Checking In by Hotel Owner

In this episode we speak to David Taylor, CEO of Kew Green Hotels. David spoke about Kew Green’s strategic priorities as it looks to expand, and the pillars of its new five-year strategy, the key behind building trust and strong partnerships with hotel brands and owners, and the importance of strengthening the foundations of a group through clear communication and a strong brand story. Today’s episode is brought to you by Elavon, a global leader in payment solutions for over 30 years. Whether you run a five-star hotel franchise or an independent guesthouse, Elavon makes it easy to pay for every stay. Through the rush and the respite, for the front of house and the out of sight, get payments that can keep up with anything. With Elavon, there’s a smarter way to take payments. Visit Elavon.co.uk for more. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode we speak to Ed Burrows, co-founder of The Wildhive Collection. Ed spoke about his career foundations and the road to founding Wildhive, the process of launching their first site at Callow Hall, and what lessons from this have shaped the opening of their second site, Eshott Hall, what Wildhive’s people-first culture and Nature-Led hospitality looks like in practice, and the importance of communicating a strong brand identity from day one. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode we speak to Claire Good, chief operating officer at Travelodge. She spoke about Travelodge’s approach to enacting operational change across its wide portfolio, the importance of clear communication and understanding the needs of frontline colleagues and how this in turn impacts guest experience, and how Travelodge’s great managers make for great teams. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode we speak to Tim Rumney, CEO of BWH Hotels GB. We spoke about BWH’s distinctive business model, and how individual hotels can benefit from the group’s framework whilst retaining their individual identity, the importance of understanding your USP and capitalising on what makes your hotel unique to guests, and how BWH Hotels GB's strong community is the key to long-lasting hotel partnerships. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode we speak to Gemma Jones, hotel operations manager at The Feathers in Oxfordshire. Gemma told us about the lessons learned through her varied career, including her time as cabin crew, how leading from the front and by example is the key to team motivation, what makes The Feathers a unique and experiential Cotswolds getaway, and how the little details have the biggest impact on guests. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode we’re joined by Christian Masters, the general manager of art’otel London Hoxton, who delves into his experience with hotel pre-openings, the culture and art that defines the art’otel brand, and the many things the property has in store two years after launching. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode we’re joined by James Bland, commercial director for Travel, Hospitality and Leisure at Ipsos. James explores how consumer perceptions of hotel brands have changed and continue to evolve, why brand awareness is shifting - particularly among younger guests - and shares practical guidance on how hoteliers can track brand perception. We also discuss how both independent and large-scale brands can navigate conversion challenges in an increasingly competitive market. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences. This episode is brought to you by Corby of Windsor. Hotel in-room products shouldn’t create more work. Corby of Windsor designs guestroom solutions built to handle real hotel use, from durable irons and ironing centres to kettles, safes and accessories. Every product is rigorously tested, thoughtfully designed and made to last, helping hotels reduce maintenance calls and protect their investment. Corby of Windsor, Designed for Hotels.

In this episode we speak to Franck Arnold, Managing Director of The Savoy. We explore his beginnings in luxury hospitality across the globe, through to leading one of the world’s most iconic hotels through the unprecedented challenges of Covid. He also discusses how The Savoy continues to balance heritage with innovation, and what it takes to deliver world-class, personalised guest experiences while remaining profitable, inclusive, and sustainable. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences. This episode is brought to you by Corby of Windsor. Hotel in-room products shouldn’t create more work. Corby of Windsor designs guestroom solutions built to handle real hotel use, from durable irons and ironing centres to kettles, safes and accessories. Every product is rigorously tested, thoughtfully designed and made to last, helping hotels reduce maintenance calls and protect their investment. Corby of Windsor, Designed for Hotels.

In this episode we speak to Michael Flynn, Client Director at Howden, and Paul Davidson, Director & Senior Security and Investigations Consultant (Team 9). We explore what Martyn’s Law will mean for the hospitality sector, and the practical steps hoteliers need to consider to prepare for this - from security measures and staff training to insurance considerations and reputational risk. We also discuss how to cut through the noise, avoid feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information available, and the importance of starting conversations around this today. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences. This episode is brought to you by Corby of Windsor. Hotel in-room products shouldn’t create more work. Corby of Windsor designs guestroom solutions built to handle real hotel use, from durable irons and ironing centres to kettles, safes and accessories. Every product is rigorously tested, thoughtfully designed and made to last, helping hotels reduce maintenance calls and protect their investment. Corby of Windsor, Designed for Hotels.

In this episode we speak to Richard Ellison, CEO of 7 Hospitality Management. Richard spoke about his early hospitality lessons from unbranded and branded hotels, as well as leading operations at Gleneagles during the G8 Summit, how 7 Hospitality builds trusted relationships by thinking and performing like an owner, and why clarity and a strong roadmap are key to a healthy hotel lifecycle. This episode is brought to you by Howden, the global insurance broker. Howden is a proud Principal Partner of The British & Irish Lions and as well as being front-of-jersey sponsor for the 2025 Men’s tour, is helping to make history as the Series Title Partner for the first ever Howden Lions Women’s Series in 2027. Whether you run a boutique hotel, independent B&B, or international hotel group, there are 101 reasons why Howden’s great for you. From tailored policies to true peace of mind, Howden is here to back your business every step of the way, so you can focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional guest experiences.  Learn more at https://www.howdengroup.com/uk-en/sector/hospitality/hotels-and-guests-houses This episode is brought to you by Corby of Windsor. Hotel in-room products shouldn’t create more work. Corby of Windsor designs guestroom solutions built to handle real hotel use, from durable irons and ironing centres to kettles, safes and accessories. Every product is rigorously tested, thoughtfully designed and made to last, helping hotels reduce maintenance calls and protect their investment. Corby of Windsor, Designed for Hotels. Learn more at www.corbyofwindsor.com

In this episode, we speak to Francisco Macedo, COO of Pavillion Club and Wildernesse Reserve, and chair of the Master Innholders upcoming Hotel Leadership Conference. Francisco discussed what we mean by the 2026 conference theme of ‘Stronger Together, Breaking the Mould’, the key to navigating innovation, and balancing tradition and transformation, and how intuition and empathy will define the leaders of tomorrow.

On this episode we speak to Natalia Dainty, Learning and Development Manager at Valor Hospitality. Natalia spoke about her journey from operations to HR and beyond, offers insights into how Valor’s training programmes support every individual’s unique learning styles and her pioneering mental health first aider initiative, and the impact it’s having across Valor.

In this episode we're joined by Henry Matson from Apron to explore one of the biggest headaches in hospitality: managing payments, suppliers and back-office workflows. Hotels often deal with complex structures, fluctuating orders and teams who are rarely behind a desk, making financial admin harder than it should be. Henry breaks down the everyday pressures operators face, how processes can be simplified, and where hotel finance is heading over the next few years.

In this episode we speak to Anna Corkill, regional vice president, Development UK and Ireland at Hyatt. Anna spoke about Hyatt’s plans to grow its UK portfolio by over 30%, why it’s setting its sights on the UK’s exciting regional destinations, how it is well positioned to capture the burgeoning lifestyle and luxury markets, and how Hyatt maintains the strong partnerships that lie at its core. This episode is sponsored by Apron. Running a hotel means juggling endless payments and expenses - from suppliers to staff - all while keeping cash flow in check. That’s where Apron helps. With Apron Bill Pay, you can manage all your supplier payments in one place - approve, schedule, and sync automatically with Xero or QuickBooks. And with the Apron Card, your team can spend easily while you stay in control, with spend limits, auto receipts chasing, and full visibility. Every purchase earns rewards you can turn into cashback or gift cards. It’s free to get started and built for small businesses. Learn more at getapron.com.

In this episode we speak to James Cowan, HR director for UK and Ireland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands at The Ascott Limited. In this episode we discuss what attracted him to HR, the challenges of navigating HR across different countries and cultures and his role in nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders. This episode is sponsored by Apron. Running a hotel means juggling endless payments and expenses - from suppliers to staff - all while keeping cash flow in check. That’s where Apron helps. With Apron Bill Pay, you can manage all your supplier payments in one place - approve, schedule, and sync automatically with Xero or QuickBooks. And with the Apron Card, your team can spend easily while you stay in control, with spend limits, auto receipts chasing, and full visibility. Every purchase earns rewards you can turn into cashback or gift cards. It’s free to get started and built for small businesses. Learn more at getapron.com.

In this episode we speak to Ian Taylor, co-founder of the Kaleidoscope Collection. Ian reflects on his path from corporate hospitality to independent ownership, sharing lessons learned from leading major hotels and building a creative, design-led brand. We discuss how he balances originality with commercial reality — and his advice for hoteliers considering the leap into running their own collection. This episode is sponsored by Apron. Running a hotel means juggling endless payments and expenses - from suppliers to staff - all while keeping cash flow in check. That’s where Apron helps. With Apron Bill Pay, you can manage all your supplier payments in one place - approve, schedule, and sync automatically with Xero or QuickBooks. And with the Apron Card, your team can spend easily while you stay in control, with spend limits, auto receipts chasing, and full visibility. Every purchase earns rewards you can turn into cashback or gift cards. It’s free to get started and built for small businesses. Learn more at getapron.com.

In this episode we speak to Josh Renouf, founder of Joy Resolve and circular design manager at Lamington Group. Josh spoke about what first attracted him to the world of product design, and the story behind his viral creation The Barisieur, how Lamington Group embeds circular design into its operations in creative ways and encourages guests to be curious, and what hoteliers should consider when rethinking waste and their own eco innovation.

In this episode we speak to Mike Baxter, co-founder of House of Gods. Mike spoke about his unconventional route into hospitality, and how being a disruptor paved the way for bringing his creative vision to life, how House of Gods embodies its ‘maximalist by design, boutique in attitude’ ethos with its eclectic style, what can be expected from the brand new Canary Wharf site, and the ways in which House of Gods makes its guests feel like a rockstar.

In this episode we speak to Olivia Immesi, CEO of Native Places. Olivia spoke about her experience of working with the iconic Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch and Ace Hotel London, Native’s approach to creative placemaking and the importance of maintaining the soul of the brand, its journey to becoming a net zero carbon operation by 2030, and how a more inclusive industry must start from conversations at the top.

In this episode of Checking In speak to Karim Kassam, owner of Horwood House Hotel. Karim spoke about his career journey, including the perspectives and lessons gained during his time in Dubai, how the right amount of realism and forward-thinking are key when approaching an investment journey, the ambitious transformation of Horwood House, and how collaboration, respect and transparency foster its strong team culture