Episodes

Let's face it, we maybe thought we were going to get through Christmas 2021 unscathed. Covid had other ideas so in an effort to lift some spirits, even if for only a moment, I'm rereleasing the 2020 Christmas Special episode where I pulled in people from all over the industry to tell us all a tale of Christmas past from within Hospitality. We've got Cyrus Todiwala, Kellie Rixon, Cat Pengelly, Simon Taylor, Hayley Connor, Kellie Rixon, Elsa De Jager, Liam Wood, Kate Nicholls and Andrew Scott wh...

It has arrived. I can't quite believe we got here but episode 100 has landed! And to do something a little bit different, I've taken a look back at some of the best stories from season one (The longest ever season on any show in any format no doubt). There's some crackers in here:- First day mistakes - Jon Dawson Gnomes being stolen - Anne Golden Getting the "Craic" with Arnold Schwarzenegger - Shane McHugh Being Thrown in Jail - Debra Ward Bob Geldof impressions - Phil Street Guests mak...

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 can't believe it's taken this long for me to chat to today's guest, especially as she played her part in why this humble little podcast exists in the first place. So I finally got some time with Monica Or, Founder of Star Quality Hospitality (https://starqualityhospitality.co.uk) and author of 3 wonderful books. We get through a lot including:- Springboard pantomime Podcast influencer Education Cruise ships Life at sea A move into recruitment Practical v Academia Qualifications Londo...

Throughout my time of running this humble little show, I've been introduced to people from all over the industry in various capacities. It's one of things I love the most. Today's guest is inspiring hearts and minds on choosing a career in hospitality but is not just leaving it there, he's then facilitating connections to help get them the best start possible. I got some time with John Holden, Food & Beverage Lecturer at Tameside College and Founder of Bridging the Skills Gap (https://www.btsg...

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...

Time spent with today's guest is time well spent indeed! I once again got Jim Knight back on the show to chat about his recently released "Leadership That Rocks" (Available here - https://www.knightspeaker.com/product-page/rock-n-roll-with-it). Jim is a previously published author and Public Speaker extraordinaire around Leadership and Culture and is a special friend of the show. We get through:- Florida Covid in the USA Changing culture Music Ideas inspiration Book writing Gaining more...

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...

I love how some things work out, you read an article and then you are immediately captivated by someone's story. I stumbled on today's guest through a late night LinkedIn feed trawl. And boy, am I glad that I did. Inspiring from start to finish, I got some time with the inspirational and absolute force of nature that is Amber Staynings, CEO of Bums On Seats (https://bumsonseats.org/). It's all action from the get go as we cover off:- Frogs in throat Moving to Guildford Being a glass half fu...

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...

Ahhhhhh Culture. What is it? How do we achieve a good one? All this and more when we got some time with today's guest, Benjamin Drury AKA the Culture Guy! As you might expect, there's a lot of chat around culture but a whole lot more too including:- Receiving Parcels The Culture Guy The Inner workings of a company What is Culture? Creating Cult like status Values Sanity check Trust Hiring for cultural contribution Simplifying business Bringing the emotion Job Adverts Creating a saf...

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...

Today's guest is doing something special. If you are an independent hospitality business and you are just getting started (Or even if you are not) then focus on your strengths and let Liam and his team support the rest. We chat to Liam Jones, CEO and Founder of Foursquare Group, A support services consultancy based out of Liverpool. Our chat is rammed full of business intelligence and in addition we get through:- World Heritage Jewson Corporate Life Health & Safety The many hats of Hospit...

The variety of opportunity in hospitality is something I bang on about all the time (You'll no doubt know that by now). Today's guest is another example of that. I chatted to James Lemon, Founder of the awesome Mentoring platform Otolo (www.myotolo.com). It's a packed chat, as always, covering off:- Wimbledon Cowes Giving up your bed Selling books door to door Recruitment Strategy Big business Small start-up Downturns Otolo Attitude and Values Intrapreneur Damon Hill driving boats...

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...

What a cracker we have for you this week. What does it take to be an HR leader in an iconic hotel and restaurant? Well, we chatted to Sarah Powell, HR Director at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons (https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons) to find out. Look out for another mispronunciation from Phil. We get through loads including:- Reopening Admin days Studying languages Teaching English in the Indian ocean The careers book The Hilton graduate pro...

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...

In this weeks episode of Hospitality Meets, we got some time with the wonderful Lorraine Copes, Founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality (https://www.bihospitality.co.uk), Procurement consultant and Life coach. It's a jam packed chat with another wonderful human with an exceptional journey. We talk about:- Being Purpose Led Starting in logistics Making pragmatic plans Working for brands you respect Working with Danny Meyer Managing change Career break Triangle of success Be Inclusive Hospit...