Hospitality Mavericks Podcast

As a former guest to the show, Ally Gordon and I go way back. In today’s candid conversation, we learn more about Ally’s coaching process and how you can get unstuck by simply reframing your mind. As a coach, it’s his mission to help people like you find clarity for your future and give you the tools to live a fulfilled and successful life. Prior to setting up his coaching practice, Ally has been a Senior Manager and Director in a number of businesses. He’s launched more than 55 hospitality businesses over his career, including Ole & Steen and Jamie Oliver’s Trattoria. Learn more about what to look for in a coach, what it’s like working with Jamie Oliver, how to commit to your goals, and how Ally overcame his personal life challenges. This interview was a great chance for us to reflect, and I hope this will help you spin the wheel for more positive behaviours that stick.Links:#7: Scaling a Danish Bakery Chain in London With Alastair Gordon: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/podcast/episode/33

Today we talk about the future. With over 25 years working in innovation, Elvin Turner joins the show to share how you can start implementing big strategy ideas that stick.Elvin Turner is an award-winning innovation expert and associate professor of innovation, entrepreneurship and marketing for MBA and executive education programmes. His clients include some of the world’s most innovative organisations in the finance, technology, music, drinks and publishing industries. He recently published his book ‘Be Less Zombie: How Great Companies Create Dynamic Innovation, Fearless Leadership and Passionate People’.Join us as we explore ways to create more time and space for innovation, what metrics to use, and how we can learn from others but still own the journey. Links:‘Good To Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996/  ‘Be Less Zombie’ by Elvin Turner: https://www.amazon.com/Less-Zombie-Transform-Innovation-Digitization/dp/0857088203 ‘Be Excel

Juliana Hahn is a specialised hospitality copywriter, after having worked in hotels across the world – from the Caribbean and Paris to Jordan and Bangkok. She’s worked with leading brands like Four Seasons, Radisson Blu, Pfizer and Ericsson, to name a few. Today we explore the long-term storytelling strategies. Tune in as we discuss the power of repeating the same story, how to communicate when you’re not operating, storytelling internally as a team. We also unpack some practical tips on updating your website and chat features.Links:The Do Lectures: https://thedolectures.com/ Honest Burgers: https://www.honestburgers.co.uk/ Aman: https://www.aman.com/ Generator Hostels: https://staygenerator.com/ HospitalityCopywriting.com: https://hospitality-copywriting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianahahn/ #81 Dhilon Solanki, UK & EMEA Director at Sprout, on Customer Loyalty: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/podcast/episode/cc4ef272/81-dhilon-solanki-uk-and-emea-

When today’s guest, David Abraham, saw the stat a few years ago that 40% of US jobs could be done remotely, Outpost was a no brainer. Set up in 2016, Outpost is a hospitality brand delivering live, work and travel services to a community of remote workers. From teaching in Japan to working at the White House and Wall Street to NGOs, David has seen and done a lot.Calling in from Singapore, David shares his tips on how to build a strong community with interactive spaces. In this episode we explore the future for families being digital nomads, building partnerships, how we want to travel in the future, and the opportunities for hotels. Whilst a lot of us are in lockdown, this episode will embolden you for a brighter future when we can travel and collaborate in person again. Links:DestinationOutpost.co: https://destinationoutpost.co/ ‘The Elements of Power’ by David Abraham: https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Power-Gadgets-Struggle-Sustainable/dp/030022690X ‘Why We Sleep’ by David Walker: https://www.

Back in January 2016, Pim de Morree and Joost Minnaar quit their corporate jobs after their workplaces were too filled with too much inertia, bureaucracy and a lack of motivation. They started the blog Corporate Rebels and have been travelling the world to visit the most inspiring workplaces. I’m super excited to finally have Pim on the show as I’m a huge fan of their book, Corporate Rebels. As we know, hospitality doesn’t work in a linear way, so why do so many organise themselves in such a top-down way? I bring Pim on to the show to uncover the key principles of how to organise a truly successful business. Tune in as we discuss being a supportive leader, why tech projects often flop, and what businesses are doing to keep innovative – from nursing care homes to manufacturing plants.Links:‘Corporate Rebels’ by Pim de Morree and Joost MinnaarCorporate Rebels Blog: https://corporate-rebels.com/archives/ The 8 Trends: https://corporate-rebels.com/trends/ Honest Burgers: https://www.honestburgers.c

Dialling in from Toronto, Canada, SEO expert John Vuong runs through what you can do to be fully discoverable by your ideal audience. As John mentions, people on Google are at the buying stage of the process – whether it’s checking reviews, your menu, if you’re available for takeaway within the next five minutes, and so on. Being SEO-optimised is essential.John’s entrepreneurial spirit and experience working with more than 5,000 local business owners at Yellow Pages inspired him to start his own company, Local SEO Search, in 2013. It is a full-service search engine optimization (SEO) company that serves small businesses.In this episode, we explore what you can do as a business owner to get started with SEO. We also discuss how to manage SEO when you’re time-poor, the 14 digital touch points of your customer, embracing mistakes, and what John has learnt from working with thousands of small business owners throughout his careerLinks:LocalSEOSearch.com: https://www.localseosearch.ca/ ‘Post-Corona’ by Scott

I’ve wanted to have today’s guest on the show for a while now, and the day has finally arrived! Naimesh Patel is Co-Founder and CEO of Manju's, the family-run Indian restaurant in Brighton. Manju's is named after their 84 years old mother who is a chef at the restaurant – a lifelong dream now fulfilled. This was a deeply grounding interview where we unpack the importance of having an internal North Star.In our conversation we discuss their recruiting process, having on small menus, the reasons why hospitality businesses fail, and changing people’s perceptions of Indian food. As we enter 2021 with many challenges, we learn how Naimesh has practised patience whilst the restaurant has been closed since March 2020.Links:Peter Jones: How We Made Our Millions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0175q02 Bill Ackman on the restaurant business: shorturl.at/iIRZ0  #29: Enriching Lives With Mowgli's Nisha Katona, Founder & MD of Mowgli Street Food: shorturl.at/cnzGNManjus.co.uk: http://manjus.co.uk/&nb

As we kick off with 2021, there’s a long road ahead of us. Larry Korman – design and travel extraordinaire – joins the show to share why he’s optimistic about the industry, and what you can do to keep innovating. AKA offers weekly and monthly stays in studio and one to two bedroom residences in beautiful buildings with personalised support. They have locations in NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC, London and LA. It’s a division of Korman Communities, a four generation family-run real estate business since 1909 and pioneer of the furnished suite concept in 1966.I love Larry’s bullish energy, and his insatiable desire to build a great team. Tune in as we explore value propositions, innovating remotely, digital partnerships, humanising experiences and how AKA succeeds by looking at things 3-dimensionally. Links:AKA: https://www.stayaka.com/ Technogym: https://www.technogym.com/ Wolfgang Puck: https://twitter.com/wolfgangpuck #84 Jeremiah Tower, the Father of American Cuisine, on the Creat

Purpose and profit. Those two simple words are really not that simple in daily practice, but both are symbiotic for any business. In this episode we explore how companies can operate on a clear alignment of the two, and how we best define these terms.From Apple to Patagonia, being purpose-driven wins on the long-term. So what does it take for your purpose to be actionable, and not get swept away by lofty or delusional goals? Tune in to episode 6 as we discuss bringing people together, the distribution of wealth, knowing your why and tweaking a company’s direction.It’s clear there’s still so much more to discover. We’re on a mission to unpack how the hospitality industry can operate on a better model. Join in on our continued conversation by connecting with us through the links below. Resources mentioned:#002: Doughnut Economics: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/podcast/episode/299f7e23/hospitality-and-the-infinite-game-002-doughnut-economics‘The Infinite Game’ by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.co.uk

Connecting all the way from Bangkok, Thailand, I’m joined by Deepak Ohri, CEO Lebua Hotels and Resorts. Deepak is a real truth-seeker, so I really enjoyed hearing his gems of knowledge. As he mentions in this episode, “people are assets, not costs” – we need to look after our staff now more than ever. Deepak is an entrepreneur, business leader, public speaker, guest lecturer, and mentor. He joined Lebua Hotels and Resorts in 2003, where he helped drive its ambitious growth by keeping the human in the centre of everything. The Bangkok-based luxury hotels and restaurants company have locations in Thailand, India, and New Zealand.Join us as we explore the opportunities with 5G, the future of green luxury tourism, sticking to the basics, and what we can learn from The Godfather.Links:Lebua Hotels & Resorts: https://lebua.com/ #10: Leadership Advice From Andreas Karlsson, CEO of Sticks'n'Sushi: https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/podcast/episode/c2d89fa2/10-leadership-advice-from-andreas-karlsson-ce

The B Corp movement envisions a global economy that uses business as a force for good. Businesses should not only generate returns, but also to create value for its customers, employees, community, and the environment. Through its rigorous assessments, there are now over 3,300 certified B Corporations across 150 industries in 71 countries.In this episode we explore the pragmatic way to assess if businesses are built as ‘good’. It’s clear that becoming a B Corp is no award show or marketing exercise as you need to continually improve to maintain your status. Join us as we discuss our scores from their assessment, how it has helped many businesses grow sustainably, and its implications for going mainstream.Resources mentioned:BCorporation.uk#001: Long-term Thinking#002: Doughnut Economics#003: Circular EconomyToast AleThe Bear KitchenB Corp Free Assessment Tool‘There Is No Planet B’ by Mike Berners-LeeGet in touch:Michael’s Email: michael@hospitalitymavericks.com David’s Email: david@objectspaceplace.com&n

Building trust and having the space to be creative is essential for any business to thrive. Today’s guests Kitty Newman and Klaudia Mitura have seen this impact operators firsthand, so I can’t wait to unpack what you can do to practically implement these values into your workplace.As co-hosts of &Happiness, a podcast which explores what makes us happy, Kitty and Klaudia are obsessed with storytelling. Alongside the podcast, Kitty is the Director of creative digital marketing agency TrapezeMedia, and Klaudia is a work psychologist and a learning and development specialist. They also provide online training, including the popular Hospitality Reset Menu.We discuss buying directly from brands, how restaurants track ROI from online marketing, the future of at-home restaurant experiences, and how to watch out for your ‘gremlins’.Links:& Happiness Podcast: https://www.andhappiness.co.uk/Brighton Coffee Works: https://www.instagram.com/brightoncoffeeworks/ Dirty Bones: https://dirty-bones.com/ Rice

We all know the climate crisis is a real problem. So what can the hospitality sector actually do? It’s a big challenge to tackle, and we certainly don’t have all the answers. We uncover our learnings from ‘No Planet B’ by Mike Berners-Lee – a really impactful book which reveals the hard facts and big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges, as well as how we live and think. In this conversation, we reflect on our actions as business owners. From food waste, sourcing, energy consumption, to much more – there’s a lot for hospitality businesses to do. We discuss veganism, seasonal produce, rewilding, and the need for a framework to create a thriving place.Resources mentioned:‘There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years’ by Mike Berners-LeeA Life On Our PlanetAn Inconvenient TruthSRAAndrew StephenDouglas McMaster#002 Donut Economics‘Doughnut Economics’ by Kate RaworthWinnowSiloGiki appGet in touch:Michael’s Email: michael@hospitalitymavericks.com David’s Email:

As host of the popular Slick Talk podcast and founding member of the Hospitality Game Changers Group, Wil Slickers is a content creator extraordinaire. Wil dedicates his time to individual and big name operators in the vacation rental and boutique hotel segments of hospitality while still growing the show and industry network globally. I’m super excited to pick Wil’s brains as he’s a true expert in service accommodation. It’s been a tumultuous year, but he suggests an interesting business opportunity for short-term rentals. With his concept of the Destinationaire, "a person who is wired to create remarkable experiences that are anticipated and shared", the industry is changing. Join our conversation as we explore sustainable lodging businesses, the impact of Airbnb in 2020, quality control and the need for more transparency in the industry.Links:The Slick Talk Podcast: https://www.slicktalkthepodcast.com/ Hospitality Mavericks: Interview With The Host, Michael Tingsager: https://www.slicktalkthepodc

The circular economy is about eliminating waste and having a continual use of resources. In today’s episode we explore how this powerful system for sustainability can be applied to the hospitality industry. From food waste to kitchen design, it bleeds into all areas that can be achieved through collaboration.Tune in as we explore how David is applying the principles of the circular economy to his hospitality design work. We also discuss where the big opportunities lie, the renting economy, what we can learn from brands like IKEA, and kitchens with no bins.Resources mentioned:#002: Doughnut EconomicsThe Ellen MacArthur FoundationRestorative RestaurantCleanConscienceGlobechain#66 Ali Aneizi, Founder of Tamweel Capital, Being an investor during a pandemicDouglas McMasterSiloAdam HandlingNomaWinnowSustainable Restaurant AssociationSRA Guide‘The Third Plate’ by Dan BarberGoldfinger FactoryThe Good Business Festival‘The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows’ by Ken Webster‘Cradle to Cradle’ by Michael Braungart and W

Today’s guest Jeremiah Tower needs little introduction. He’s an American celebrity chef who, along with Alice Waters and Wolfgang Puck, has been credited with pioneering the culinary style known as California cuisine. His career began at Chez Panisse, in California, after a chance job opportunity. He later opened his own restaurant, Stars, in San Francisco, with branches in Napa Valley, Palo Alto, Manila, and Singapore. His biographical documentary ‘Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent’ was produced by Anthony Bourdain.Jeremiah champions in the interview that you need to “get out of your head and back into your mouth”. I had a great time picking Jeremiah’s brain about what the industry can do to thrive after the pandemic. It’s about bringing the greatest brains together. Tune in to learn about re-training staff, dealing with unfinished business, how to say yes – and when he had to build an extra table for customers one evening.Links:Chez Panisse: https://www.chezpanisse.com/1/Jeremiah Tower: The Last Mag

Our society has an obsession with growth, quite often neglecting the need to thrive. In today’s episode, we unpack a meaty but highly relevant book – ‘Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist’ by Kate Raworth, to learn more about how we can fundamentally reframe our understanding of what economics is and does. Along the way, she points out how we can break our addiction to growth; redesign money, finance, and business to be in service to people; and create economies that are regenerative and distributive by design.Tune in as we pick our favourite myths that Kate Raworth dispels in the book, like the rational man and linear growth, and we reflect over some key questions to ask yourself, your team and in the boardroom. It’s time to think about building a better economy; we simply can’t ignore equality or sustainability. We hope you enjoy this conversation as we explore how we can all follow a human-centred approach to thriving.Resources mentioned:‘Doughnut Economics’ by Kate Raworth

There’s no doubt that there’s been a huge adoption of technology for hospitality businesses this year. What’s clear is that the hardest part of digital transformation is putting in place the systems and processes first. In this episode I catch up with Mark Gausden, Vice President EMEA & JAPAC at Oracle Food and Beverage, to learn more about what you need to be strategic with your technology.Oracle Food and Beverage is part of Oracle, a global leader in enterprise software and IT solutions. Their division breaks down the essential components of an optimised online ordering system – from online menu management to payment processing, kitchen coordination, and fulfillment for restaurants of all shapes and sizes. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Mark Gausden has plenty to share in this interview. Tune in as we discuss the kind of companies that were quick to adopt technology during pandemic, takeout market trends, and new hole-in-the-wall concepts.Links:Join the Hospitality Ma

What type of hospitality industry do we actually want to create? Hospitality and The Infinite Game is a new podcast series focused on answering this one simple question. Tune in as Michael Tingsager of Hospitality Mavericks and David Chenery of Object Space Place discuss big ideas that might just set the foundation for a different model of success.Today’s episode is inspired by Simon Sinek’s ‘Infinite Game’, and what happens when we switch to a longer-term thinking mindset. We reflect over the casual dining crash, and other bad choices made by short-term thinking, and what we can learn from impactful brands like Patagonia. As business leaders it’s our duty to think big to better understand the system.Subscribe to the rest of the series as we cover topics such as the climate emergency, a circular economy, doughnut economics, B Corps, and how profit and purpose can co-exist. We make no claims to have all the answers. Far from it, in fact, but we hope these conversations might just get you thinking. We are learn

Hospitality and the Infinite Game is a new podcast series focused on answering one simple question….what type of hospitality industry do we actually want to create?In the series, Michael Tingsager of Hospitality Mavericks and David Chenery of Object Space Place discuss big ideas that might set the foundation for a different model of success. A model which would allow us to piece together a bold new way forward, where our businesses can thrive whilst making a positive impact on people, communities and the planet.The topics are broad, covering infinite mindedness, the climate emergency, a circular economy, doughnut economics, B-Corps and how profit and purpose can coexist. Each short, half-hour episode is aimed to be a primer on each subject to spark interest and debate. We make no claims to have all the answers, far from it in fact, but we hope these conversations might just get you thinking. We are learning and hopefully you will learn with us.So tune in and get ready to make your mark. The game is afoot