C-Suite & Executive Episodes

Another treat for you this week as I got some time with the walking industry legend that is Peter Hancock. Peter has had a wonderful career so far and is one of the most respected people within hospitality, now plying his trade as a public speaker and MC extraordinaire. We chat about:- The Changing face of the mid life crisis The unplanned start Quick Promotion Moving to Hotels Publishing Evolution Pride of Britain Getting into speaking Having a laugh Being a MasterChef eater Hospita...

Another wonderful CEO journey for you this week. I got some time with Kalindi Juneja, CEO of PoB hotels. Kalindi is a first time CEO and its a fascinating journey to get to that point. We get through:- Growing up in Singapore Going against the expectation Singapore Airlines Attention to detail Relais & Chateaux Sales & Marketing Learning and Progressing Serendipity Food Becoming a CEO Authenticity POB Hotels Dogs And so much more. Kalindi's story is brilliant and is a shining ligh...

To say I was a little excited to get today's guest on would be the understatement of 2023. I was so delighted to get some time with total industry legend, and all round top bloke, Robin Hutson OBE - Chairman of Home Grown Hotels. Home Grown hotels look after such well known brands The Pig & Limewood. The conversation is full from start to finish and he does not disappoint as we get through:- The Pig Distractions Going to college with no real plan Acing college Savoy Management programme T...

What can I say about today's guest that has not been said already? Well, let me give it a go. I got some time with one of the most recognisable names in the UK hotel scene, Sally Beck - General Manager of the quite stunning Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Sally's career is just brilliant and we get through a lot, including:- Growing up in pubs Getting a start in sales Citroen 2CVs Advancing through Sales Stepping up to GM Hosting UEFA (And the creative thinking that won it) Last minute...

We've got another epic journey for you this week as I got some time with CEO of Umbrella Training and Employment Solutions (and almighty Apprenticeships champion) Adele Oxberry. And what a story she has, getting involved in hospitality from an early age right through to now, heading up one of the sectors most prominent training and apprenticeship providers. Adele is super chatty and so we get through loads including:- Starting young The lessons of housekeeping Moving to reception Developing...

I've wanted to get today's guest on for a while (I should have just asked him as it transpires) as I'd seen a few of his posts around on LinkedIn and there was this wonderfully positive and inspirational theme running through his message. So I was delighted to welcome Simon Maguire to the show. Simon has spent his career in hotels but towards the end of 2022 he opted to pursue a passion, leadership and performance coaching with West Peak (https://www.thewestpeak.com/). As usual, we get through...

I love coffee, I mean I REALLY love coffee and coffee tastes even better when it's doing some good (Crediting that line with today's guest 100%). So I thought, let's have a chat with someone in the coffee business as lets face it, where would hospitality be without it? So I got some time with Jonathan Reed, CEO of Coffee Rockstar's and all round doers of great work, Paddy & Scott's (https://paddyandscotts.shop/). This chat is a joy from start to finish as we cover off:- Ambition House The c...

It's been a while since I've had a people and culture guru on the show so I've rectified that by getting today's guest on. I welcomed Di Gwinnell, Group People & Culture Director at Edyn Group (https://www.findingedyn.com/) for a chat about her story so far, and a whole lot more too. We got through:- Portishead Edyn Good intent Hospitality plans Travelling Starting on an HR Graduate scheme Moving into Hospitality Cross sector experience The people landscape Retail v Hospitality The f...

What to say about today's guest? Occasionally I'm lucky enough to stumble upon stories that just completely captivate you. Nassar Khalil, CEO of Rogue City Hotels (https://www.roguecityhotels.com/) has a story that will shock you and inspire you in equal measure. There is also a phenomenal amount of learning in here. In amongst an incredible story of overcoming adversity we also chat about:- Battersea Being Educated in the UK Having discipline Graft, Being accepted into Imperial College T...

Nestled upon a hilltop in a dramatic location is the setting for today's guest. I chat to Veryan Palmer, Director of the iconic Headland Hotel & Spa in Cornwall. There's so much joy in todays chat including:- The Headland Starting as a chalet Chef The Demands of Dogs Cliveden House Moving to contract catering The role of a director Attention to detail Super Grammar Lady Bridezillas The Art of Hospitality The Thursday Club Community Minimum wage for teenagers And so much more. Very...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business. I don't really know where to begin with this weeks guest. I was welcomed to the (rather beautiful) Mayfair Townhouse (https://www.themayfairtownhouse.com/), part of Iconic Luxury H...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business. One of the many joys of hospitality is that it is a global industry, so imagine my delight when today's guest had his people reach out to my people (I have no people) to see if I'd...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business. Hosting this podcast has put me in front of so many interesting humans from within hospitality and today's guest is no exception. I got some time with Pix Ashworth, Founder of Lan...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business. Another week passes and we have another one of the industry's gentlemen and all round exceptional human being, Douglas Waddell - Operations Director at Handpicked Hotels (https://w...

What a treat I have for you this week as I managed to get some time with the incredible Robert Cook, CEO of Hostmore PLC (https://www.hostmoregroup.com/) and all round industry Titan. Robert has such an epic career so far and is an inspiration to us all. He's a natural story teller throughout and my word he's done some very cool things. We get through sooo much, including :- Peterhead Being born into the industry Learning 5 star Stephen Carter Climbing the ranks The first GM role Malmai...

I was so happy to get some time with todays guest, one of the most recognisable names in the Hotel industry, none other than Danny Pecorelli, MD of Exclusive Collection (https://www.exclusive.co.uk). Danny is a 2nd generation hotelier but as we find out, that didn't necessarily translate into a clear path being formed for him as he took time to forge his own career and capability. This chat is rammed full of useful stuff from start to finish including:- Danny - the man, the Mystery Staying b...

Episode 99 (We're nearly there) and boy do I have another hum dinger for you today. I got some time with the Wonderful (that will stick now) Tom Ross, Group Operations Director at The Pig Hotels (https://www.thepighotel.com/). Tom's story is epic and we cover off loads including:- The wonderful Tom Ross Awards Events Being born into the industry Getting the start Moving to the USA Using the industry to travel Moving to the Napa valley Making people feel welcome The Relais Chateaux Bo...

I've known today's guest loosely for a number of years and was delighted to read earlier in the year that she had been promoted to the Managing Director role for the UK & Ireland at IHG (www.ihg.com). I am of course talking about the wonderful Joanna Kurowska. As always, we get through loads including:- Meetings from Home The first 100 days Remaining upbeat Lego Taking your fathers advice Heading to Senegal Starting as a Director of Finance Becoming in tune with the industry Croatia to...

I was thrilled to get some time with todays guest, Mark Fenelon, CEO of Clink Hostels (https://www.clinkhostels.com/). Not just to chat to someone from within another sector of hospitality that we have not yet covered, but also because Mark's Journey to CEO of the company is not your average, every day route. We get through loads including:- The Hostel experience Australia The change of standards The rise and rise of the hostel sector Relationship facilitation Bcorp Covid - the experienc...

I love who I get introduced to as part of the Podcast. Todays guest represents that. I chat to Stephen Carter OBE, one of Scotland's most legendary hoteliers. For someone whose career has spanned over 40 years, you can imagine we get through a lot including:- East Neuk Untrue reputations Scottish seafood Humble beginnings Picking up accents Rejecting the Seychelles Holiday Inn Moving to Scotland The Motivated Team The Tobacco Patch Buying the rights to Le Man Cars Setting aside tim...

I'm not going to lie, I'm a huge fan of the venue that today's guest leads. I got some time with Andrew Coggings, Managing Director of Entertaining and Hospitality at the Goodwood Estate (https://www.goodwood.com). It's an epic chat and we get through loads including:- The Festival of Speed The values of Goodwood Bottling selfies Growing up in Durham Going against careers advice The Caterer & Hotelkeeper Being headhunted to Hilton Moving to Dubai Being a forerunner hotel Moving to So...

Episode 78, the day that Hospitality Meets ACTUALLY MET SOMEONE. Yes, this week, we got some actual face to face time with the epicness that is Paul Spencer, Operations Director at Locke (https://www.lockeliving.com). He shared some time with me out of his more than hectic schedule at the beautiful Bermonds Locke, one of the newest properties in the ever expanding Locke portfolio. Paul is all action from the get go and you can tell he's abundantly passionate about what he does which means we g...

What a treat we have for you this week as we bring you the natural story teller that is Debra Ward, Global Transition Director at ISS Facility Services UK. Debra has some brilliant stories from a truly spectacular career built in many areas of hospitality. As always, we get through lots including:- Starting out in Canada Working the family business Calling out your professors Moving to the city Working with Wolfgang Puck The comedy and safety of small town Respecting local customs Jail t...

Another wonderful story from hotels awaits you this week. We got some time with the superb Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels (https://www.crerarhotels.com) in Scotland. This is a packed chat and we cover off:- Gaining qualifications Moving to Scotland Ayr Winning or learning DJing Club de Mar Troon Edinburgh Moving around with Jarvis Becoming a GM Moving into quality Cornell University Coopetition Being the ambassador for your brand Getting the first regional role Breakin...