In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, Adam Hamadache is joined by Wendy White, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kew Green Hotels, to unpack the real-world pressures facing branded hotels in today’s market.

Wendy shares her journey from glass collector to group sales leader and gives a candid take on what it really takes to grow in 2025 – including how to compete with luxury experiences, cut through digital noise, and stay visible in a crowded OTA-dominated space.

We cover:

• Why CRM is the most powerful tool in a modern marketer’s kit
  

• The real challenge of staying competitive in secondary locations
  

• Her views on event clustering and the feast-or-famine effect
  

• Why data, personalisation and segmentation are the keys to conversion
  

• How hotels should approach tech, marketing budgets and brand platforms
  

If you’re running a branded hotel—or managing one—you’ll get plenty of practical insights from this conversation.

📍 One key takeaway: “New business, new business, new business. Without it, there’s no business.”

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, Adam sits down with Eugene Leonard, General Manager at the iconic Hotel Café Royal, to explore the future of luxury hospitality—and the operational reality behind delivering it in 2025.

Eugene shares his journey from dishwashing to directing global openings, and offers rare insight into how a legendary brand stays relevant in an ever-evolving market. He opens up about the tough Q1 many London hotels faced, the resurgence of experiential travel, and how digital integration is reshaping the guest journey.

You’ll hear:

• Why ease is the new luxury—and how Café Royal uses tech to create it
  

• The real impact of VAT, Brexit, and government policy on high-end hospitality
  

• What “Feel Good Fridays” have done for his team culture
  

• How travel trends are shifting from destinations to events and experiences
  

• The missed opportunity in fragmented hotel tech stacks—and the big idea no one’s built yet
  

With humility and clarity, Eugene delivers a masterclass in modern leadership, service excellence, and how luxury can still surprise.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Haynes—host of Travel Market Life and a leading voice in hotel tech strategy—to talk about why so many hotels get their technology decisions wrong… and what to do about it.

Ryan doesn’t sugarcoat it. From the madness of managing 20+ contracts to the cost of integrations that don’t actually integrate, he shares what’s really going on under the hood—and how hoteliers can avoid the traps.

We cover:

→ Why most RFPs are like writing to Santa

→ What to actually ask tech vendors before signing anything

→ How peer-to-peer conversations beat demos every time

→ And why messaging tech is the next big growth lever for hotels

If you’re thinking about changing your PMS, CRM, or any other bit of your stack—listen to this first.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, Adam Hamadache sits down with hospitality veteran Tudor Hopkins—owner of Sleeping Bear Hotels and founder of The Hospitality Coach.

Tudor shares the story of how he turned a struggling 3-star hotel in Dorchester into a lean, 30% profit machine—without breakfast, without a restaurant, and without cutting corners on guest experience. But this conversation goes beyond operations.

We dive into:

• Why hotel leadership needs to shift from command to coaching

• How small, independent hotels can build high-performance teams without big budgets

• The power of listening, trust and letting go (even when the marquee heater breaks on a wedding day)

From his wild early days in cocktail bars to building a hospitality franchise model designed for today’s economics, Tudor brings honest, practical insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

If you care about growing a profitable hotel and developing a stronger team, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I sit down with Brian Gore— Group Marketing & Communications Director at Arora Group —to unpack what real brand building looks like in modern hospitality.

We cover a lot of ground:

→ Why luxury hotels must stay authentic in the age of AI

→ How to turn brand storytelling into commercial growth

→ The tech shifts marketers can’t afford to ignore in 2025

→ Why OTAs aren’t the enemy—and how to actually use them strategically

→ The importance of quick wins when stepping into a new marketing role

Brian’s worked with brands like Mandarin Oriental, Bulgari, Fairmont, The Set Collection, and Birch—and his perspective is both practical and honest.

If you care about brand, growth, and doing marketing that actually works—this episode’s for you.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I’m joined by Catt McLeod, Vice President at Elegant Hotel Collection, to unpack the realities of growing an independent hotel brand in 2025.

We cover everything from the overuse of AI in marketing to the power of going hyper-niche with your audience. Catt shares how hotels can stand out—not by chasing trends, but by doubling down on clarity, connectedness and character.

You’ll hear:

→ Why technology should support, not swamp, hoteliers

→ The real reason user experience can make or break direct bookings

→ How to attract loyal guests by leaning into what makes you different

→ And what most hotel websites still get wrong in 2025

If you’ve ever questioned whether your tech is helping or hindering growth—this one’s for you.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I’m joined by Dan Visser—Commercial Director of the Langdale Estate and Chair of Cumbria Tourism—for a conversation packed with sharp insights and refreshing honesty.

We dig into the real challenges facing hotels today: from rising costs and noisy digital channels to the talent shortage and what it really takes to stand out.

Dan shares why cutting through the noise starts with understanding your guest—not just your Google Analytics. He also calls out the industry’s reputation problem, challenges marketers to tell more meaningful stories, and makes a strong case for doing less automation and more human connection.

Whether you’re running a luxury estate, a boutique bolthole or a marketing team in need of direction—this episode is for you.

What does it take to lead a hotel through a brand transition without losing its soul?

In this week’s episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I sat down with Stefan Micevski, General Manager of The Elm Bank Hotel in York—now part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection.

Stefan’s journey is proof that hospitality careers don’t have to follow a straight line. From bartending in Amsterdam to managing award-winning properties in the UK, he’s seen it all. We talked about:

→ Why joining a global brand like Hilton can be a growth accelerator for independent hotels

→ How AI and tech are changing operations (without replacing people)

→ Why hiring the right people still trumps everything else

→ And what the York Hospitality Association is doing to attract the next generation into the industry

This one’s for every hotel GM navigating brand standards, tech evolution, and team culture—sometimes all in the same week.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I’m joined by Allison Knapp, sales leader at Marriott and founder of The Millennial Hotelier.

Allison brings energy, insight, and a deep understanding of what hospitality could be—if we actually listened more.

We unpack:

• Why the industry still struggles to attract and keep great people
  

• How AI is reshaping the booking journey if hotels are brave enough to adopt it
  

• The underrated power of email, storytelling, and brand heritage
  

• Why personalisation matters more than ever
  

• And how hospitality’s next phase depends on real, authentic connection
  

From marketing to staffing, OTAs to tech trends—this one’s full of practical perspective from both sides of the Atlantic.

In this episode of The Hotel Growth Podcast, I sit down with Nick Davies, owner of The Cottage in the Wood, to talk about running a high-performing independent hotel in one of the UK’s toughest trading environments.

Nick shares how rising costs, staffing pressures, and national insurance hikes have forced innovation — from rethinking his F&B model to trimming trading days without sacrificing guest experience.

We also dive into:

• Why closing two days a week actually improved profitability
  

• The thinking behind their new 16-cover tasting restaurant
  

• VAT inequality across Europe (and why UK hospitality’s hands are tied)
  

• How to win direct bookings without fighting the OTAs head-on
  

• The guest psychology behind sweets at checkout
  

If you’re an independent hotelier feeling the squeeze, this episode is full of clarity, candour and practical takeaways. Nick doesn’t mince his words — and that’s exactly why it’s worth a listen.