Checking In

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.

This episode we are joined by Katie Niland, Commercial Director at the Belfry Hotel and Resort. We discuss her journey in the industry, the £80m expansion project currently happening at the hotel and the challenges that come with it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this week’s Checking In, we speak to Damien Martin, General Manager of the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff. Damien talks about his journey from fine dining jobs to wider operational roles, the importance of getting to know your team as individuals, the Master Innholders’ Aspiring Leadership Diploma and its valuable networking opportunities, and how more can be done to nurture new industry talent from a diverse breadth of backgrounds.

In this episode of Checking In we speak to Karim Malak, the CEO of easyHotel, about his career path from consultancy roles to leading easyHotel today, how the hotel group has maintained high profit margins despite the turbulence of the wider economy, and about his ambitions for easyHotel to leverage its brand and grow from 50 to 1,000 properties.

On this episode of Checking we are joined by Jane Frazer, Director of Sales and Marketing at Fairmont St Andrews. We Discussed Jane’s time working in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and their differences from the UK market, her advice for listeners to wanting to attract more MICE business, and how despite being located at the home of golf the hotel makes sure to maximise its attractiveness to guests other than golfers through its strong community relationships.

In this week’s Checking In, we speak to Grant Peires, Communications Director at IDILIQ Group, who has most recently dedicated his work to Kind Holidays, an initiative where hotel space is gifted to families and individuals going through hardship to provide them with a respite and create priceless memories. Grant tells us more about how the initiative works, the impact it has had on some incredible individuals, and how other hoteliers can get involved in this worthwhile movement.

An introduction to Kind Holidays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E862wig5SZA

Metro article: https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/26/holidays-disabled-son-impossible-found-perfect-hotel-20887447/