Craig Stevenson wins lifetime achievement award at the Hospitality Industry Awards dinner in Glasgow on 18 March at  the Radisson Blu Hotel Glasgow.

I was the photographer for the 2nd year at this glamorous event in Glasgow and took PR photographs that were required for immediate press release the next morning. Craig was a great subject and seeing a plate of bright green apples started to juggle with them.

From a series of several shots, this one below stood out for me. It was used in this article.

Umm…   I said ‘JUMP ‘ and, well, jump they did!

Cool – a hotel General Manager, a Director of a premier Scottish catering company, a hospitality consultant, the MD of a top events company, the PA of a chain of boutique hotels, the Editor of a Scottish catering magazine, top PR company MD, all managed on my command to hit the air at the same time. Took two shots – and they had barely had time to have a drink before the evening started.

I was covering the HIT Dinner in Glasgow for the second year - 18 March 2010.

Been booked again for a fabulous hospitality industry dinner in Glasgow - this year at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Really fun event to do. These guys know how to party!

Err…some good entertainment too but guess these girls won’t be on again!

Images from last year…

Back again to the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow to shoot two sample rooms.

Weird, walking along corridors stripped back to bare walls and floor boards, lit only by builders running lights and then into two finished sample guest rooms complete with tiled bathrooms. Despite major works still to be carried out in the building’s infrastructure these rooms give the company the ability to finalise looks, themes and fittings.

Sample guest room Grand Central Hotel Glasgow

This image was a composite of 3 images taken at different speeds and combined in Photomatix Pro and then finished in Adobe Lightroom. It gives a much fuller tonal range including the light through the window.

The hotel had been so run down by the previous operators, Comfort Hotels, that the local authority refused permission to access the  lower floors that have in the past been service areas and kitchens. I understand that this was from a safety point of view as the place was over run by rats and rubbish. Probably something else too!

I have a shoot tonight at the old Central Hotel in Glasgow.

Now owned by Principle Haley, who also own the George Hotel in Edinburgh, it is due for a major refurbishment to bring it back to its former glory days.

David Welch, the area Director for both hotels, has briefed me on the spooky event planned for tonight. Guests are buyers of events and large functions and the aim is to let them see the hotel before work starts. Dry ice, smoke effects, ‘decrepit waiters’ and eerie lighting are all in the mix – should make for an interesting photo challenge!!

The hotel used to be part of one of the best hotel operators of yesteryear – British Transport Hotels. More on that when I update my blog after tonight….