Hoteliers’ Voice

As the hospitality sector adapts to changing economic realities, hoteliers are weighing the long-term impact of local tourist taxes against the evolving demands of domestic travelers. In this episode, we unpack the risk of tourist level while capturing value in the modern staycation market. Hoteliers in South Yorkshire share their views.

We begin with an interview with Dan Wilson, Regional GM at Vine Hotels, who breaks down the staycation outlook for 2026, the challenge of maintaining profitability amidst rising operational costs, the imperative of nurturing hospitality careers, and his perspective on local holiday taxes.

Building on these operational realities, Paul Wells from Studio Moren delivers a sponsor session on "Staycation Nation – Repositioning Your Value," exploring what makes an experience-led destination, how curating unique guest journeys can extend length of stay to drive revenue, and how hoteliers can unlock their most overlooked physical assets.

Shifting to regional growth, Emma France from Marketing Sheffield shares key destination data, the campaigns driving new visitor traffic, the city's unique selling points, and how local hoteliers can directly tap into DMO initiatives to boost business.

Finally, the episode wraps up with an energetic breakout discussion featuring hoteliers sharing their candid, unfiltered views on the true impact of the tourist tax across the industry

In this episode, we unpack real-world examples of hotels taking direct action. Discover how Redworth Hall Hotel & Spa generates 86% of its electricity on-site through combined heat and power while using wood pellets for hot water. We also dive into voco Sheffield’s story, where a £50,000 monthly electricity bill prompted an energy assessment that caught excessive water flow rates, putting them on track to save nearly £400,000 next year simply by optimizing facility operations.

With margins under pressure across the industry, hoteliers are proving that reducing environmental impact and boosting the bottom line are often two sides of the same coin.

Tune in as we discuss why cutting emissions starts with identifying operational waste, how upfront investments pay off, and why profitability and sustainability no longer need to be competing priorities.

In this episode, we sit down with Pete Hurley, founder of Well-Seasoned, to dive deep into the changing landscape of recruitment in the hospitality industry.

Traditional hiring methods aren't always enough to keep up with dynamic operational demands. Pete shares key insights on how hotel leaders can identify the exact skills and expertise needed to hit their strategic goals - and why it’s time to look beyond standard full-time positions for key strategic roles that may not justify the time

We explore how leveraging consultants, fractionals, and freelance professionals can give forward-thinking hospitality businesses the agility they need to thrive.

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Morris, founder of Hospitality Staffing UK, who brings over two decades of recruitment experience in the hotel and stadia sectors.

With the hospitality landscape undergoing significant changes, standard hiring methods are under pressure. Richard dives into what it really takes to build a successful career in hospitality, the unvarnished realities of job relocations, and why premature overpromotions can backfire on both hoteliers and the properties they manage. He also shares why recruiters themselves are feeling the strain in today's market and offers practical ways hotels can rethink their approach to hiring top-tier management, sales, and revenue talent.

Is hospitality just a stepping stone, or can it be a lifelong, fulfilling career?

In this episode, we sit down with Marsela Loulai, Hotel Manager at Mercure Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa, for an insightful, practical conversation on the future of talent in the hospitality industry. Drawing from her personal career journey—spanning past milestones, current leadership challenges, and future ambitions—Marsela shares her direct experience with modern people management and hiring in today's competitive landscape.

Together, we explore how leaders can rewrite the industry narrative to transform hospitality from a temporary stint into a rewarding, long-term profession. Plus, Marsela gives us an insider’s look at Kenwood Hall—a historic 4-star country house hotel set in 12 acres of tranquil parkland near Sheffield city centre. She breaks down their target guest profile, marketing focus, tailored event packages, and the distinct advantages of combining boutique charm with the global reach of the Mercure brand.

• Career Trajectory: Marsela’s personal journey and how early experiences shaped her modern leadership style.
• The Hiring Reality: Honest insights into modern recruitment, retention, and managing diverse teams in today’s market.
• From Job to Career: Actionable strategies for hospitality leaders to foster long-term career growth and employee loyalty.
• Behind the Scenes at Kenwood Hall: Understanding their target guests, custom event offerings, and marketing focus.
• The Brand Advantage: Balancing the local character of a Sheffield landmark with the global strength and support of Mercure.

Discounting gets heads in beds, but does it drive profitable growth? Does it deliver the right type of guests? What are the risks? In this episode, we sit down with Jon Siberry, Revenue Consultant for Z Hotels and Sarova Hotels, to uncover the real impact of flash sales and impulse buying in today’s hotel landscape.

Jon breaks down what actually drives results versus what simply erodes your Average Daily Rate (ADR). Whether you're looking to fill sudden distressed inventory or test new market segments, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for executing flash campaigns without diluting your brand.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What Works vs. What Doesn't: The exact conditions under which a flash campaign succeeds, and the common pitfalls that burn revenue.
• Impact on Rates & ADR: How to structure deep discounts without destroying your rate integrity or anchor pricing.
• The "Impulse" Guest Profile: Who actually books these deals, their lead times, and how their behavior differs from direct bookers.
• Ancillary Spend & RevPAR: Does a discounted rate lead to lower overall spend, or can on-property upselling make up the difference?
• Reviewing Performance: Key metrics beyond occupancy to evaluate whether a campaign was genuinely incremental or just cannibalized direct bookings.

In this episode, founder and director Ira Vouk explains the role of the AI Hospitality Alliance (AIHA), an independent organisation driving the responsible, collaborative adoption of artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry. Cendyn's Chief Customer Officer, Luke Markesky explains why they are a member and why it is an important approach to AI development.

What we cover :

• Mission & Operations: Addressing shared challenges, establishing standards, and defining the alliance's core focus areas.
• Risks, Concerns & Strategy: Navigating AI adoption, key concerns facing tech vendors, and managing risk and data privacy.
• Partnership & Governance: Who holds the industry accountable as AI continues to evolve.

For further details visit www.joinAIHA.com.

In this episode, recorded at the Kent Edition of our Hospitality Roundtable roadshow, we dive into the core strategies for driving revenue, optimising distribution, and securing high-value corporate business in today's competitive hospitality landscape.

Episode Highlights:

• Alternative Distribution with Rory King (Rory’s Travel Club): We explore how to rethink your partnership strategy to drive direct bookings. Rory discusses what Rory’s Travel Club is, how it’s changing the game, and strategies for hotels to reclaim control over their booking channels.
• Conversion Success with Siggi Schrot (Net Affinity): Learn the secrets to turning traffic into bookings. Siggi breaks down how to manage the traffic-versus-conversion balance, keep your website content relevant, and effectively target the audiences that matter most.
• Securing Corporate Business with Geraldine Brennan (Oracle): We look at the corporate market landscape. Geraldine discusses current trends, the power of automated sales activities, and how integrated platforms enable faster service delivery and unlock new upsell

As part of our Roundtable Roadshow 2026 with sponsors Oracle, Focus on Hospitality, Rory's Travel Club, Net Affinity, Keystep Solutions and Studio Moren.

In this episode, we explore the critical intersection of digital transformation and operational scaling in the hospitality sector. We are joined by the Roundtable Roadshow Platinum Sponsor, Oracle, represented by David Hayward, who shares insights into the current landscape of the independent hotel market and why it’s time for hoteliers to rethink their technology stack.

We also feature an exclusive case study with Philip Houghton, Managing Director of SuperCity Aparthotels - the recent winners of the 'Best Operator (51-200 units)' award at the 2026 Serviced Apartment Awards. Philip discusses SuperCity’s journey from its first property in 2009 to its current rapid expansion across the UK, and how their recent move to Opera Cloud PMS is empowering their formidable brand growth.

Key discussion points include:

• Digital Transformation: David Hayward breaks down the primary drivers of digital change, how to succeed in your transformation journey, and clears up common misconceptions about Oracle.
• Case Study Strategy: Philip Houghton details the strategic imperatives behind SuperCity’s recent PMS upgrade, the partner selection process, and the tangible commercial and staff benefits observed since deployment.
• Tech for Growth: Advice for hotels looking to modernize their systems and guidance on "future-proofing" your tech to drive revenue and outperform your competitor set.

What does it really take to run a historic, Grade II listed country house estate without losing your mind - or your sense of humor?

Our guest in this episode certainly embodies the humour through the challenge. Ryan sits down with James McComas, General Manager of the iconic Champneys Eastwell Manor in Kent. From hosting fairy tale weddings and high-stakes corporate retreats to operating an award-winning spa and the 2-Rosette Gardenia restaurant, James takes us behind the grand facade of one of the UK’s premier independent luxury destinations.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• The Reality of Historic Building Management: Why working with centuries-old architecture is "endlessly engaging" yet bound to "present a certain level of frustration"including the time James had to deal with an actual sinkhole in the middle of Kent!
• Mastering the Craft: The endless challenge of finding skilled traditional craftsmen while balancing budgets, routine maintenance, and long-term investment planning.
• Operations & Scale: How the estate navigates the exclusive-use market, handles changeable demand patterns, and scales up seamlessly for massive events.
• People & Expectations: Tackling the industry-wide shortage of skilled workers (like specialist spa therapists) and bridging the gap when customer expectations risk misalignment with a historic venue.
• Independent Ownership: The agility, freedom, and unique hurdles of operating under independent private ownership.

"If something is going to go wrong, it's certainly not going to be boring. You just have to take these things, laugh at them, and work through it." James McComas

Tune in for an unfiltered, witty, and deeply insightful masterclass in hospitality leadership, resilience, and the delicate balance of preserving heritage while delivering modern 5-star luxury.