Welcome to the NextGen Hospitality Podcast with me, Paul Borg. This podcast is designed for ambitious young professionals eager to jumpstart their careers in hospitality and grow into impactful leadership roles.
Today, I’m joined by Chris Naylor, Managing Director of the Boutique Hotel Group. Chris leads three distinctive country house hotels and wedding venues across Cheshire and the Wirral: Peckforton Castle, Nunsmere Hall and Inglewood Manor. With nearly 20 years in hospitality and a background in rugby league, he brings resilience, teamwork and a strong competitive mindset to his leadership.
In this episode, Chris shares how he moved from the family design business into hotel ownership after spotting an opportunity at his own wedding venue. He reflects on taking the leap in 2006 to acquire Peckforton Castle, expanding the group through further acquisitions, and building a portfolio of unique properties with strong reputations in the UK wedding and events market.
Chris discusses leading without coming through the traditional hospitality route, explaining why surrounding yourself with experts, staying visible within the business and leading from the front are essential. He also talks about his role as Chairman of the UK Wedding Venue Taskforce during the pandemic, representing the industry at government level and supporting venues through an unprecedented period.
We also explore how the Boutique Hotel Group develops future leaders through apprenticeships and its in house academy, why retention and internal progression matter, and what young professionals must do if they want to rise to the top in hospitality.
Learn more about Boutique Hotel Group: https://boutiquehotelgroup.co.uk
Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-borg-crowneplaza