate and champion for ‘taste of place,’ he has been an expert in boosting airport sales of local items and bringing unique, local vendors from the community into the terminals in a way that benefits both travellers and surrounding communities.
Click here for further coverage of FAB 2023 and here for the FAB + Hospitality Awards. Full highlights of the event will appear in the FAB eZine, out in coming weeks.
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