The Institute of Tourist Guiding is proud to celebrate the award in His Majesty King Charles III’s Birthday Honours of an MBE to Blue Badge Tourist Guide Mark King for Services to Tourism.

The setting of the accompanying photograph, at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank, highlights the evolution of professional tourist guiding in the UK from its origins in the run up to the Festival of Britain in 1951.

In 1949, The Daily Telegraph advertised a new professional guide training course with the memorable headline: ‘Register to beat spivs and touts.’ The aim was simple but powerful: to ensure visitors received “the truth and nothing but the truth.” That vision became reality in 1950, first with the creation of the membership organisation now called the British Guild of Tourist Guides (‘the Guild’), then through the establishment of the profession’s standard setting body, the Institute of Tourist Guiding (‘the Institute’). The contribution of the Institute’s 1700 members to the modern visitor economy has never been greater.

The Festival of Britain left behind tangible and intangible legacies. The Royal Festival Hall, still standing at the heart of the Southbank Centre, remains a powerful physical symbol of that moment of national renewal.

Alongside it exists a less visible, equally enduring legacy: the development of modern professional tourist guiding standards exemplified by the Blue, Green and White Badge qualifications.

Tourism today ranks as one of the UK leading economic sectors (see Notes). Mark King’s citation states: ‘Fellow of the Institute of Tourist Guiding, Life Fellow and lately Chair of the British Guild of Tourist Guides. For services to Tourism.’

Mark’s award is a source of great pride as it recognises sustained voluntary service - given generously over many years to the tourist guiding profession and to the wider visitor economy. His contribution reflects a deep personal commitment to supporting others, strengthening standards, celebrating heritage and advancing our profession.

Mark exemplifies the values on which professional guiding was built. His service has been to:

The truthful telling of our nation’s histories and stories
The care of visitors and the clients of our trade partners
The many sites and places where he guides
The community of badged guides across the country

Mark King said: “I am proud beyond words to be honoured with this award of an MBE.

I am passionate about what I choose to do with my time, ideas and expertise. On entering what - amusingly - I once thought would be the wind-down phase of my working career, I find today that I have never been busier with various forms of community service.

It is hugely rewarding for me to help strengthen the market profile and resilience of the country’s tourist guides holding professional qualifications from the Institute of Tourist Guiding, or to welcome visitors on tours in London, or to spend time at Kenwood working with the Friends of Kenwood and English Heritage on how to achieve Kenwood’s full potential.

It came as a surprise to be singled out in this way when so many colleagues serve selflessly and with impressive determination to help Britain’s Tourism and heritage sectors to thrive in these exciting, if challenging times.

I wish to thank those who nominated me at the Institute of Tourist Guiding, with the support of the British Guild of Tourist Guides and the Friends of Kenwood. I also wish particularly to acknowledge the inspiration and professional formation provided by course tutors preparing me for the London Blue Badge and City of London Green Badge qualifications”

Jackie Clare MITG, President of the Institute of Tourist Guiding said: “The MBE is the gold standard for service; for more than 75 years Blue Badge Tourist Guides have been recognised as the gold standard for tourist guiding. Mark’s recognition highlights the importance of giving time, expertise and leadership for the benefit of others.”

“We thank Elaine Bedell OBE for her leadership of the Southbank Centre. Elaine has championed the power of culture to inspire, connect and enrich lives. While our organisations may operate in different ways, our purpose is shared: to open doors to understanding, create meaningful experiences, and ensure that people — whether visitors, audiences or communities — engage with the stories, heritage, creativity and culture that define who we are.”

ENDS

CONTACTS

Mark King, MBE, FITG: +44 (0) 7931 765666 mark@kings5.co.uk

Jackie Clare MITG, President, Institute of Tourist Guiding: + 44 (0) 7580 305 941 President@itg.org.uk

David Poyser, Chair, British Guild of Tourist Guides: guiding@davidpoyser.com www.britainsbestguides.org

Helen Payne, Trustee, Friends of Kenwood: info@friendsofkenwood.org.uk www.friendsofkenwood.org.uk

Notes to EDITORS

1. Mark King is a self-employed Tourist Guide holding the London Blue Badge (regional, 2010) and City of London Green Badge (city, 2012) - professional qualifications awarded by the Institute. See https://britainsbestguides.org/guides/mark-king/

Mark chaired the Guild between 2016-18 and continues to serve on its Executive Council.

After graduating from the University of Oxford, Mark worked in advertising mainly with Saatchi & Saatchi, based at various times in London, New York, Prague, St Petersburg and Moscow. Mark then moved into in-house roles leading marketing teams for Top 20 corporate and commercial law firms based in the City of London. Mark lives in Finchley, his three adult children live in London (Lambeth), Osaka (Japan) and Arlington VA (USA).

2. The Institute of Tourist Guiding is the standard setting organisation which protects the badge qualifications. Guides listed on its Register of Guides https://www.itg.org.uk/register-of-guides represent the gold standard of professionally qualified tourist guiding.

Established in 2002 as the standard-setting body for professional tourist guiding in England, Northern Ireland and Jersey, the Institute is committed to developing, maintaining and promoting standards of excellence in tourist guiding. The Institute and Guild work closely with national, regional and local stakeholders in UK Tourism including LVEPs, governmental departments, sites, DMCs, tour operators and cruise companies.

The Institute is a non-profit-making organisation, led by volunteers supported by a team of office staff, that generates income through fees from examinations, accreditation, and registration by members. The Institute's role includes:

To maintain an official Register of Guides
To accredit tourist guide training programmes
To provide examinations for the Badge qualifications
To award Blue, Green and White Badges to successful candidates
To test language proficiency
To train and accredit examiners, trainers and examination compilers
To establish and monitor a Code of Conduct
To campaign on behalf of the profession and to promote excellence in tourist guiding as an essential component of the visitor experience.

3. Tourist Guides recognised for services to Tourism or Heritage

Several members of the Institute hold awards for services in other fields. The list of guides holding awards for services to Tourism or Heritage includes:

The late Katrine Prince OBE
Catherine Burns MBE
Fiona Grant MBE
Tom Hooper MBE
Rosalind Hutchinson MBE
Clive Jones MBE
Elizabeth Keatinge MBE
Mark King MBE
William Dickson BEM
Joanna Hoad BEM

4. UK Tourism

Visit Britian/Visit England’s report Economic Value of Tourism in the United Kingdom shows

tourism is worth £147 billion annually to the UK, about 5 percent of the national economy, when including both direct and supply chain impacts.

Tourism is larger than the insurance and pensions sectors put together and employs more people than those and financial services combined. The study found that tourism generated

£52 billion in tax revenues for the UK Government in 2024, more than half the wages bill of the NHS in England (Source: King’s Fund, NHS: Key Facts & Figures).

Tourism demonstrates its importance as a major employer, supporting nearly one in every 15 jobs across the UK, about 2.4 million jobs. The industry’s value extends beyond major cities accounting for at least 5% of jobs in every region and nation of Britain. It also creates first jobs and opportunities for young people and upskills younger workers at the beginning of their careers. The industry is predicted to create an additional 175,000 jobs in the UK by 2030.

5. Southbank Centre

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/about-us/history/

6. Accompanying group photo

Photographer credit: Rebecca Need – Menear

Congratulations to Mark King MBE

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