Episodes

I really am a lucky pup. There's so many stories of the different people and roles in hospitality that it will take several lifetimes to tell them all. Today's guests is an absolute cracker. I got some time with the inspirational beacon of positivity that is Kellie Rixon, Founder of Rixon Associates (http://rixonassociates.com) and the new Chair of the Institute of Hospitality (https://www.instituteofhospitality.org), the professional body for the Hospitality industry. As always, we get...

43 episodes in and we finally chat to someone from contract catering, although today's guest has done far more than that. We speak to hospitality legend Simon Esner, Founder at Executive business mentoring Uncommon Sense (www.finduncommonsense.com). Simon is also still involved with Baxter Storey (https://baxterstorey.com) and WSH Ltd (https://www.wshlimited.com) working with some world leading chefs and concepts. Simon has had an Epic career and life so far and has achieved so much, with muc...

This week we move back to hotels in big brand, big hotels and a big role. We got some time with Daniel Pedreschi, Regional Vice President Operations UK for PPHE Hotel Group (www.pphe.com). As always, we get through a lot including early career job titles, big bundles of keys, career catch 22’s, pigeons, refurbs, C&B, choosing your boss, events, awards, busy years, Master Inn Holders, snakes & of course Daniel's excellent career journey so far. Daniel talks us through his story with such en...

When I started this podcast, one of my objectives was to keep things light and humorous, especially in the face of the seriousness of the lives we are all being asked to lead at the moment. But every now and again, Someone’s story comes along where light and humorous just doesn’t feel appropriate. In today’s episode we have one such story. It’s powerful, gripping, hopeful, moving and incredibly important. It’s a story that transcends Hospitality and I think needs to be heard by as many ...

In the 2nd of our delves into the world of training & development, we chat to Simon Lewis, Operations Manager at HIT Training (www.hittraining.co.uk). We talk about Training, the future, getting out, The media, Hospitality options, transformer pyjamas, special biscuit tins, crashing tractors, evolution, golf, 19 crimes wine, networking, masks and so much more as well as Simon's wonderful and hilarious journey. Simon talks with such energy, it's clear he's doing what he's supposed to be doi...

In the first of 2 episodes today, we delve into the world of training & development with Mike Worley, Operations Director at HIT Training (www.hittraining.co.uk) Mike has spent a fair few years in Training and Development and it's clear through our conversation that he's as passionate and energised as he's ever been. As always, we get through lots including The Kitchen, Restaurant, being gifted some tips, training, being given a chance, making your own luck, communication, life skills, educat...

What does it take to become one of a regions most prominent General Managers? We chatted to Mark Kirby, Regional General Manager of The Address Downtown, Dubai (www.addresshotels.com/en/hotels/address-downtown/) to find that out. We got through so much including Dubai (Of course), Chesterfield, School, AICR, London, Harvey Nicholls, reciting your career backwards at interview, Meeting Mr Armani, The Armani Hotel, Translating your CV into Italian, creating the right noises, Sustainability, PR,...

When we started the podcast, we wanted to tell the stories and journeys of the people of hospitality but we also wanted to shout from the rooftops about anything incredible that people are doing. Mary Jane Flanagan (MJ), founder of MJ Inspire (www.mjinspire.com) fits into both categories effortlessly as not only does she have a really interesting journey, she's doing an incredible body of work to support job seekers at a time when they need it the most. Bravo MJ!!! There's a lot crammed in...

Humans are such a massive part of the Hospitality Industry and looking after all those humans is no mean feat. Today we talk to a real heavy hitter in that space, Jose Ruiz, Director of Human Resources for The London Edition & W Leicester Square. Jose is an effortless story teller with some awesome comedy moments from an illustrious career so far, he also doesn't take himself too seriously which you'll learn within 2 minutes of this chat. We talk accents, HR in luxury, Opening a hotel in a sk...

You really can come into hospitality at any time, with any background. Today's guest demonstrates that point beautifully but not only that, how you can come in and really get people thinking about the ways in which things happen. We chat today to Eric Jafari, Chief Development Officer and Creative Director at Edyn Group (www.findingedyn.com) and Co-Founder at Locke Hotels (www.lockeliving.com). This chat is rammed full of interesting conversation with some golden content on re-imagining ho...

Hospitality never stands still, there's always something new on the horizon. This week, we've got an amazing chat with the Opening General Manager Anne Golden who has the not insignificant task of leading one of the most exciting projects on the horizon in Europe, the Pan Pacific London (https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pp-london.html) In addition to Anne's amazing journey, we chat about Lockdown fatigue, learning from mistakes, emotional intelligence, training & development, che...

One of the things we love about Hospitality more than anything else is the international element to it and there's no better career if you want to see the world. Niels Sherry is a shining example of that with a career that has taken him to the USA, Middle East and Asia as well as establishing himself in Europe. Now the COO for the expanding private members club 67 Pall Mall (www.67pallmall.com). We chat about lots including gaining variety in your career, the Savoy, leaps of faith, opening...

Back in May 2020, we got some time with Gilles Perrin, Executive Chef at the world class Ritz Carlton Osaka, Japan. In today's chat we talk about moving to takeaway in a Michelin starred restaurant, travel, the importance of early career mentors, Asian food, ordering volume at Atlantis, Japan, Seasonality, writing a book in 8 weeks, Kitchen leadership and so much more. Born in Switzerland, Gilles Perrin studied French cuisine at culinary school and started his career as a chef in 1994. He has wo...

Hospitality covers a multitude of things. The rise and rise of co-working fits firmly within that scope. We were lucky enough to get some time with Ben Swindells, Expansion Director for Huckletree (www.huckletree.com) a London based workspace accelerator with locations in London, Manchester and Dublin. Ben is an ex hotelier and now workspace specialist and is responsible for the growth and new projects for Huckletree. In 2019 Ben led the group to double growth in terms of footprint and member...

Most people enjoy talking about drink and today, that's exactly what we do. We chatted to Becky Lown, Director and Founder at CRAL Consulting, a boutique consulting company specialising in wine and spirits We chat about making career choices too young, starting a business before a pandemic, Up-skilling, wine, whisky, drink, vineyards, stories, Low & No If you need to know anything about viniculture or viticulture (and there is a difference!) then Becky is the woman to ask (especially in a ...

Q. What happens when you put two spaghetti brains in front a microphone and set them off to chat? A. Today's podcast. We got some time with Majella O'Connell, Managing Director and Head Photographer at Pavlova & Cream Ltd. (www.pavlovaandcream.com) and Founder of Manchester Kitchen Social and London Kitchen Social. Majella talks about her craft with such verve and passion it's difficult to not get sucked in to what she does, even if you have a slight interest in food and fun is never very ...

In may 2020, we were lucky enough to steal some time with Louise Gallant, Talent Director at Harri.com, rising tech superstars and all round great people. Louise is a natural story teller with some amazing and hilarious stories throughout. This week we cover travelling in America, being born in a pub, winging it in business class, taking geography lessons from Pete Sampras’ coach, life on ships, being held at gunpoint (Yes you read that correctly), Pizza, meditation, dealing with depressio...

One of the objectives of our humble little podcast was to give a voice to as wide a variety of people as possible from within hospitality so I was delighted to get some time with Rachael Stevens, Guest Services Manager at South Lodge Hotel (https://www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge). Rachael is clearly on her way up to do great things. We talk about serving celebrities, mentors, leadership, poise under pressure, guest services post lockdown, Raymond Blanc and so much more. Enjoy! This chat was ...

Back in May 2020, we got some time with Eugenio Pirri, Chief People & Culture Office for Dorchester Collection (www.dorchestercollection.com) a global luxury hotel company. Eugenio tells his story with great humility and grace, sprinkled with a large portion of humour. In this weeks chat we cover Scotch, learning and growing, culture (Unsurprisingly), writing, warnings, falling in swimming pools and so much more as well as some wonderful stuff about business culture and guest experience. ...

In early July 2020 (when we were once again allowed to go meet people) we were lucky enough to get some socially distanced time with Chris Penn, Co-Founder of Steel Hotels (www.steelhotels.com) & Birch (www.birchcommunity.com), a few weeks before the doors were opened at Birch for the first time. This chat is crammed full of good stuff as we took full advantage of Chris' natural humour, drive and humility covering off his epic journey to this point as well as topics such as battles, travellin...

In July 2020 we were lucky enough to get some time with Cherish Finden, TV Judge, award winning pastry chef and now Executive Pastry Chef at the Upcoming Pan Pacific London, opening in 2021. Long before TV found Cherish, she was already building an amazing career, working in some of the world's most amazing hotels. Demonstrating humility and drive, our chat is a fantastic insight into how to build a career that takes you to the top. We discuss being thrifty, life in Singapore, The Raffl...

In this weeks Podcast, we enter the world of finance and specifically Asset Management, a side of hotel life that has become more and more important in recent times. We chatted to William Gibbs, Hotels Director and a Member of the Board at Sir Richard Sutton Limited (www.SRSL.co.uk) We chat about Williams career journey so far along with other big topics such as changing processes, learning the hard way, glass collecting, going to the wrong airports, being out of your depth, asset management ...

When we started the podcast, one of the objectives was to showcase the variety of opportunity available within Hospitality as a career of choice. Today's chat does exactly that. We chatted to Fabien Figarol, Co-Founder and Director of Momentum Hospitality Recruitment (www.momentumrecruitment.com), a boutique hospitality recruitment firm based in London specialising in management level and upwards recruitment worldwide. We talk through Fabien's career journey also covering topics such as ma...

Back in May 2020, in the middle of Lock down, we were lucky enough to get some time with David McDowall, Group COO of BrewDog (www.brewdog.com). David talks us through his career and journey so far along with some of the great work that BrewDog have been up to. We also find time to chat about Beer & Dogs (Obviously), Scottish Accents, Lobbying, Leadership Away days, swimming with Orca whales and being anti-disciplinary. David's Bio David is Group COO at BrewDog, driving the strategic directio...