Checking In by Hotel Owner

In this episode, we speak with Camilla Woods, Services Director at Hospitality Action, to break down the latest findings from their Taking the Temperature survey. We’re exploring the rise of the ‘accidental counsellor’—why managers are increasingly taking on the weight of team mental health, how to spot the early warning signs, and the practical steps leaders can take to turn this research into re...

In this episode, we speak with Camilla Woods, Services Director at Hospitality Action, to break down the latest findings from their Taking the Temperature survey. We’re exploring the rise of the ‘accidental counsellor’—why managers are increasingly taking on the weight of team mental health, how to spot the early warning signs, and the practical steps leaders can take to turn this research into re...

In this episode we're joined by Filipe D’Avillez (Aa-VEE-Lez), General Manager of TRIBE London Canary Wharf. Filipe has built a varied career in hospitality, from launching hotels and developing teams to creating award-winning service cultures. He joined TRIBE around four years ago, ahead of the opening of its first UK property, and has been at the heart of establishing the brand here. Today, we’l...

In this episode we speak to Gavin Taylor, CEO of Clermont Hotel Group. Gavin takes us behind the scenes of managing iconic London properties, sharing how his background in finance and operations shapes his approach to leadership, hotel identity and guest experience. We dive into the state of the London hotel market, what it takes to stand out amidst rising competition, and how Clermont is redefini...

In this episode of Checking In, we speak to Gillian and Michael Beare, directors at Finn Lough. Once their family home, Finn Lough has evolved into a distinctive nature retreat centred around slowing down, reconnecting with the outdoors and creating memorable experience-led getaways. The siblings discussed taking over the running of their family’s unique hospitality business, the changing guest at...

In this episode we speak to Nicholas Davies, general manager of the St. Pancras London. We explore what makes the site such a unique part of the capital’s hospitality landscape, how strong storytelling and laidback luxury is at the core of its personality, and how King’s Cross is becoming a destination in its own right. Nicholas also discusses the changing expectations of luxury guests, as well as...

In this episode we speak to Jamie Power, general manager at The Great Southern Killarney. He spoke about his experience working at a major New York hotel and the lessons this taught him in leadership, the repositioning of The Great Southern, and how the history of the site was preserved and honoured whilst elevating it to a modern luxury experience, and how hospitality is now more than ever return...

In this episode we speak to Caitlin Owens, managing director of Fowlescombe Farm, a Devon retreat that is shaped by the seasons. We explore what regenerative hospitality really means and how Fowlescombe puts this into practice in every sense, as well as its approach to provenance and the relationship between guests and the land. She discusses how the property combines farming, conservation, food a...

In this episode we speak to Caroline Gregory, owner and manager of The Lovat in Loch Ness. Caroline spoke about how her hospitality journey began by working with her father, giving her an early insight into the industry and shaping the values that continue to influence her approach today. She also discussed the distinctive ‘Coftie’ philosophy that shapes the Lovat – which creates a sense of comfor...

In this episode we're joined by John Harrington, head of Business Development UK & Ireland at Líbere Hospitality Group. John spoke about his role in launching the company's UK presence from the ground up, the deciding factors behind what makes a property the right fit for Líbere, how the company’s own technology-led operating model has allowed for the highest levels of automation and agility, and...

In this episode we speak to Matthew Li, head chef at The Municipal Hotel Liverpool. We'll explore how Matthew’s culinary family helped inspire his own career journey, the lessons in leadership and respect that he has learned through his work with Andrew Green, what it takes to build and lead a high-performing kitchen and motivate your team, and the importance of strong mental health support and st...

In this episode we speak to Amber Pledge, co-founder of Kabn, Scotland's first luxury, regenerative, social hospitality brand. Originally a dual-qualified finance lawyer, Amber made the leap from a city career to hospitality entrepreneurship, bringing together analytical thinking and creative vision to build the business. We explore the journey behind Kabn, from the inspiration for the brand to th...

In this episode we speak to Sinai Pedreschi, director of sales and marketing at Starhotels Collezione. Sinai shares how strong relationship-building with clients and team members has remained at the heart of her business approach, how smaller luxury hotels can compete with the marketing power of global brands, why boutique properties may have a unique advantage when it comes to creating memorable...

In this episode, we speak to Andrew Sanders, general manager of the recently reopened Grand Hotel Leicester, one of the city's most recognisable landmarks and a key part of its ongoing regeneration. Andrew spoke about the process of refurbishing the site and what this opening brings to Leicester, how to balance preserving heritage with catering to the modern guest, the ways in which the hotel cele...

In this episode we’re speaking to Philip Steiner, chief operating officer of Vertiq Hospitality Partners. He talks about his experience with the merger of Cycas Hospitality and Vertiq Capital, how his experience as a hotel general manager led him to a senior role in operations, and the surprising things he has had to unlearn during his career.

In this episode we're joined by Nicolas Leroy, co-founder of Toile Blanche, a hotel resort and contemporary art collection in St Paul de Vence in the South of France. Having started it as an artistic destination with his brothers, Nicolas will share what he has learned about hospitality from an artist’s perspective, how to make art feel intentional and interactive for guests, and the differences b...

In this episode we speak to Daniel Kyriakides, a partner at law firm Reed Smith. We discuss why private members’ clubs are experiencing a resurgence and what that means for the future of the hotel sector. From heritage buildings being reimagined as lifestyle destinations to hotels borrowing the experiential playbook of members’ clubs, we discuss how the lines between the two are becoming increasin...

In this episode we speak to Jackie Brown, regional director, North & West Europe, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Jackie spoke about her time at Hilton and the lessons learned across both operations and corporate hospitality, Wyndham's growth ambitions across Europe and the opportunities within the UK market today, balancing global brand standards whilst supporting owner’s individual growth plans and ho...

In this episode we speak to Andrew Richardson, managing director of private members’ club Home House. Andrew reflects on his background as a chef, and what he learned working across international luxury hospitality markets, how Home House preserves its exclusivity whilst being inclusive, the evolution of the private members' club model and how versatility and adaptability are key to conquering thi...

In this episode we speak to brothers Alex and Adrien Grosjean, young entrepreneurs who have recently acquired The Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly. We discussed the reasons why Manchester’s visitor market is booming, and their decision to invest in this area, why they see extended-stay accommodation as a major opportunity in what is one of the UK's fastest-growing cities, how they p...

In this episode we speak to Philip Lassman, managing director UK&I at Numa. Philip spoke about the lessons learned from his time at Hilton, IHG and Accor, and how his early roles have shaped his leadership approach, the rise of aparthotels and why guests are increasingly seeking flexible and locally connected stays, how Native by Numa sites root themselves in their local neighbourhoods, and Philip...

In this episode we speak to Nico Tréguer, co-founder of Roberts and Treguer and The Culpeper Family. Nico spoke about founding the group alongside his longtime friend Gareth, having had a vision for bringing more nature spaces to cities, the planned extension of The Buxton in Spitalfields, and how the site’s storytelling engages guests and the local community, how the Culpeper Family’s core sustai...

In this episode we speak to Sam Innes, Food and Beverage assistant at The Waldorf Hilton. Sam spoke about how the Down's Syndrome Association Workfit programme helped connect him to his dream workplace, how he has developed confidence and communication skills while embracing the fast-paced world of guest service in his role, the benefits that inclusive hiring can bring to hospitality teams and his...

In this episode we speak to William Hunter, general manager of The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton, owned by Dominus and managed by its hotel platform Dominus Hospitality. William discussed how his career has progressed under the Hilton banner, including standout lessons from Hilton’s management programme and the strong mentors he has met along the way. He also discusses balancing gl...

In this episode we're joined by Ruud Belmans, co-founder and executive creative director at design studio WeWantMore. Having gained experience working with major hotel brands, he will discuss how to improve the guest experience by refining touchpoints, the importance of implementing brand storytelling in every part of the property, and why LLMs are the next frontier for guest discovery. This episo...