Untold - some of hospitality's incredible tales from around the globe.

Ashmore: Leadership lessons from a life in hotels. 

This episode of untold traces the extraordinary four decades of Mr. Andrew Ashmore’s career.

Andrew started selling insurance on the streets of London after leaving school in 80/81, and then set up a 'bucket shop last minute airline ticket agency' , but upon asking his banking father in Bahrain for investment, he offered Andrew to come over to Bahrain and get a job there, back in 1983/4.

Andrew's first role at the Gulf hotel was modest, but it laid the foundation for everything else that followed a move to Dubai and the Hyatt Regency proved pivotal. Andrew's talent was recognized and led to formative training in London with the legendary carbon tower concierge, Mr. Andre Demonte, whose exacting standards deeply influenced Andrew's leadership style.

Shifting into sales, Andrew excelled, discipline routines, relentless follow up and client engagement across Hyatts, iconic hotels, postings in Jordan, Jeddah and Jakarta further broadened his experience as he navigated cultural complexity, major accounts and periods of economic crisis. More latterly, his roles in Zurich and London expanded his leadership skills regional scope, and cemented his reputation as somebody that could fill hotels and most importantly, as HYATT”S TRUSTED FIXER. 

Today, Andrew and his wife Clare run the Mayfair hotel in Weymouth on England's south coast, and are extremely well known and respected in the hotel and Bed and Breakfast scene have been featured on Channel four's four in a bed (Channel 4 – Series 6 episode 25)

Enjoy untold with Mr. Andrew Ashmore, The fixer!  

This episode features hotel industry legend Mr Anthony Liddiard—a man whose career reads like a travelogue of iconic names and bold ventures. From The Savoy Group, Hilton, Southern Sun to InterContinental and RMAL Hospitality, Anthony has worked with the biggest players—and brought global brands like Trader Vic’s, Wagamama, Frankie’s, and Marco Pierre White’s restaurants to life across the Middle East region.

Educated at the same British boarding school as Sir Rocco Forte, Anthony trained at Westminster College before cutting his teeth in London. But it was in the Middle East and Africa that Anthony truly made his mark—excelling in sales and marketing before realising his career ambition by becoming a General Manager, subsequently turning around the fortunes of the InterContinental Muscat and Crowne Plaza Dubai, prior to becoming the Operations Vice President for the UAE and Qatar.

So impressed were Anthony's Abu Dhabi owners, they asked him to build a hospitality empire from scratch. He answered the call, leading RMAL Hospitality as Chief Executive Officer for over eight years.

In this conversation, Anthony reflects on the mentors who shaped him, the mentees he guided, and the lessons that fuelled his journey. From a pivotal dinner conversation that set his course, to winning over skeptical parents with a career—and a lifestyle—most only dream of, Anthony Liddiard shares a story full of insight, impact, and inspiration.

Whilst now semi-retired in Thailand, hospitality runs in Anthony’s veins, and he maintains an equity interest in two hospitality businesses and is in high demand for consultancies where his schedule allows.  

This episode is with the charismatic and always entertaining Jeremy Muller. Jeremy has forged a wonderful lifestyle in Asia built on three-decade long relationships developed through his engaging personality, World Class EQ and his bold & fearless approach to new ventures and spirit for adventure. 

Our conversations cover Jeremy’s original journey from holding down 5 jobs in Surrey out to Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore and following a successful money broking financial career with Tullett’s his transformative move into the restaurant and wine industries with some tremendously experienced and talented key culinary and winemaking partners. Jeremy’s award winning winery is Pecavvi and he is an Investor/Partner in Travis Maestro restaurant group which currently has: Luke’s, Blue Label Pizza, Nixta and the Club Room concepts in the little red dot.   

Enjoy Untold with Jeremy Muller 

A most admired and extremely well networked man, John with his family and friends established Gullivers Sports Travel taking millions of enthusiasts to marquee events including: World Cups, Ashes Tests, Lions Series taking tours around the world for many weeks at a time. 

Additionally Gullivers also co-ordinated the rugby tours of many clubs taking sporting groups to every corner of the globe including Machu Picchu, Peru. 

This 1st episode of a two parter covers: The Foundation of the business, Early years in Tewkesbury, the Leeds United European Cup final, the Cheltenham North trip to the Beer Festival, the Ashes, USA 1994, Rugby World Cups (including the exclusive insight that John had to coordinate a plan B for the 95 World Cup), Sporting ambassadors & some memories from when events conspired to make things tougher than John would have liked. 

Enjoy Untold with the Great John Hall - The Sports Travel Pioneer !

A rare case of the sequel being even better - like Empire Strikes Back and The Godfather Part Two !

In this second episode John shares some more memorable stories from his time with Gullivers Sports Travel.

John hones in on some of his encounters with Sir Richard Branson and Sir Rod Eddington as well as describing some of his favorite hotels and key contacts. Bringing his career full circle he also describes why his relationship with Andy Haden was so important and their business dealings around the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

John also shares some life and business insights and articulates where he benefitted from working hard and when he and the group benefitted from some serendipity. John also shares why he believes travel and hospitality is a magnificent industry to work in and illustrates with super examples why he places great stock in 'Attention to Detail' & 'Personalisation and Surprising the customer'.

Enjoy Part 2 with John Hall - the Sports Travel Pioneer.

A most admired and extremely well networked man, John with his family and friends established Gullivers Sports Travel taking millions of enthusiasts to marquee events including: World Cups, Ashes Tests, Lions Series taking tours around the world for many weeks at a time. 

Additionally Gullivers also co-ordinated the rugby tours of many clubs taking sporting groups to every corner of the globe including Machu Picchu, Peru. 

This 1st episode of a two parter covers: The Foundation of the business, Early years in Tewkesbury, the Leeds United European Cup final, the Cheltenham North trip to the Beer Festival, the Ashes, USA 1994, Rugby World Cups (including the exclusive insight that John had to coordinate a plan B for the 95 World Cup), Sporting ambassadors & some memories from when events conspired to make things tougher than John would have liked. 

Enjoy Untold with the Great John Hall - The Sports Travel Pioneer !

This episode of untold is with Olly Kohn.

Olly is an ex International professional rugby player having enjoyed a much distinguished and very successful career with both Harlequins and Wales.

Rugby is a famously brutal and short career, which having experienced injuries Olly was acutely aware of. On receiving a sausage making machine from his wife Ella and with his younger brother Josh sharing his passion for sausages, Jolly Hogg was established a full five years before Olly hung up his rugby boots. 

This podcast covers Jolly Hogg and their story so far in-depth and Olly talks about momentum and big wins, tough times, working with his brothers Max and Josh and his parents and the the hugely impactful influence of culinary icon Michel Roux Jr. when he caused a huge sales spike by rating the Porky Black’s the “greatest sausages in the world” live on morning television. 

Learn more about Jolly Hogg @ https://thejollyhog.com/

“For most of human history, cooking with fire was the one and only way to cook a meal!” 

Chef Pynt has one of the longest resumes of culinary accomplishments in the restaurant business and in just over an hour, he talks us through his staging, London pop-ups, building BBQs, formative experiences as well as taking us through his approach to life, business and to how he runs his exceptional kitchens and restaurants. 

Chef Pynt talks about some of his experiences in St John, Noma, Tetsuya and at Asador Etxebarri – the latter really allowing him to revisit how he thought about BBQ, a genuine realization that dishes created through ‘cooking by fire’, could still be delicious, high-end and were not solely the reserve for large gatherings of family and friends.

Chef Pynt remains humble and as likeable as they come. Burnt Ends has since its opening become a Singapore institution, winning a Michelin Star when the guide came to the little Red Dot and in the latest awards, Burnt Ends was named the 34th best restaurant in the World by San Pelligrino.

Despite the continued plaudits and kudos from industry bastions – at home in Perth with family, Chef Pynt’s father runs the BBQ and has no intention of passing over the baton anytime soon. Long may this continue.   

Enjoy Untold – with Chef Pynt

This episode of Untold is with Meetings and Incentives sensation Patrick Delaney. 

Patrick is a much admired and established executive who has been at the forefront of the travel industry for many decades. We follow Patrick’s career from being thrown through a glass window when managing a coffee dock to selling the Emerald Isle Stateside – initially in St Louis before securing a transfer to the Big Apple. 

With his natural storytelling Patrick regales us with tales from his career since his return to Ireland which included running a classical festival at Adare Manor, establishing with Padraic Galligan one of Ireland’s most successful destination management organization Ovation before starting Soolnua – providing the very best Marketing, Strategy and Training consulting for destinations around the globe - important pre-Covid and essential now.