Episodes
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In this episode we welcome back Tim Davis MBE, Founder and Managing Director of PACE dimensions. We spoke about the evolution of the branded hotel space and how businesses can best capture their "unfair "share of the market, why ESG is a key investment for long-term, sustainable success, and how connectivity and cohesion across your operations is key to growth in a softening market.
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In this episode we speak to Marc Finney, Head of Hotels & Resorts Consulting at Colliers. We discussed Colliers’ 2025 Hotel Market Index, which highlighted the strength and resilience of the Scottish market, the reasons behind rising investor activity in Birmingham and Cambridge and how investors and developers can best navigate rising costs in the industry in 2025 and beyond.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
Missing episodes?
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This episode we are joined by Mark Lewis, CEO of UK-based benevolent charity Hospitality Action. We discussed all the ways the charity helps those in need, giving support to those in the sector who often have nowhere else left to turn, some of the reasons why 2024 was their most challenging ‘year yet’ and how operators can better support their workers and also help raise funds so the charity can continue its vital work.
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In this episode we speak to Robert Bates, Executive Head Chef at The Belfry Hotel & Resort. Rob spoke about his experience working with Albert Roux, and the lessons learned from his time at Joel Robuchon and Le Gavroche, how respect and recognition is key to high morale and staff retention in the kitchen and his approach to seasonal menu creation.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we’re joined by Mark Spanton, the Pre-Opening General Manager of Dakota Newcastle. Mark speaks about his transition to managerial roles and background in F&B and Operations, how to best navigate the thorough process of a hotel’s snag stage alongside a supportive, communicative team, and why Newcastle is well positioned to be a prime hub for hospitality.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we speak to Ben Harper, CEO of the Watergate Bay Hotel and the recently launched SeaSpace, an experience-led, lifestyle aparthotel on the Cornish coastline. Ben discusses his time at SACO, where he helped launch and scale the innovative Locke brand, how SeaSpace fosters a community-led ecosystem and the benefits this brings, and how experience-led stays are forging the way in hospitality.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
This episode we speak to Mark and Sherene Fuller, co-owners of the legendary Karma Sanctum Soho hotel. They talk about their vibrant background in the music and nightlife industry, and the colourful characters they’ve met along the way, how the hotel has fostered a creative community through its exclusive membership model, and how Karma Sanctum Soho became London’s ultimate rock ‘n’ roll hotel.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we're joined by Eric Jafari, co-founder and managing director of AENDRE. We discussed how listing all the things he disliked about his experiences as a guest led him to create the first innovative extended-stay lifestyle brand, how AENDRE is looking to meet the needs and tastes of today’s ‘Zillennial’ traveller, and his advice for hoteliers looking to work with private equity firms to create their ideal hotel brand .
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we speak with Joe Cainey, co-founder of Sunbeam, an AI platform that helps hoteliers get useful insights by processing masses of guest feedback. We spoke about the surprising things hoteliers learn from the data, the importance of text as opposed to star ratings in making insights useful, and how customer feedback in the future will get hoteliers ever closer to the truth about their performance.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we speak to Robert Alley, Brand Development Director at BWH. He talks about the emergence of soft and hard brands under the Best Western umbrella, how BWH allows its independent hoteliers to benefit from the heritage power of Best Western whilst enjoying flexibility in their own operations, and the importance of forging strong relationships with owners through open communication and respect.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we speak to Lorraine Copes, the Founder and CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality, a not-for-profit organisation aiming to accelerate racial equity in hospitality. Lorraine spoke about her own career journey and what inspired her to launch the organisation, the barriers that still exist when it comes to people of colour’s representation in senior hospitality roles, and how Be Inclusive is restructuring attitudes through EDI education.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we're joined by Chris Wayne-Wills, the CEO of Crerar Hotels. We discussed the advantages of working in some of the smaller regional markets, what it was like leading the repositioning of the hotel group, helping to elevate its average daily room rate across its portfolio and the work he does for UK Hospitality Scotland and HIT Scotland in ensuring the sector’s future success.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we speak to Samantha van Exter, Head of Hotels at the Montcalm Collection. We discussed her background in working across multiple luxury hotel markets, how she oversaw the extensive refurb of Montcalm’s flagship Mayfair site, her advice for navigating a B-Corp certification journey and what the London hotel market looks like in the year ahead.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the
hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we speak to Andrew Secker, RBH Hospitality Management’s Commercial Director. We discussed Andrew’s own career journey, how he leads and develops commercial strategies for RBH’s diverse portfolio, and what it takes to be successful as part of a sales and commercial team.
This episode is sponsored by Howden, the global insurance broker that knows the
hotel business inside-out. https://www.howdengroup.com/hotel-insurance -
In this episode we talk to Hasib Rahmati, Business Development Manager at ChargeGuru, a leader in the supply and installation of EV chargers for hotels and beyond. Hasib discusses how ChargeGuru creates a simplified process for hoteliers to implement EV charging on their sites, the many benefits of this, like creating guest loyalty and passive revenue streams, and the importance of getting ahead of the curve when it comes to making your site EV friendly.
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This episode we are joined by joined by Tracey Ractliffe and Sarah Baines, Commercial Director and Sales Director at luxury hotel Grantley Hall. We discussed the reasons behind Grantley Hall’s 28% increase in events business over the past year, how the pair strategically plan for the short, medium and long term and how to navigate the challenges that hosting large events may bring.
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In this episode we talk to Francisco Ventura, the General Manager at Sunborn London, the only superyacht floating hotel in the UK. Francisco talks about the experience of joining the hotel at the start of Covid, and how a core team of 13 helped house key workers during this time, the complexities of running a floating hotel, and how the young generation are driving changes in attitude around working culture in the industry.
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In this week's special episode we are joined by Hotel Owner’s very own reporter, Cynera Rodricks. Cynera recently attended a presentation by James Bishop, SiteMinder’s Vice President of Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships, who spoke about the findings uncovered in SiteMinder’s new Changing Traveller Report, including changing attitudes around dynamic pricing, and what trends are resonating with Gen Z travellers.
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In this episode we speak to Bill Fisher, General Manager of the Hilton London Metropole, a 1,100-room 4-star hotel and conference centre in central London. We spoke about how he climbed the career ladder from his early days as a banqueting waiter, his experience becoming an Area Manager for Hilton in the Sichuan region of China, and what it’s like running one of Europe’s premier hotel properties.
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