Hospitality Meets is a weekly podcast that explores the stories and journeys of people from all walks of life in the hospitality industry.
If you're interested in a career in hospitality, or if you're simply curious about the world of hospitality, then Hospitality Meets is the podcast for you. Join Phil for a weekly dose of inspiration, insight, and humour.
Featured Episodes
If you are new to the show, here are some great episodes for you to get stuck into. Or, check out episodes by category in the navigation bar above ☝☝☝
Recent Episodes
261
June 24, 2026
#261 - Hospitality Meets Duncan Garrood - Putting Life in Your Years
What do a biochemist, a Chinese mansion house, Heathrow Airport, 250 burger restaurants, a pub turnaround, student accommodation, retirement living, and more than a few bottles of Mao Tai have in common? This week's guest... Duncan Garrood. And trust me... You're going to want to hear this one. Duncan's career began in a laboratory as a scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry. It then took him through Unilever, a decade living in China, Heathrow Airport, the Middle East, Punch Taverns, Bill's Resta
260
June 17, 2026
#260 - Hospitality Meets John Badley - Make the Mistake
What do a kitchen porter, a Swedish adventure, a hotel fire, a freezing swimming pool, and the CEO of one of Britain's most iconic hotel groups have in common? This week's guest is John Badley, CEO of Andrew Brownsword Hotels . Today, John oversees a collection of some of the UK's most beautiful and historic hotels. But his story starts somewhere much humbler. A teenage job sweeping a car park for £10, a desperate desire to escape the cold, and a sister who eventually gave in and let him become
259
June 10, 2026
#259 - Hospitality Meets Caroline Ottoy - Dough Balls & Big Dreams
What do dough balls, coffee, Covid crisis meetings, global expansion, and one very determined mum have in common? This week's guest is Caroline Ottoy, Managing Director of WatchHouse . Today, WatchHouse is one of the most exciting hospitality brands on the planet, with 29 locations across the UK, USA and Dubai, and ambitious plans to reach 100 sites globally over the next few years. But Caroline's journey started in a very different place. A teenager destined for a science degree, a year spent s
258
June 3, 2026
#258 - Hospitality Meets Barrie Robinson - The Glass Collector Who Got Lucky
What do holiday parks, imposter syndrome, accidental career sabotage, and one of the UK's most respected hospitality leaders have in common? This week's guest is Barrie Robinson, National Operations Director at Parkdean Resorts and Chair of the newly launched North Star Competitive Career Accelerator. Barrie's journey into hospitality wasn't exactly traditional. After lasting just six weeks at university ("reading newspapers and pretending to be a tree" wasn't quite the career path he'd envision
257
May 27, 2026
#257 - Hospitality Meets Jonny Bramwell - Laughs & Balance
This week I sat down with Jonny Bramwell, Regional Head of Operations for Rosa’s Thai — a man responsible for 22 restaurants, thousands of miles of motorway, and quite possibly the most unexpectedly philosophical conversation we’ve had on Hospitality Meets in a while. What starts as a chat about pubs, restaurants and leadership quickly becomes a brilliant conversation about burnout, ambition, balance, accidental life lessons, and why sometimes the best thing that can happen to your career… is ge
256
May 20, 2026
#256 - Hospitality Meets Adam Hamadache - Data, Dogs & Direct Bookings
This week I sat down with Adam Hamadache , founder of Formula and host of the Hotel Growth Podcast, a man who has spent the last 15 years helping hotels figure out how to grow in an industry that never seems to sit still for more than five minutes. What followed was part hospitality strategy masterclass, part therapy session for modern business owners, and part beautifully chaotic conversation about AI, audience-less keynote speeches, and why hiring experts only to tell them exactly what to do m
255
May 13, 2026
#255 - Hospitality Meets Gareth Rees - Mindset, Misfit & Misunderstood
This week, I sat down with Gareth Rees, and this is one of those conversations that feels properly important. Not just for hospitality… but for how we think about people, performance, and what “doing a good job” actually means Gareth now runs ADHospitalityD, with a mission to educate the industry on neurodiversity, breaking down misconceptions, supporting individuals, and helping businesses create environments where people can genuinely thrive. But his story starts where many of ours do… On the
254
May 6, 2026
#254 - Hospitality Meets Phil Andreopoulos - Planes, Pods & People
This week on Hospitality Meets , Phil sits down with another Phil, that being Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of YOTEL, for a conversation that starts with washing pots in restaurants… and somehow ends with power naps, gorilla trekking, hotel disruption and leadership philosophy. Inspired by a first class airline cabin and created by the founder of YO! Sushi, YOTEL has always challenged the “that’s just how hotels work” mentality, and this episode dives into exactly why. Along the way, the two Phils disc
253
April 29, 2026
#253 - Hospitality Meets Guy Freedman - Fun, Fudge & Floodwater
This week, I sat down with the brilliant Guy Freedman, Hotel Director at The Pig & The Pig in the Wall, and honestly, this one felt like a giant exhale. A conversation about leadership, yes. Culture, absolutely. But also… naked guests, rogue deer, flood rescues in a Land Rover, student days in a fudge kitchen, and why maybe fun has been unfairly underestimated as a serious business strategy. Guy’s journey, from a self-confessed chatty teenager being redirected out of the kitchen and into front o
252
April 22, 2026
#252 - Hospitality Meets Basel Jabri - Saying Yes, Then Figuring it Out
This week, I sat down with the brilliant Basel Jabri, and this one’s got everything. Global upbringing, accidental career pivots, iconic hotel brands, and a journey that goes from literally steering boats in Dubai… to leading people & culture across a luxury London hotel group. And the best bit? It all started with a dream that didn’t happen. In this episode, Basel and I get into… Growing up internationally thanks to his father’s career in aviation Why he originally wanted to be a pilot, and how
251
April 15, 2026
#251 - Hospitality Meets Newton Fernandes - Built Across Borders
This week, I sat down with the brilliant Newton Fernandes - and this is one of those conversations that reminds you just how non-linear careers in hospitality can be. From starting out as a journalist, to working in airline reservations, to quite literally being invited across the road into a hotel career… Newton’s journey spans continents, cultures, and some seriously big roles. We’re talking global brand, marketing, and communications at a scale that’s hard to get your head around, but always
250
April 8, 2026
#250 - Hospitality Meets Dawn Lister - Sales, Service & Stubornness
This week, I sat down with the brilliant Dawn Lister - and honestly, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get someone from the world of sales on the show. And what an introduction to it this was. From wanting to be an air stewardess at 10 years old, to building a 20+ year career in hotel sales, Dawn’s journey is packed with graft, growth, resilience… and a lot of persistence (some might call it “relentless follow-up” 😅). Now Sales Director for B&B Hotels UK, Dawn brings a no-nonsense, peop
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