Outstanding Contribution to Luxury recipients announced at Aspire Awards

Corinthia Hotels’ Simon Casson and 360 Private Travel’s James Turner have been presented with the 2025 Aspire Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Luxury.

 

The accolades were presented on Thursday (November 20) at Aspire’s annual awards ceremony in Manchester.

 

Casson, the hotel group’s chief executive, won the Outstanding Contribution to Luxury: Supplier award in recognition of a career spanning more than four decades.

 

He spent 35 years at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, before retiring at age 56. However, he returned to the industry last year to take the helm at Corinthia.

 

Under his tenure, the group has launched three landmark properties in New York, Brussels and Bucharest and established a robust pipeline of openings.

 

In an acceptance video shown at the ceremony, Casson said: “It is indeed a great honour to be presented with this Outstanding Contribution award.

 

“If an outstanding contribution I have indeed made, it is only because I have had the immense privilege to lead, and to lead wonderful people – across three decades with Four Seasons and in recent years with Corinthia. It is for them that I dedicate this award.”

 

Turner, founder and chief executive of 360 Private Travel, took home the title of Outstanding Contribution to Luxury: Agent.

 

He was recognised for the success the agency has seen since its inception in 2012.

 

With just four members of staff at the time, Turner was responsible for all head office functions and spearheading the agency’s evolution, which has seen it grow to an organisation of more than 200 employees.

 

Turner said: “This is absolutely amazing. I feel very humbled to receive the award. Obviously it’s really about the people at 360 who have all been part of the journey. I couldn’t be happier.

 

“This is part of a series of accolades and achievements that we’ve been able to accumulate over the past few years, and it sits really well with everything else that we’re doing.”

 

Other awards presented on the night went to Lusso’s Jac Murray in the Unsung Hero category, as well as Emma Frearson of Luxury Travel by Emma and Grecotel Hotels and Resorts’ Kostas Sinis in the Aspire Supporter of the Year: Agent and Supplier categories.

 

Pictured: Headline sponsor Celebrity Cruises’ Nicola McNeish, 360 Private Travel’s James Turner, Aspire’s acting editor Erica Rich