Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

Επεισόδια

• #262 - Hospitality Meets Robert Richardson - The Story We Tell Ourselves 01.07.2026 52λ

  Six years ago, Robert Richardson joined me on Hospitality Meets for the very first time.Back then, he was a hotel General Manager with a passion for people, wondering what the next chapter might look like.Neither of us could have predicted what came next.Fast forward six years, and Robert returns to the show as CEO of the Institute of Hospitality, leading a global professional body with more than 17,000 members, overseeing record membership growth, driving the Institute's Charter ambition, and helping shape the future of our industry.It's amazing what can happen in six years.In this episode we chat about:The leap from hotel General Manager to CEOLeading an organisation through unprecedented changeWhy the Institute is experiencing its strongest membership growth in yearsChampioning professional development across hospitalityThe Youth Council and why the next generation matters more than everThe journey towards Chartered statusLearning to overcome imposter syndrome and the fear of public speakingThe stories we tell ourselves... and how they can hold us backWhy leadership is about stewardship, not ownershipThe power (and pitfalls) of social mediaBuilding organisations where people genuinely feel they belongAlong the way we explore leadership, confidence, legacy, positivity, personal growth and why hospitality remains one of the greatest industries in the world for developing people.Of course, this wouldn't be Hospitality Meets without a few memorable stories...🤣 Accidentally being announced as the new CEO while being tagged as a completely different organisation on social media.🤣 Rehearsing every speech exactly seven times before stepping onto a stage.🤣 Seriously considering quitting on the morning of his first major keynote... before discovering the world didn't end after all.And perhaps the most powerful moments of the conversation come when Robert steps away from the role of CEO and shares the experiences that have shaped him personally.From the fear of receiving an urgent cancer referral that thankfully proved to be a false alarm, to speaking openly about the reality of living through an eight-year stalking ordeal, it's an honest reminder that leadership doesn't make us immune from life's challenges.If anything, it simply means learning how to keep showing up in spite of them.There are also some wonderful takeaways throughout the episode:💭 "No one develops from a place of comfort."💭 "You will always get an answer. You might not like the answer, but you'll always get an answer."💭 "It's so easy to be positive and so lazy to be negative."💭 "Be the voice for positivity."More than anything, this is a conversation about growth.Growth as a leader.Growth as an organisation.Growth as a person.Six years ago, Robert joined me as a hotel General Manager.Today, he returns leading one of hospitality's most respected organisations.It's a wonderful reminder that careers aren't built overnight—they're built one opportunity, one uncomfortable moment, and one conversation at a time.A thoughtful, honest and uplifting conversation with someone who continues to lead with humility, purpose and positivity.EnjoyShow PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #261 - Hospitality Meets Duncan Garrood - Putting Life in Your Years 24.06.2026 1ώ 29λ

  What do a biochemist, a Chinese mansion house, Heathrow Airport, 250 burger restaurants, a pub turnaround, student accommodation, retirement living, and more than a few bottles of Mao Tai have in common?This week's guest... Duncan Garrood.And trust me...You're going to want to hear this one.Duncan's career began in a laboratory as a scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry.It then took him through Unilever, a decade living in China, Heathrow Airport, the Middle East, Punch Taverns, Bill's Restaurants, family entertainment, student accommodation, and now Riverstone Living.Most people spend a career trying to follow a plan.Duncan spent his, basically just saying yes.In this episode we chat about:Why a scientist decided business looked more interestingBeing told on a Wednesday that he was moving to China on SundayLiving next door to 13 Chinese families in a former colonial mansionPutting Walls ice cream on the Great Wall of ChinaThe business lessons hidden inside industrial quantities of Mao TaiWhat airports can teach us about hospitalityWhy great service is often revealed when things go wrongGrowing a business from $150 million to $1 billionRunning out of cows whilst scaling Shake ShackTransforming Punch Taverns during one of the biggest shifts in pub legislationReimagining Bill's RestaurantsUsing people, not capital, to drive growth in leisureTreating students like customersWhy later living might be one of the most exciting sectors in hospitality todayAlong the way we explore leadership, customer experience, entrepreneurship, curiosity, reinvention, and the power of saying yes to opportunities before you're entirely sure how they'll work out.One of my favourite stories came from Duncan's time in China.After fifteen dinners with a potential business partner, countless toasts, and enough Mao Tai to test the resilience of a small nation, the gentleman put his arm around him and declared:You are my little brother."Moments later, he passed out.Business was secured.As leadership lessons go, it's certainly more memorable than most MBA programmes.There are also some absolute gems throughout the conversation:💭 "We're not here to put years on your life, we're here to put life in your years."💭 "If you don't take the opportunities when they come, the things you're missing out on are unknown."And perhaps my favourite takeaway of all:💭 "I've literally never regretted saying yes to any of these opportunities."Because that's really what this episode is about.Not airports.Not pubs.Not burgers.Not retirement living.It's about curiosity.It's about adventure.It's about having the courage to step into the unfamiliar.And trusting that you'll figure the rest out along the way.Funny, thoughtful, insightful and packed with stories.A brilliant conversation with a man who's spent a lifetime proving that some of the best opportunities arrive disguised as uncertainty.EnjoyShow PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #260 - Hospitality Meets John Badley - Make the Mistake 17.06.2026 1ώ 5λ

  What do a kitchen porter, a Swedish adventure, a hotel fire, a freezing swimming pool, and the CEO of one of Britain's most iconic hotel groups have in common?This week's guest is John Badley, CEO of Andrew Brownsword Hotels.Today, John oversees a collection of some of the UK's most beautiful and historic hotels.But his story starts somewhere much humbler.A teenage job sweeping a car park for £10, a desperate desire to escape the cold, and a sister who eventually gave in and let him become a kitchen porter.The rest, as they say, is history.In this episode we chat about:🧽 How a car park sweeping job became a lifelong hospitality career🍽️ Starting as a KP and working his way through the kitchen ranks⭐ The pursuit of rosettes and the lessons learned in fine dining🇸🇪 Why a move to Sweden changed his perspective forever👨‍🍳 The unusual role that saw him wearing chef whites and a three-piece suit at the same time📈 The leadership lesson that came from being rejected for promotion🔥 Managing one of hospitality's most devastating crises when a hotel was destroyed by fire🏊 The infamous swimming pool experiment that taught a painful lesson about guest perception🧭 Why every leader needs a North Star🤝 The impact of mentors, including hospitality legend David Guile💡 Why curiosity remains one of the most underrated leadership skills🚀 How Andrew Brownsword Hotels is building for the future whilst protecting its remarkable heritageAlong the way we explore leadership, resilience, commerciality, culture, curiosity, and the extraordinary opportunities hospitality can provide for those willing to keep learning.One of my favourite moments came when John shared the lesson that transformed his career.After being repeatedly overlooked for promotion, he was finally told the reason:"If we promote you, who's going to look after this kitchen?"It was a difficult conversation at the time, but it taught him one of the most important leadership lessons of all:Your success is measured not by what you can do, but by what your team can do without you.Another standout moment came when discussing leadership and performance."Consistency beats intensity."A simple phrase, but one that underpins John's entire approach to leadership, culture and long-term success.There was also a wonderful reminder of the mindset that has carried him from kitchen porter to CEO:"There's always something else I didn't know. So I wanted to go and learn it."And perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the entire conversation:"Make the mistake."Not recklessly.Not repeatedly.But don't become so afraid of failure that you stop trying new things altogether.There are also stories involving Swedish adventures, luxury hotels, thousands of firefighters, frozen swimming pools, and enough leadership wisdom to fill a management textbook.Funny, thoughtful, honest and packed with practical lessons.A brilliant conversation with one of hospitality's most grounded leaders.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #259 - Hospitality Meets Caroline Ottoy - Dough Balls & Big Dreams 10.06.2026 1ώ 11λ

  What do dough balls, coffee, Covid crisis meetings, global expansion, and one very determined mum have in common?This week's guest is Caroline Ottoy, Managing Director of WatchHouse.Today, WatchHouse is one of the most exciting hospitality brands on the planet, with 29 locations across the UK, USA and Dubai, and ambitious plans to reach 100 sites globally over the next few years.But Caroline's journey started in a very different place.A teenager destined for a science degree, a year spent slightly losing her way, and a mum who effectively packed her bags and sent her to hospitality university whether she liked it or not.Thankfully, she did.In this episode we chat about:How an agricultural college accidentally launched a hospitality careerSpending a year working in France and becoming fluent in FrenchThe early days of ASK and opening restaurants across the UKLiving above the restaurant and learning hospitality the hard wayThe legendary Dough Ball IncidentGrowing brands from start up to national successThe move from restaurants into Planet OrganicLeading through Covid and creating daily "Cobra Meetings" to keep teams alignedLearning to step up when uncertainty is everywhereOvercoming imposter syndrome and finding confidence on stageThe mentors, cheerleaders and leaders who changed her lifeWhy EOS has become one of the most powerful tools behind WatchHouse's growthThe ambitious journey to 100 WatchHouse locations worldwideSome of my Favourite Quotables"Visions are irrelevant without great people""Everything is about people. Everything""I was a really good waitress. I'm telling you now, I could handle a big section""We didn't really know what we were doing. We were just finding out as we went along"Along the way we explore leadership, resilience, culture, friendship, hospitality careers, and the extraordinary impact great people can have on the direction of our lives.One of my favourite moments came when Caroline reflected on receiving a message from a former team member years later, thanking her for the role she'd played in shaping his career and life.It's a beautiful reminder that in hospitality, we often have a far bigger impact on people than we ever realise.Funny, thoughtful, inspiring and packed with lessons for anyone building teams, leading people, or simply trying to figure things out as they go.And yes...There is a story involving enough dough balls to fill half of Bristol.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #258 - Hospitality Meets Barrie Robinson - The Glass Collector Who Got Lucky 03.06.2026 1ώ 8λ

  What do holiday parks, imposter syndrome, accidental career sabotage, and one of the UK's most respected hospitality leaders have in common?This week's guest is Barrie Robinson, National Operations Director at Parkdean Resorts and Chair of the newly launched North Star Competitive Career Accelerator.Barrie's journey into hospitality wasn't exactly traditional.After lasting just six weeks at university ("reading newspapers and pretending to be a tree" wasn't quite the career path he'd envisioned), he started work as a glass collector in his local pub.Fast forward a few decades and he's now responsible for operations across the UK's largest holiday park operator.But the route between those two points is where things get interesting.In this episode we chat about:Why hospitality might be the UK's best-kept career secretWhat makes holiday parks one of the most overlooked sectors in hospitalityTurning a village pub from £500 a week into £6,000 a weekThe power of creating experiences rather than simply serving customersLiving with imposter syndrome, even at senior leadership levelThe boss who became known as "Eff Off, Don't Answer"The unfortunate incident involving a new boss, several pints, and a train journey homeWhy great leaders allow people to fail safelyHow winning the ALMR Operations Manager of the Year award transformed Barrie's confidence foreverThe return of the North Star Competitive Career Accelerator and why it's set to develop the next generation of hospitality leadersAlong the way we explore leadership, community, career development, truth-telling, resilience, and why some of the most valuable lessons in hospitality come from the moments you'd rather forget.Some Cracking Quotables"Hospitality is one of the UK's best-kept career secrets.""People don't come to work to do a bad job.""If you trust the truth, it is always the right thing to do."Barrie is thoughtful, honest, funny, and deeply passionate about helping people realise their potential.And if nothing else, this episode contains one of the greatest leadership stories ever told involving an Audi A6.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #257 - Hospitality Meets Jonny Bramwell - Laughs & Balance 27.05.2026 1ώ 7λ

  This week I sat down with Jonny Bramwell, Regional Head of Operations for Rosa’s Thai — a man responsible for 22 restaurants, thousands of miles of motorway, and quite possibly the most unexpectedly philosophical conversation we’ve had on Hospitality Meets in a while.What starts as a chat about pubs, restaurants and leadership quickly becomes a brilliant conversation about burnout, ambition, balance, accidental life lessons, and why sometimes the best thing that can happen to your career… is getting sacked from your first hospitality job.There are stories of legendary £4.50 breakfasts, pub landlords who accidentally become life mentors, entrepreneurial chaos, brutal kitchen lessons, and one particularly wonderful moment involving a manager solving Phil’s chronic lateness problem with the revolutionary concept of… buying a second alarm clock.Groundbreaking leadership.Along the way, Jonny talks openly about the moments where hospitality nearly broke him, the dangers of arrogance disguised as ambition, and how learning to understand yourself is just as important as learning how to run a business.It’s thoughtful, funny, honest, slightly chaotic at times… and packed full of gold.In this episode, Jonny and I get into…• Why a bike accident and a few days in hospital unexpectedly sparked a fascination with medicine• Falling into hospitality almost by accident — and immediately becoming obsessed with food, drink and learning• Getting fired from his very first hospitality job… then finding his career-changing mentor in the pub next door• The magic of great pubs and why community operators still matter so much• How the right leader at the right moment can completely change someone’s life• Why hospitality relationships become so deep and enduring• The difference between management and true leadership• Burnout, arrogance, ambition and learning difficult lessons early in your career• Why some jobs teach you more in one year than others teach in ten• The brutal but brilliant education of kitchens and gastropub culture• The changing role of modern operations leadership in hospitality• Why coaching matters far more than fear• Work-life balance… or just “balance” full stop• How hospitality can become both your stress and your safe place at the same time• Why being comfortable isn’t always a bad thing• The importance of recognising what actually matters in your life before it’s too late• The joy, madness and sheer unpredictability of hospitality careersSome cracking quoteables from Jonny…“If you enjoy food and drink, it’s probably a pretty good industry to be in.”“I accidentally built roots in Reading.”“The enemy of your enemy is your friend.”“It’s a school of hard knocks.”“You’re one great day away from having a crap day.”“Hospitality became my place of joy.”And perhaps the most important leadership breakthrough in modern history:“If one alarm clock isn’t working… buy a second alarm clock.”Revolutionary stuff.Why this episode is worth your earsThis one feels incredibly human.Yes, there’s loads in here about hospitality operations, leadership, career growth and team culture… but underneath all of that is a really honest conversation about figuring yourself out while trying to build a career at the same time.Jonny speaks brilliantly about the moments where things didn’t go well, the leaders who shaped him, the mistakes that taught him the most, and how hospitality has evolved from old-school fear-based management into something far more people-focused.It’s funny, reflective, occasionally chaotic, and full of the sort of stories that remind you why this industry gets under people’s skin in the first place.Also…Any episode featuring:• Pub philosophy• Angry chefs• Ping pong bars• A grammar school kid discovering kinaesthetic learning• And the phrase “the avenue of arsehole is a two-way street”……was probably always going to be a good one.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #256 - Hospitality Meets Adam Hamadache - Data, Dogs & Direct Bookings 20.05.2026 56λ

  This week I sat down with Adam Hamadache, founder of Formula and host of the Hotel Growth Podcast, a man who has spent the last 15 years helping hotels figure out how to grow in an industry that never seems to sit still for more than five minutes.What followed was part hospitality strategy masterclass, part therapy session for modern business owners, and part beautifully chaotic conversation about AI, audience-less keynote speeches, and why hiring experts only to tell them exactly what to do might be “the definition of madness.”From working in a shoe shop during school work experience while dreaming of hotels, to shouting orders on the grill in a Sydney restaurant kitchen overlooking the Opera House, Adam’s journey is full of sharp pivots, curiosity, and a relentless obsession with solving problems properly.Along the way we get into the terrifying speed of AI, why hospitality still massively underuses its own data, what business owners can learn from bad football defending, and the deeply humbling experience of delivering a keynote presentation to an audience of… one.And honestly?The audience of one story alone is worth the price of admission (Which is free by the way)In this episode, Adam and I get into…• Why careers often evolve through curiosity rather than rigid planning• How a failed hotel promotion model accidentally launched an entire hospitality marketing career• The ongoing battle between hotels and OTAs, and why direct bookings still matter so much• What operators misunderstand about marketing partnerships• Why Formula made the bold decision to hire only highly experienced people• The power of friction, challenge and healthy disagreement in great businesses• Why “slow down to speed up” might be the most important business lesson of all• The terrifying speed of AI and how search behaviour is fundamentally changing• Why hospitality still isn’t using data and technology anywhere near its full potential• How fear of being left behind can push businesses into bad tech decisions• Why independent hoteliers often feel isolated when facing huge commercial challenges• The thinking behind Adam’s new hospitality advisory board conceptAnd so much more.Some cracking quote-ables from Adam…“You don’t buy a dog and bark yourself”“Search has changed more in the last 18 months than in the previous 18 years”“You’ve got to slow down to speed up”“The bold, harder decisions are often much less expensive than the easy decisions you choose to tolerate”“Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is madness… but so is hiring experts and then telling them exactly how to do their job”Why this episode is worth your earsThis is one of those conversations that goes way beyond marketing.Yes, there’s loads in here about AI, growth strategy, technology, customer behaviour and the future of hospitality… but underneath all of that is a really thoughtful conversation about leadership, humility, evolution and the importance of staying curious when the world feels like it’s changing at breakneck speed.Adam’s honesty around business ownership, difficult decisions, and learning to pause before reacting makes this one feel incredibly grounded and real.It’s also reassuringly human.Because sometimes even successful keynote speakers end up presenting to one confused bloke in a conference room.And somehow…that might actually be the perfect metaphor for modern business.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform built specifically for shift based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes, all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #255 - Hospitality Meets Gareth Rees - Mindset, Misfit & Misunderstood 13.05.2026 1ώ 2λ

  This week, I sat down with Gareth Rees, and this is one of those conversations that feels properly important.Not just for hospitality… but for how we think about people, performance, and what “doing a good job” actually meansGareth now runs ADHospitalityD, with a mission to educate the industry on neurodiversity, breaking down misconceptions, supporting individuals, and helping businesses create environments where people can genuinely thrive.But his story starts where many of ours do…On the floorIn this episode, Gareth and I get into…Growing up in hospitality with both parents in the industryFalling in love with the buzz (and chaos) of a busy service at a young ageOriginally planning a career in sports… before hospitality pulled him back inWorking his way through the industry via the Exclusive Collection grad schemeWhy understanding the full guest journey matters in leadershipStepping into a Head of Department role, and suddenly hitting a wallThe shift from doing the job to enabling others to do itStruggling with admin, pressure, and expectations, despite loving the industryDiscovering ADHD later in life and what that explainedThe concept of interest-based vs importance-based nervous systems (game-changer 👀)Why traditional productivity advice doesn’t work for everyoneAdjusting ways of working to suit how your brain actually functionsAnd ultimately… turning that experience into a mission to support othersSome cracking quote-ables from Gareth“We need to value the strengths, but appreciate the struggles”“I wasn’t failing… I just hadn’t been set up in a way that worked for me”“At Head of Department level, your output changes, and that’s where it hit me”“I could do the job… but I couldn’t do it the way everyone else expected”“You don’t ‘fix’ this, you learn how to work with it”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you lead people… this one mattersBecause it challenges a lot of assumptions we make about:ProductivityPerformanceCommunicationAnd what “good” looks like at workGareth’s story is a powerful reminder that not everyone operates the same way, and that’s not a weakness.In fact, when you understand it properly?It can be a huge strengthAnd for an industry built on people…That’s something we can’t afford to ignore.Contact Gareth through his website at https://adhospitalityd.com/ or InstagramShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #254 - Hospitality Meets Phil Andreopoulos - Planes, Pods & People 06.05.2026 54λ

  This week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with another Phil, that being Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of YOTEL, for a conversation that starts with washing pots in restaurants… and somehow ends with power naps, gorilla trekking, hotel disruption and leadership philosophy.Inspired by a first class airline cabin and created by the founder of YO! Sushi, YOTEL has always challenged the “that’s just how hotels work” mentality, and this episode dives into exactly why.Along the way, the two Phils discuss:Why understanding your own energy patterns might be one of the most underrated leadership skills aroundThe importance of healthy friction in teamsBuilding cultures that aren’t just clones of the leaderWhy communication matters most when uncertainty is highestThe reality of navigating major business changeWhy hospitality still offers one of the greatest careers in the worldAnd why getting promoted from pots and pans to plates and glasses once felt like a massive career breakthrough 😂There’s also loads of brilliant insight around leadership, culture, growth and vision, without ever disappearing too far up its own backside.Phil Andreopoulos speaks openly about:Growing through the hospitality industryHis journey from kitchen porter to CEOBuilding franchise growth across global hotel brandsThe recent Hilton partnership with YOTELWhy “fun at work” matters more than people thinkAnd the importance of creating environments where people actually want to beSome standout quotes from the episode:“Knowing yourself is a hugely underrated leadership skill”“If you leave gaps in communication, people will fill them”“We spend a huge amount of our lives at work. It should be successful… but it should also be fun”“You don’t build great teams by hiring people exactly like you”“Hospitality is one of the greatest industries in the world… and I still don’t think we tell that story well enough”There’s wisdom in this one.There’s humour in this one.There’s also a genuinely fascinating story about how a first-class airline seat accidentally became a hotel concept.Classic hospitality really. Somebody looked at a plane seat and thought:“…yeah, but what if we put a shower next to it?” 😂Enjoy.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #253 - Hospitality Meets Guy Freedman - Fun, Fudge & Floodwater 29.04.2026 52λ

  This week, I sat down with the brilliant Guy Freedman, Hotel Director at The Pig & The Pig in the Wall, and honestly, this one felt like a giant exhale.A conversation about leadership, yes.Culture, absolutely.But also… naked guests, rogue deer, flood rescues in a Land Rover, student days in a fudge kitchen, and why maybe fun has been unfairly underestimated as a serious business strategy.Guy’s journey, from a self-confessed chatty teenager being redirected out of the kitchen and into front of house, to Hotel Director at The Pig - is packed with warmth, mischief, humility and some beautifully simple thinking about what makes hospitality…well... hospitality.In this episode, Guy and I get into…How a careers adviser effectively turned “I like eating and drinking” into a career path 😅Why his kitchen career lasted roughly three weeksStudent jobs in fudge kitchens, pot washing and night cleaning, and why every odd job teaches you somethingFalling for The Pig over a hungover lunch… then resigning before he even had the jobWhy great hospitality businesses recruit personality first, train skill secondGrowing through the ranks at The Pig and opening a hotel just in time for COVID (timing 👀)Why fun at work isn’t fluff, it’s cultureTurning staffing shortages into team challenges, not team stressThe now-legendary flood dayWhy adversity often creates the best guest experiencesWorking nights in London and the surprisingly frequent issue of naked guests locking themselves out of roomsRogue animals, escaped deer, wandering bullocks… and the operational realities no hotel school prepares you forSome cracking quote-ables from Guy“We’ve always recruited personality.”“I got to play at those hotels”“If we can make it fun, people want to come to work”“Don’t take a step back”“There’s always adversity in this industry… so you may as well have fun with it”“It’s only work” (which somehow sounded profound in context)🎧 Why this episode is worth your earsThis one is a brilliant reminder that hospitality doesn’t have to choose between performance and joy.You can be serious about standards…and still be playful.You can lead through pressure…and still laugh.And maybe, just maybe, the teams that have the most fun are often the teams that perform the best.There’s loads in here about leadership, culture and community… but also some glorious stories that remind you why so many of us fell in love with this industry in the first place.And honestly?Any episode featuring fudge, floods and naked guests was always going to be worth a listen.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #252 - Hospitality Meets Basel Jabri - Saying Yes, Then Figuring it Out 22.04.2026 1ώ 11λ

  This week, I sat down with the brilliant Basel Jabri, and this one’s got everything.Global upbringing, accidental career pivots, iconic hotel brands, and a journey that goes from literally steering boats in Dubai… to leading people & culture across a luxury London hotel group.And the best bit?It all started with a dream that didn’t happen.In this episode, Basel and I get into…Growing up internationally thanks to his father’s career in aviationWhy he originally wanted to be a pilot, and how 9/11 changed that path overnightFalling into hospitality… and grabbing the opportunity without overthinking itMoving to Dubai at 21 and stepping into one of the most iconic hospitality boom periodsStarting out in guest relations (and unexpectedly managing boat transfers 😅)The power of saying yes to opportunities, even when they’re not what you expectedMoving into training and HR… and discovering a passion for people developmentLeading teams at just 25, and the reality of responsibility hitting fastWorking across some of the world’s most recognisable luxury brands: Jumeirah, Shangri-La, Raffles, Rotana, Hyatt, Meliá, HiltonExperiencing hospitality across cultures - and why Dubai feels like the “United Nations” of the industrySome cracking quote-ables from Basel“I didn’t choose hospitality… it chose me”“I grabbed the opportunity, I didn’t wait for the perfect plan”“At 25, your signature suddenly means something”“Dubai showed me the world before I ever travelled it”“You need to say yes first… and figure it out after”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you’ve ever felt like your career didn’t go to plan…Good.Because Basel’s story is a brilliant reminder that sometimes the best paths are the ones you didn’t intend to take.There’s also a huge amount in here around:Leadership at a young ageLearning through experience (not titles)Building confidence in completely new environmentsAnd why people & culture should sit at the heart of hospitalityPlus… more than a few stories you don’t hear every dayShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #251 - Hospitality Meets Newton Fernandes - Built Across Borders 15.04.2026 55λ

  This week, I sat down with the brilliant Newton Fernandes - and this is one of those conversations that reminds you just how non-linear careers in hospitality can be.From starting out as a journalist, to working in airline reservations, to quite literally being invited across the road into a hotel career… Newton’s journey spans continents, cultures, and some seriously big roles.We’re talking global brand, marketing, and communications at a scale that’s hard to get your head around, but always grounded in one thing: understanding people.In this episode, Newton and I get into…Growing up across the Middle East, India, and Europe, and how that shaped his worldviewStarting out in journalism and developing a love for storytellingMoving into American Airlines… and then being recruited into hospitality by a hotel GM across the streetWhy travel, tourism, and hospitality are one industry (and should act like it)The reality of working in different cultures, and why curiosity beats assumption every timeMoving to London and adapting to a completely different way of workingStarting at the “bottom” in PR & marketing, and why that foundation mattersManaging brand and marketing across 450 hotels, 12 brands, and 33 countriesWhy structure, training, and community are essential at scaleMoving to Marriott and navigating the world of franchise vs managed hotelsHelping independent hotels plug into global brands without losing their identitySome cracking quote-ables from Newton“I didn’t move into hospitality… I was invited into it”“Travel and hospitality are not separate industries, they’re one”“You can’t understand a hotel brand unless you’ve seen it on the ground”“Curiosity is more important than assumption”“The way you work in one country won’t work in another, you have to adapt”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you’ve ever thought your career path is a bit all over the place… good.Newton’s story is proof that the most interesting careers are built through curiosity, opportunity, and saying yes to things you didn’t plan.There’s also a ton in here around leadership at scale, how you manage people, brand, and culture across different countries, different expectations, and different ways of working.And a reminder that in a global industry like ours…Understanding people is everythingShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #250 - Hospitality Meets Dawn Lister - Sales, Service & Stubornness 08.04.2026 52λ

  This week, I sat down with the brilliant Dawn Lister - and honestly, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get someone from the world of sales on the show.And what an introduction to it this was.From wanting to be an air stewardess at 10 years old, to building a 20+ year career in hotel sales, Dawn’s journey is packed with graft, growth, resilience… and a lot of persistence (some might call it “relentless follow-up” 😅).Now Sales Director for B&B Hotels UK, Dawn brings a no-nonsense, people-first approach to an area of hospitality that often gets misunderstood, and massively underestimated.In this episode, Dawn and I get into…How a childhood dream of travel turned into a lifelong career in hospitalityStarting in conference & banqueting… and quickly being moved out of it 😅Falling in love with sales (mainly by talking too much at coffee breaks)Why she didn’t go to university - and built her career through doing insteadThe importance of early mentors (and learning under “formidable” leadership)Being told to stop calling people so much… and why persistence still winsThe reality of sales: rejection, resilience, and finding the right fitLeading with a “people first” mindset - both with customers and teamsWhy hospitality sales isn’t about the product… it’s about the experienceSome cracking quote-ables from Dawn“Revenue isn’t revenue until it’s banked”“Hope is not a strategy” (Dammit)“If you’re not the right fit, that’s fine, but let’s have the conversation first”“We’re all selling similar products… the difference is how you make people feel”“Some people told me to stop calling… those are the ones I enjoyed winning the most”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you’ve ever worked in sales, or been on the receiving end of it, this one’s for you.Dawn strips it right back to what great sales actually is:curiosity, conversation, and care.There’s no fluff here. Just real insight into what it takes to build relationships, handle rejection, and lead teams in a world where everyone’s selling something similar.And if nothing else… you’ll never look at a follow-up call the same way againShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #249 - Hospitality Meets Paul Hunter - No Plan Survives Real Life 01.04.2026 1ώ 1λ

  This week, I sat down with the brilliant Paul Hunter, and after nearly a year of trying to make it happen, we finally got the conversation in the can.And it was worth the wait.From early days in hospitality (and admittedly being a “bit of a mischievous lad”) to launching hotels across London, navigating redundancy during COVID with twin new borns, and now stepping into a brand new luxury estate role back in Yorkshire… Paul’s journey is packed with honesty, resilience, and a proper appreciation for the twists life throws your way.We talk about growth, mistakes, leadership, and why sometimes the plan you had isn’t the one you end up living, and that’s exactly where the magic happens.In this episode, Paul and I get into…His early entry into hospitality through weekend jobs and how it quietly became a careerThe “cheeky chappy” phase… and the moment his brother told him to go to London and grow upLearning the craft of hotels with Premier Inn, and why fundamentals matter more than flashLaunching multiple hotels across London and what that teaches you about scale and standardsWinning an Acorn Award and how that opened his eyes to a bigger world beyond his roleManaging three different hotel brands in Leicester Square (and juggling three ways of working at once)The brutal reality of COVID redundancy with a young family, and navigating uncertaintyRelocating back to Yorkshire and rebuilding from the ground upLaunching GuestHouse Hotels’ No.1 York and building something from scratchThe power of giving people second chances, including working with prison rehabilitation programmesWhy mistakes aren’t failures, they’re proof you’re actually pushing yourselfSome cracking quoteables from Paul“You can have a plan… and then something comes along and completely changes it”“I think that’s where I learned hotels”“Mistakes aren’t bad things, they just mean you tried something different”“If you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably playing it too safe”“Life’s about making mistakes… as long as you learn from them”“You don’t get that level of success without being great at what you do”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you’ve ever felt like your career hasn’t gone in a straight line… good. That’s exactly the point.Paul’s story is a brilliant reminder that growth often comes from the unexpected, whether that’s a tough boss, a redundancy, a relocation, or just saying yes to a conversation you didn’t see coming.There’s loads in here about leadership, resilience, and the importance of early opportunities in shaping careers, especially in hospitality.Whether you’re just starting out or leading teams of your own, this one will give you a fresh perspective on what progress actually looks like.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #248 - Hospitality Meets Gemma Glasson - Structure, Sunshine & a Flaming Bull 25.03.2026 1ώ 11λ

  This week I sat down with the brilliant Gemma Glasson, Managing Director of Wahaca and one of those leaders whose journey reminds you that careers rarely move in straight lines… and thank God for that.From starting out in the world of KPMG and Ernst & Young, to stepping into hospitality with a desire to have more impact, more energy, and a bit more colour in her working life, Gemma’s story is packed with intelligence, curiosity, self awareness, and the kind of warmth that makes you understand very quickly why she’s ended up where she is.Along the way there are some absolute gems… including a debate on whether salt and vinegar crisps should be blue or pink, a trained accountant being completely undone by coins at a school bake sale, and a glorious story from Mexico involving mezcal, a brass band, and a firework bull ending up on Thomasina Miers’ head.Standard!But underneath the laughs is something deeper, a conversation about finding work that actually fits who you are, leading with both structure and energy, and why hospitality only really works when you remember it’s a people business first.In this episode, Gemma and I get into…• Starting out in accountancy and why big professional service firms can give you an incredible foundation• The moment she realised she was leaving part of herself, her “yellow energy”, on the table• Moving into Wahaca and being told, essentially, to come in and get stuff done• Why entrepreneurial energy and structured execution can be a brilliant combination• Growing through the business from commercial roles to food, COO and now Managing Director• What it means to help lead a much-loved British restaurant brand as it turns 18• Why hospitality is equal parts exhausting and exhilarating• How Wahaca thinks about people, guest experience and profit, and why that order matters• The power of pride in creating consistency, care and brilliant guest experiences• Building authentic brand partnerships with Attis, Dusty Knuckle and local bakeries around the UK• The role curiosity plays in building culture, collaboration and better ideas• Why understanding personality types can improve leadership, communication and team dynamics• How to deal with uncomfortable conversations before they become bigger problems• Why fun is not the opposite of seriousness — it might actually be one of the best ways to get serious things doneSome cracking quote-ables from Gemma“You have to take ownership of your own positivity”“We are a people business who just happen to serve food and drink.”“Get rid of the sand”“Know the difference between what you know and what you think you know”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether the career path you’re on really fits who you are… this one will hit home.Gemma’s story is a brilliant reminder that leadership doesn’t have to look one certain way, and that some of the best careers are built when you stop trying to fit the mould and start understanding what actually energises you.It’s also a cracking conversation about brand, culture, people, hospitality, and the magic that happens when you combine structure with curiosity.And if nothing else…Come for the leadership wisdom.Stay for the flaming bull in Mexico.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #247 - Hospitality Meets Chris Eigelaar - Golf, Graft & Great Leadership 18.03.2026 56λ

  What do you get when an introvert ends up running one of the most iconic hospitality resorts in the country?A very good reminder that the loudest person in the room isn’t always the best leaderThis week, after what feels like about 17 years of trying to line up diaries, I finally sat down with the legend that is Chris Eigelaar, Managing Director of The Belfry Hotel & Resort.Now, if you know The Belfry, you’ll know it’s not exactly a sleepy little B&B with a bowl of mints on reception.We’re talking world famous golf, huge events, 468 bedrooms, 1,100+ team members, a £90m transformation, and the kind of sporting history that makes golf fans go a bit weak at the knees.And yet, underneath all of that, Chris is one of the most grounded, thoughtful leaders you could hope to meet.We talk about growing up in hotels in South Africa, arriving in London with a thousand quid and a return ticket, learning that he was a much better front of house operator than chef… and why understanding yourself might be one of the most important things you ever do in leadership.Also, yes, there is a story involving a documentary, a fake power cut, and a perfectly timed on camera jump.Which is, obviously, exactly the sort of thing I’m here for.In this episode, Chris and I get into…• Growing up in a hotel family, where hospitality was basically in the wallpaper• His dad giving him two career options: the Navy… or hospitality• Starting out wanting to be a chef before being politely redirected elsewhere• Moving to London with £1,000, traveller’s cheques, and vibes• Picking up whatever work he could get, including some wonderfully random shifts• Helping open the Sofitel St James and building his early career in luxury hospitality• Why he briefly left hotels… then realised he missed the madness• Landing at The Belfry and leading one of the most iconic resorts in the UK• What it really takes to deliver a £90m investment programme in a live business• Why he believes in a flat structure, open doors, and walking the floor• Learning not to force yourself into someone else’s leadership mould• Why being an introvert in hospitality is not a weakness• The power of good mentors… and the lessons bad ones teach you too• Resilience, togetherness, and what tough moments reveal about teams• Why one great golf shot is enough to make you think you’re Tiger Woods for 3 secondsSome cracking quotes from Chris“Hospitality chooses you”“Just be comfortable with yourself”“My role is to remove barriers so people can do their jobs”“There’s no right or wrong leadership style, it’s how you use it”“If one person does it, everybody does it, that’s hospitality”Why this episode is worth your earsThis one’s for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit the “standard” idea of what a hospitality leader is supposed to look like.Chris is proof that you don’t need to be the biggest voice in the room.You don’t need to be all jazz hands and noise (Sorry, I'll tone it down... I won't)You just need to know your people, know yourself, and create the sort of environment where others can do their best work.Also, if you fancy a bit of behind-the-scenes Belfry brilliance, leadership wisdom, golf chat, and a story about jumping away from an electrical unit on camera…You’re in very safe hands.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #246 - Hospitality Meets Conrad Brunton - Cockroaches in the Bloodstream 11.03.2026 1ώ 3λ

  Show your support for Hospitality Sector Letter to the ChancellorWhat happens when two people who love a bit of unstructured behaviour get together for a structured conversation?The answer?Lots of unstructured conversationThis week I sat down with Conrad Brunton, founder of Tonic Talent, passionate hospitality advocate, charity champion, networking powerhouse… and a man who clearly believes that if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it properly.Before we get into his journey. Conrad is seeking your help. If you have even a tiny sliver of love for Hospitality, please follow the link at the top of the page and put your name to support his open letter to the chancellorTo his story, From washing pots at 14, to running the best fish and chip shop in England (Genuinely), to bankruptcy, to building a respected recruitment business and one of the Midlands’ most influential hospitality networks, Conrad’s story is packed with resilience, humour, honesty, and a few brilliant war stories.Including… dropping a potato down the shirt of a senior British politician just before he went on stageYes. That actually happened.But underneath the laughs is a deeper conversation about pride in your work, why hospitality people are wired differently, and the importance of standing up for an industry that so many of us love.In this episode, Conrad and I get into…• Starting in hospitality at 14 as a KP and discovering the “buzz” of kitchens• The concept of restaurants being “a cockroach in the bloodstream” (credit: Sir Terence Conran)• Working at incredible places like Simpsons, Malmaison and the Fat Duck• Opening a fish and chip shop, and eventually being named the best in England• What bankruptcy really teaches you about resilience and self-belief• Why recruitment is really about conversations, not CVs• Building Tonic Talent, now celebrating 10 years in hospitality recruitment• Why great recruiters should feel like an extension of your brand• The importance of culture, accountability, and simple things like a good checklist• The incredible power of hospitality communities and networks• Why the industry needs to stand up for itself right now more than everSome cracking quoteables from Conrad“Restaurants are like a cockroach in the bloodstream, once it’s there, it never leaves”“If you’re going to do something, do it to the absolute best of your ability”“I don’t actually like recruitment… I like the conversations”“Treat people the way you’d want to be treated, it’s not complicated”“Hospitality people love what they do. Not many industries can say that”Why this episode is worth your earsConrad’s journey is a brilliant reminder that hospitality careers are rarely straight lines.They’re messy.They’re unpredictable.Sometimes they knock you flat.But if hospitality gets into your bloodstream…You tend to find your way back.And along the way you might build something pretty special.Just try not to drop a potato down anyone’s shirt.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #245 - Hospitality Meets Ella De Beer - Electric Mayonnaise & Chicken on a Stick 04.03.2026 53λ

  This week I sat down with the brilliant Ella de Beer co-founder of Electric Mayonnaise and one of those hospitality people whose career reminds you just how brilliantly unpredictable this industry can be.From waitressing at 14 in South Africa (while telling everyone she was 16… obviously), to opening restaurants, running pubs, building multi-site businesses, leading people functions at brands like Ottolenghi & MJMK and now helping shape the next generation of hospitality leaders, Ella’s story is packed with graft, curiosity, and a healthy dose of “why not give that a go?”Along the way there are some absolute hospitality gems… including the moment she handed Leonardo DiCaprio chicken on a stick, worked 3am Soho finishes fuelled by “Chinese tea” and helped open a 300 cover restaurant just as the financial crash hit. Ideal timing.But underneath the brilliant stories is something deeper, a conversation about the power of hospitality as a career, the importance of learning by doing, and why developing people might just be the most important job our industry has.In this episode, Ella and I get into…• Starting in hospitality at 14 and discovering confidence through people• Moving from South Africa to the Netherlands (and learning Dutch while running a restaurant)• The chaos, glamour and 600-cover Saturdays of Soho hospitality in the early 2000s• Why big volume restaurants teach you lessons you never forget• The moment a 300-seat opening met the global financial crash• What London operators learn the hard way when they buy countryside pubs• Building "Sourced Market" at St Pancras and what happens when 1,500 small suppliers meet train station footfall• Moving from operations into people leadership, and why ops experience changes everything• The unique magic (and slightly chaotic brilliance) of working at Ottolenghi• Why hospitality might be the best industry in the world for social mobility• How Electric Mayonnaise is rethinking hospitality education through apprenticeships• And why learning in hospitality should always be practical, human, and immediately usefulSome cracking quote-ables from Ella“Hospitality is where I found my confidence”“You could stand behind the till at St Pancras for eight hours and never stop serving”“Hospitality has to be taught by people who’ve actually done it”“We’re just teaching the way we all learned, by doing the job”“Our responsibility is to show young people this industry can be a real career”Why this episode is worth your earsIf you’ve ever started in hospitality with no real plan… and somehow found yourself building a career along the way, this episode will feel very familiar.Ella’s story is a brilliant reminder that hospitality isn’t just about service or restaurants.It’s about confidence, opportunity, learning on the job, and giving people a chance to grow into something bigger than they thought possible.And if that doesn’t make you proud to be in hospitality…You might be in the wrong tradeShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #244 - Hospitality Meets Roddy Watt - Still Building 25.02.2026 50λ

  Still BuildingBorn in a hotel, thrown out of universityBuilt the UK’s biggest hospitality recruitment business, Lost control of it, Lost his driving licence, Broke his back.You'd think this was a lesson in how not to do it?But far from it!This week on Hospitality Meets, I sit down with Roddy Watt, recruitment pioneer, hotel strategist, owner of one almighty black book and living proof that setbacks are not full stops, they’re commas.In This EpisodeWhy most careers start by accident“Aim at nothing and you’ll hit it” (a dartboard life lesson)Building a 200 person recruitment empireWhat happens when venture capital meets optimismThe week that tested everythingWhy attitude beats experienceWhy high performers don’t get a free passRelaunching again… because why not?Built. Lost. Still BuildingRoddy helped shape hospitality recruitment in the UK.15 offices.Hundreds of consultants.Market leader.Then came the flotation.The numbers.The pressure.The reality check.And a particularly memorable week involving:• Losing his company• Losing his driving licence• Falling off a horse and breaking his backHis summary?“That was a week.”No violin music. Just perspective.And learning that sometimes your worst week becomes the beginning of your next chapter.This episode is funny, honest, slightly outrageous in places, and packed with lessons you only get from someone who’s been around the block a few times🎧 Listen now: https://linktr.ee/HospmeetspodShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
• #243 - Hospitality Meets Douglas Balish - Forged in the Kitchen 18.02.2026 1ώ 11λ

  From Baptism of Fire to Michelin LeadershipThis week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with Douglas Balish - Executive Chef and Director at Grove of Narberth, Hotel Chef of the Year, and a man shaped by some of the toughest kitchens in the business.From washing dishes in Ayrshire…To getting “pans thrown at his head”To learning to run in kitchens where nobody walked…To leading his own Michelin starred brigadeAnd all of the lessons that come with thatThis is a candid episode about pressure, humility, growth — and the fine line between breaking someone and building them.In This EpisodeStarting out as a 15 year old dishwasher in ScotlandWalking away from university to chase kitchens insteadThe brutal reality of early Michelin kitchensWhy some pressure builds you, and some destroys youTaking demotions to grow fasterWorking at Bohemia and being completely out of his depthThe intensity of Whatley ManorMoving to Australia to work at QuayWhy leadership is not one size fits allCreating dishes when nobody’s ever let you create beforeBaptism of FireDouglas doesn’t sugarcoat it. His early Michelin experience was brutal.80-hour weeks.Staff accommodation from hell.Being told he was useless.Working until nothing fazed him.And yet, he doesn’t look back with bitterness.He looks back with perspective.Because for him, that pressure didn’t break him.It sharpened him.Not because bullying is good (Obviously) but because understanding why something is happening mattersThe Psychology of KitchensThere’s a fascinating thread in this episode. Douglas nearly studied psychology. Instead, he learned it in kitchens.He talks openly about:Realising he wasn’t as good as he thoughtBeing publicly humbledBeing dropped down the ranksTaking ownership instead of walking awayAnd most importantly, how that shaped the leader he is today.He’s clear:Management isn’t one-size-fits-all.Some chefs need an arm around them.Some need structure.Some need challenge.The job is knowing the difference.From Scotland to SydneyHis journey takes him through:JerseyThe CotswoldsAustraliaBack to the UK to run his own restaurantAt Quay, he experienced world stage dining, huge covers, relentless precision, global recognition.At smaller, creative restaurants, he discovered something else:The kitchen has to suit the chef.Because even talent struggles in the wrong environment.Leadership NowToday, at Grove of Narberth, Douglas does things differently.Yes, standards are high.Yes, precision matters.But:Young chefs are encouraged to createIdeas are tested safelyFeedback is constructiveGrowth is intentionalBecause he remembers what it felt like to be thrown in without support.And he’s determined to build strength, not just resilience.Stand-Out Reflection“At some point you’ve got to become head chef”"And when you do — you’d better know who you are"This episode is honest, Unfiltered, and full of insight for anyone leading teams under pressureShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy