Hi Mike! It’s been a whole year since you took part in a special reopening spotlight for us. What have you been up to over the past year?
Hello! Well firstly, I have been well and truly wearing my IoH diversity shield and membership pin with pride! I have enjoyed three very engaging IoH events with a particular highlight being a panellist at Passion4Hospitality in November. It was an amazing experience, seeing the engagement of the students, and being able to give a little back to the industry. I also was invited to speak on a webinar with Boutique Hotelier to share the Changing Role of the GM. And lastly, I was a guest on the I’m In podcast; a very topical and fun New Year New Job episode hosted by industry award winner Phil Street FIH to keep us all talking!
I am currently involved with the Mentor Me scheme and am incredibly lucky to have a very positive mentee. The program demonstrates exactly the merits for both mentor and mentee and the is a real showcase of how we can all help each other, personally and professionally, during such a restricted and driven time of regrowth.
How has the last year since reopening been for yourself and the team at Hempstead House?
What an incredible year and journey! If I’m honest, it was tough managing the business during lockdown and reopening, but it is now even tougher to manage now. A positive problem to be having with the rebuilding of the hotel trading levels and staffing has been very challenging. I am incredibly proud of the team and support of so many staff holding our hotel together and each other. We have remained focused on our ethos and brand, and this has sustained our success to date, following a brilliant summer trade last year, but a real rollercoaster December where many hotels were generating 30-40% of their revenues in one month meant a real battle of a winter.
Last year we spoke about the challenges, talent, and skills shortages in the Hospitality Industry. Do you feel that these challenges have been met and has the last year brought any new and more difficult ones?
Sadly no. I have only today before taking part in this interview, spent six hours attending a careers fair for 1800 students aged 12-17 with an intent to provide opportunities to generate awareness and insights to hospitality.
It has been advertised that unfair poaching or headhunting are creeping in and this needs to be addressed and not become another reason for candidates to feel concerned.
How do you feel the industry has evolved over the last year?
There is always a positive from any negative… and this I believe is how its evolved. Hospitality has never had so much press, TV coverage, news reports and social media. It was hit the hardest and every guest I have spoken to recognises this and shows respect to help and support the opportunity to keep our prestigious hotels from the Savoy, to Hempstead House trading. The industry has shown incredible resilience, depth and agility to recover. It has 100% recognised a holistic and flexible expectation for staff and family time and long should this continue.
What has stood out for you over the last year?
Literally the pace of change and the nonstop aptitude and attitudes of hoteliers and suppliers to recover… pricing, logistics, supply, opportunities. All of these have magnified in my eyes all for positive reasons but have resilience to not accept the first offer feels a gamble in every decision! One minute you feel in control and the next day you are chasing a bus that has left and all other hoteliers are on board!
The guest experience has astounded me really with intent to spend their leisure money on luxury experiences against lifestyle costs still… our challenge to be confident in our service and the ability to increase rate reflecting this has never been so apparent. We would never have thought our rates would be as they currently are however as I said earlier, the negative of the situation has allowed us to have a positive change to increase prices that when the world recovers financially hospitality will be able to sustain these new rates and sustain our position in the sector.
Why say #imin to the IoH?
The consistent presence and reassurance of topical and relevant content that is provided and the future scope of the IOH for affiliates to fellows is a proud attachment to have for all of us who are involved. You feel safe and a real part of the organisation and seeing the direction of the institute and its benefits let alone the support professionally and further connections made each year continues the reason to say “IMIN”
What are your predictions for the next 12 months in equally the industry, the Institute and your own property?
Industry: More of the same! Time is a healer and the consumer response is fickle!
Institute: More Awards! I look forward to seeing the outlook for the IoH to achieve chartered status and with the financial support and structure in place I will be only too supportive of this recognition.
Hempstead House Hotel: Reinvestment & Renovations… We have built an outdoor spa pool with dining area along with our outdoor summer lodge and knights castle with 26 newly refurbished bedrooms and a proposed new hotel reception extension to come! We will NOT be beaten!
What’s the most wonderful, worst and downright weirdest thing you’ve ever experienced during your time in hospitality?
Great Question!!
Wonderful: On reflection – My first day in employment in Hospitality… Oh & I met my wife!
Worst: COVID.
Weirdest: I think the weirdest and coolest was helping Pierce Brosnan 007 get his mountain bike off his bike rack when I was a porter in 2002. He was staying at the hotel alongside a lady guest who wanted to bring her pet budgies, rabbit and cat to stay with us. She then ordered room service for herself and all of the pets!
Part two, with Andrew Coney FIH of The Hari in London will be available soon!
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