Michels has spent 38 years in the leisure and hotel industry, most recently as the chief executive of Hilton Group plc.  He serves as the president of the British Hospitality Association and as a non-executive director of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, easyJet plc, and The British Land Company PLC.  Earlier this year, Michels was knighted in the United Kingdom as part of the Queen's 2006 Birthday Honours for services to the hospitality industry.

"Sir David Michels is one of the most successful corporate hoteliers in Europe.  He has been applauded by the industry for being one of the key architects in the sale of Hilton International for £4.7billion to Hilton Hotel Corporation allowing the reunification of the brand after 50 years," co-host John McMahon of Questex Media Group said.  "Michels has an intuitive understanding of the corporate hotel market and has been a contributor on the stage at IHIF for many years.  We are delighted to be honouring him with the IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award in March," McMahon added.

The IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a distinguished leader in the hospitality industry who over his or her lifetime has made a difference in our industry and the world by their dedicated actions, contributions and great accomplishments both professionally and personally. 

Past winners include: Sir Rocco Forte, Forte Hotels; Gabriel Escarrer, Sol Melia; Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pellison, Accor; Georg Rafael, Rafael Hotels; Marilyn Carlson of Carlson Hotels;  PRS Oberoi of Oberoi Hotels;  Kurt Ritter of Rezidor, SAS; and last year's recipient James Sherwood of Orient Express.