Operators Episodes

At the time of writing, Hospitality Meets has now been downloaded in 113 countries (still looking for our first listener in Greenland). So this week, we've gone international and not only that, we managed to get some time with Denise Flanders, the General Manager of one of the worlds most legendary hotels, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles (https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/los-angeles/hotel-bel-air/). We get through all manner of things including:- The view from Bel-Air The Bridge Moving to...

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...

I'm not going to lie, I'm a sucker for a luxury hotel. So imagine my delight when I asked Group Operations Director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, Francisco Macedo on the show to chat through his journey. We get through loads including:- Staying busy The hospitality way Getting into Hotels early The similarities within the Medicine and hospitality industries The importance of the right mentors Juggling work and education World Class UK Hospitality Madeira Working through the country house h...

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...

As I mention at the top of the show, I can't believe it's taken me this long to get someone from the world of tech on to chat through their story and journey. And my word have I gone and found you a cracker! I chat to Dan Brookman, CEO of Airship (https://airship.co.uk) & Toggle (https://www.usetoggle.com) We cram in loads as always including:- Seasonal adjustment disorder Dog friendly office Starting as a glass collector Being academically challenged Buying the first business at 22 The...

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...

Another week goes by and another wonderful chat with someone who played their part in why this show exists. 5 years ago, the intricate weave of life put me in touch with the wonderful David Guile (http://www.davidguile.com/), Leadership Coach, Speaker and Author of the fabulous book "Potential". We got through so many golden nuggets around leadership as well as:- Podcast origins The value of the coffee chat Falling into Hotels Wanting to become a prison guard Focus on the job you’re given ...

96 episodes in and I don't know why it took me so long to speak to multi-award winning Joanne Taylor-Stagg, General Manager of The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences (https://www.athenaeumhotel.com/) but I'll be forever grateful that we got some time. When not running her hotel and picking up awards left, right and centre, Joanne is busy creating something quite magnificent, That being MIDAS (Master Innholders Developing Additional Skills) You can learn more about that here https://masterinnholders.c...

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...

This week I bring you another superb human being. I chatted to Grant Campbell, General Manager at the Nobu Hotel London Portman Square. We get through a lot as always including:- Having a hospitality family Being introduced to hard work Starting as a chef Pioneering free wifi Inspiring Leaders Moving into Lifestyle Sense of arrival The mad hatters tea Reassessing goals A Covid pre-opening Mentors St Julians Scholars Coopetition The Nobu London Portman Square A brief history of Nob...

What a delight I have for you this week as I delve into the world of wine with one of the best in the business, non other than Shane McHugh, Group Wine Buyer at the glorious Goodman Restaurants. Shane is very open with his time and his stories and we get through loads including:- Transport Links Post pandemic positivity Family ties The Celtic Tiger Family hospitality Starting out in hotels Supportive parents Going to America Opening rare and expensive wine Passion v knowledge Wine sto...

I am so delighted to unleash this weeks chat to you all as I got some time with one of my early career mentors, Ian Wynne-Smythe or as I affectionately know him, Sir Winnifred of Smythe. Sir Winnifred is a veteran of the cruise world having forged a 30+ year career on board. We chat through his career and get through a lot including:- Names Covid and Cruising The Isle of Mann Careers advice Starting in the arts From Bursar to Purser Leaders who remain quiet Balancing your float Discove...

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...

Where to begin on this weeks guest? I always had a dream to interview Harry Murray MBE, Chairman of Lucknam Park (https://www.lucknampark.co.uk) and today is a fulfilment of that dream. We get through a lot as always including:- Hospitality as show business The industry of dreams Having a vision Salford tech Breakfast for 2000 people Respect Leadership Learning French quickly Climbing the ranks in hotels Becoming GM Unexploded bombs South Africa Being made a chief Moving to the En...

Covid has impacted many of us, no question about that. Today's guest has taken the negatives surrounding 2020 and turned them into real positives. I got some time with Maria Malaniia, Founder of the Savvy Hotelier (https://www.savvyhotelier.net/) and self employed guest experience consultant (https://www.malaniia.com). As always it's an action packed chat and we cover:- Getting the start Theme parks Frying food Stockholm weather Getting paid to travel Learning Finnish Seeking experience...

In the next of our Bonus Episode's we chat to the brilliant Ken McGarrie, Passionate hospitality advocate, Founder of Korgen Hospitality in Chicago, USA and author of the superb "The Surprise Restaurant Manager". We get through loads including:- The career start Finding “A real Job” How people arrive at being a restaurant manager Where the book came from Asking for help I have the time The power of language Being alert to the first impression Being aware of your guests mood The compla...

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...

This week we move into the world of consulting and we got some time with brilliant Mike Stocks, Founder of Mike Stocks Consulting (https://mikestocks.co.uk) and known as "the wine guy" (He's got a lot more knowledge than merely wine). We cover off a lot, including:- Boris' road map Travel plans Working in a meat processing factory Holding down 2 part time jobs Uni Giving up the law The start at Carluccios Following your own passion Barista/Barrister Training Moving into drink Buying...

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...

When I started this humble show, I dreamed of hunting out the characters, the charmers, the ones who put humour at the heart of everything they do. In the absence of all that, I found today's guest (Jokes). I got some time with the brilliant and always witty Andrew Coney, General Manager at the beautiful The Hari London (https://www.thehari.com/london) My word we get through a lot including The view from The Hari, The weather (again), Phil’s Dog, delivering careers talks, early memories of ho...

What a treat we have for you today as we have someone who has built an amazing career so far but backs this up with extra work she does for the Institute of Hospitality and Charities such as Hospitality Action We got some time with the amazing Brenda Collin, Executive Vice President for Europe at Preferred Hotels & Resorts (https://preferredhotels.com). As usual, we get in loads including the Budget, job titles, life on the farm, wanting to travel, working in a pub, applying for University, Uni...

What a corker we've got for you this week. We got some time with the bundle of positive energy and influence that is Andrew Fishwick, CEO of Salt (www.worthoursalt.com) & The Pepper Collective (http://www.thepeppercollective.com). We get through lots including Pitcher & Piano, cashing up in the olden days, similarities between hospitality and theatre, buying a pub, private equity, starting a marketing consultancy, the diversity of the client portfolio, the inner workings of Salt, working with ...