John Forte: ‘Delighted’

AN Old Victorian who pioneered environmental initiatives in the hotel industry has received a lifetime achievement award for his work.

John Forte (70), who received an OBE in March for food hygiene and safety, has worked in the hotel industry for 50 years. During that time he has introduced environmental standards, including waste management and energy conservation, which have been adopted across the UK and Europe.

For his work he has received a lifetime award from Considerate Hotels, a group made up of hoteliers aiming to reduce the hotel industry’s impact on the environment.

Mr Forte, who now lives in Buckinghamshire, moved from Jersey in 1964 to join Forte Hotels in the UK. He said: ‘I introduced measures into the company that eventually became the norm for the industry. It started with energy conservation. We discovered that we could save money and reduce our impact on the environment. The majority of the standards we set have become international standards.’

Mr Forte wrote a number of guides with the British Research Establishment which are still in use today. He was also involved in the International Hotels Environment Initiative by advising large hotel chains about environmental issues.

Although he was born in Italy, Mr Forte said: ‘I am very pleased and fortunate that I am still classed as a Jerseyman,’ he said. ‘I am very proud of my Italian roots, but whenever I am asked where my home is, I always say Jersey.’

His parents brought him to the Island when he was ten and he attended St Michael’s and later Victoria College, where he studied languages. His uncle was the late Lord Luigi Forte, who was the Italian consul for Jersey and had a catering business in the Island.

After leaving school Mr Forte worked in his uncle’s Jersey restaurants, which are no longer operating but included Fortes in Colomberie, Trevi in Halkett Place and Sirio in Broad Street. He developed a taste for the hospitality industry and joined his uncle’s hotel group, Forte Hotels, in the UK in 1964.

Speaking about his lifetime achievement award, Mr Forte said: ‘An award like this is really something to treasure because it is given by your fellow professionals. It is very special. I am delighted to receive it. It’s not bad for an old Jersey boy!’

John Forte: ‘Delighted’