ALVA's Bernard Donoghue awarded OBE for his extraordinary work supporting the attractions sector

Bernard Donoghue, director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Donoghue has been Director of ALVA since 2011 and in that time has doubled the membership of the organisation. ALVA represents the UK’s largest museums, galleries, heritage sites, stately homes, cathedrals, gardens, parks, zoos, cultural and performance venues and leisure attractions.

During the pandemic, Donoghue's (and ALVA's) work focused on helping the visitor and tourism sector recover, with their interventions making a significant difference to outcomes for the sector.

In 2021 he won the Museum and Heritage COVID Special Recognition Award for his leadership of, and support to the sector during the COVID pandemic.

He is also co-chair of the London Tourism Recovery Board, tasked with the sustainable recovery of London’s visitor economy.

“This is a great honour and a great surprise," Donoghue said.

"Tourism and culture have had the most turbulent, challenging few years and the public has been reminded of how important they are to our lives, so it’s an enormous privilege to be able to contribute to their recovery, growth and dynamism.

"I’m very grateful – and touched – to have been nominated and believe that this honour also reflects and recognises those with whom I work in ALVA and across the cultural sector."