Checking In

This week we are joined by Kerian Barnes Operations and Commercial Director for Starboard Hotels. We discussed Kerian’s journey to her role today, from young chef in male dominated kitchens to overseeing a wide portfolio of chain and independent hotels, The importance of installing an effective training programme and the three things all hotels should be working on today.

On this episode of Checking In we are joined by James Lynch, the Owner of The Albion, an award-winning 12-bedroom hotel located in Cardigan, Wales. We discussed his non-traditional route into hospitality, how that helped shape the Albion and his own approach to running the property and some of the common mistakes people make when designing a hotel.

This week we spoke with Wayne Topley - managing director at Cedar Court Hotels in Yorkshire. Wayne told us about how he steered the business through Covid only months after being appointed as MD, what he would like to see from a new government in terms of helping with the recruitment challenge, and what hoteliers can do to be more sustainable in ways that will really make an impact.

In this episode we’re joined by Simon Numphud, Managing Director of AA Hotel Services. In this episode, we discuss how the AA’s assessment scheme has evolved since inspections began in 1908, the recent modernisation and streamlining of the accreditation, and what this means for hoteliers and consumers alike, and Simon’s passion for mentoring young people in the industry.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

In this episode, we speak to Louisa Green, Managing Director of RBH Hospitality Management. We spoke about her recent appointment to the top job, how RBH serves both independent hotels as well as full-service branded properties and the differences between them, and her thoughts on the state of the hotel industry, the economics and the recruitment environment.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

In this episode we’re joined by Charlie MacGregor, CEO and founder of hybrid hospitality group, The Social Hub. Charlie discusses how the student accommodation, leisure stay and coworking mix builds vibrant communities across their sites, how the model has allowed the business to remain agile through Covid and beyond, and his hands-on work in supporting refugees, having founded NGO Movement on the Ground.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

This week we spoke with Tim Davis MBE, Founder and Managing Director of PACE Dimensions, a management consultancy firm that advises hotel groups, amongst other sectors. We spoke about his career with Hilton before PACE Dimensions, the importance of securing stakeholder buy-in when implementing change, as well as trends in sustainability and its take up among different generations.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

This week we are joined by Simon Drake , the general manager of The Store, in Oxford. We discussed the process of turning the historic Oxford department store Boswell’s into a 101 room luxury hotel, the unique opportunities afforded by being an opening general manager including using psychometric tests to help curate his ideal management team and his advice for being an effective leader.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

In this episode we’re joined by Bev King, Founder and CEO of Z Hotels. Bev tells us about how he created and scaled Z Hotels, the brand’s ‘compact luxury’ concept, its strong company culture and his three wishes for how the government can improve the fortunes of hospitality.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

This week we speak to Joanne Taylor-Stagg, General Manager of the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in Mayfair. Joanne told us about meeting Nelson Mandela in one of her earliest roles, being GM of the Crowne Plaza London Docklands during the London 2012 Olympics, revamping and repositioning The Trafalgar St James, and steering The Athenaeum through Covid and beyond.

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software: https://www.hopsoftware.com/

This episode is sponsored by Hop Software:

https://www.hopsoftware.com/