Hospitality Mavericks Podcast Show

In this episode, Michael talks with Greg from 'Only A Pavement Away,' a charity co-founded by Greg and his wife, Jill, to help disadvantaged individuals secure employment in the hospitality sector. Greg shares the story behind the charity's inception and its significant impact, having placed over 800 people into jobs and added £32 million to the economy since its launch in 2018. The discussion covers their process of preparing candidates, the role of relationship managers, and the ultimate goal of expanding their reach across the UK. Greg emphasizes the importance of building quality relationships and offers insights into the challenges and successes they've faced. He also highlights the critical need for funding to continue their mission of transforming lives through meaningful employment.Connect with Greg:https://onlyapavementaway.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mangham-5424402a/A big thank you to our epsiode sponsor Apron.The power tool for payments that helps hospitality operators save time, cut admin, and get back to doing what they love: looking after their guests and teams.Head to their website to sign up.Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael welcomes Henry from Apron to discuss the financial pain points faced by hospitality operators. They delve into how Apron, founded in 2022, helps streamline business payments with consumer-grade simplicity. Henry explains how Apron addresses challenges like managing supplier payments, payroll, and employee expenses from a single platform, drastically saving time for business owners. Highlighting real-life cases, the conversation covers how Apron facilitates ease of financial management, allowing operators to focus on delivering exceptional hospitality. The discussion also explores the future of financial technology in the hospitality sector, emphasizing the need for fewer, more integrated tools. Henry shares his personal journey into FinTech and the profound impact Apron has had on businesses, including a touching story of how it helped a family in need. Listeners are encouraged to explore Apron's offerings at getapron.com and connect with Henry for personalized demonstrations.Connect with Henry:https://getapron.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-matson-1283472/Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here A big thank you to our epsiode sponsor Apron.The power tool for payments that helps hospitality operators save time, cut admin, and get back to doing what they love: looking after their guests and teams.Head to their website to sign up.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael, Joel and Stephen discuss the significant lag in technological advancements within the hospitality industry, particularly in back-office systems and data processing. Despite recent efforts made due to the pandemic to digitize front-of-house operations, the conversation highlights the need to improve operational aspects to enhance customer experiences. Issues such as repetitive WiFi logins and inefficient payment processes are mentioned. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of personalization and exceptional service in fostering customer loyalty, backed by personal anecdotes. The episode concludes with a call for the industry to focus on serving people more effectively.Connect with Stephen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjohnrothwell/https://stephenrothwell.ltd/https://eagleeye.com/loyaltyA big thank you to our epsiode sponsor Apron.The power tool for payments that helps hospitality operators save time, cut admin, and get back to doing what they love: looking after their guests and teams.Head to their website to sign up.Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael welcomes Marc Summers, a restauranteur with a bold and ambitious vision, to discuss his journey from a corporate finance career to creating a successful plant-based restaurant chain. Featuring stories of pivotal moments, including being inspired by a chef's table episode and the adrenaline of his first kitchen job, Marc outlines the organic development of his concept, the importance of testing and honing ideas through pop-ups, and the transition to opening brick-and-mortar sites. He shares his strategy for growing gracefully without compromising quality or culture, explains the intentional creation and application of core values, and highlights the excitement of future growth and new opportunities like catering. Marc also discusses the significance of transparency and respect in building a happy workplace, as evidenced by winning the Code People Award for the happiest place to work. Throughout, he reflects on the lessons learned and the importance of staying open-minded and resilient in a challenging industry.Connect with Marc:https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-summers-561366210/https://www.bubala.co.uk/our-restaurantsConnect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here A big thank you to our epsiode sponsor Apron.The power tool for payments that helps hospitality operators save time, cut admin, and get back to doing what they love: looking after their guests and teams.Head to their website to sign up.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael interviews Trudi Parr, a hospitality professional with a vibrant journey that spans across media, tourism, and the evolving hotel industry. Trudi shares her unplanned yet fulfilling entry into hospitality, her roles from operations to sales, and her eventual focus on the people aspect of the business. Emphasizing the need for human-centric approaches in hospitality, she discusses the significance of treating employees well, fostering an inclusive environment, and the impact of nurturing talent from the ground up. With a keen interest in changing the perception of the hospitality industry, Trudi highlights the importance of internally built strong people practices and the challenges of recruiting and retaining talent post-COVID. Closely following the evolution of Mollie's—a motel diner concept—Trudi shares practical insights into their onboarding process, the importance of building relationships, and the excitement around new openings, particularly the upcoming launch in Manchester.Connect with Trudi:https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudi-parr/https://mollies.com/Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here A big thank you to our epsiode sponsor Apron.The power tool for payments that helps hospitality operators save time, cut admin, and get back to doing what they love: looking after their guests and teams.Head to their website to sign up.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael is joined by Ellie from the Prep Foundation to discuss how the foundation educates young people about nutrition and cooking, especially with the decline in food tech education due to reduced school funding. Ellie shares her journey from being a chef to working with Prep, highlighting the foundation's activities, such as in-school sessions and farm-to-fork days. They also discuss the importance of gut health, the challenges faced by schools, and the crucial role the hospitality industry can play in supporting these initiatives. The episode underscores the broader impact of teaching children healthy eating habits, aiming to tackle obesity and other lifestyle diseases.Connect with Ellie:https://prept.foundation/Become a Prept Partner and make a real difference to food culture in the UK. Find out more here https://prept.foundation/partners/- to find out how your school can take part in the programme, visit Prept’s website (https://prept.foundation/what-we-do/)https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-ledden-137329182/Ellie up for an award. Finals on Monday. Voting open until then. Give your vote here:https://www.thestaffcanteen.com/nomination/ellie-ledden-chef-educator-sussex-1757617272#/A big thank you to our epsiode sponsor Apron.The power tool for payments that helps hospitality operators save time, cut admin, and get back to doing what they love: looking after their guests and teams.Head to their website to sign up.Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here Takeaways: Hospitality leaders are on a mission to positively impact society and the planet. We are what we eat, and food education for kids is crucial for their health. Teaching young people cooking skills can transform their relationship with food and wellness. The Prepped Foundation connects chefs with schools to empower children through cooking education. Food culture directly impacts our health, and we must teach kids about nutritious choices. Hospitality can be a powerful force for good, addressing food education and youth empowerment. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael engages in a detailed conversation with Tommy Giraux, the Head of Restaurant Systems at Honest Burgers. Tommy shares his extensive experience in the hospitality and retail industry across France and the UK. The discussion revolves around the integration of technology in the hospitality sector, focusing on how tech can enhance operations without losing the human touch. Tommy elaborates on the use of AI for workforce management, scheduling, and personalized customer experiences. He also reflects on the challenges and benefits of implementing a data-integrated tech stack to improve efficiency and support both employees and customers. The conversation touches on the evolving role of general managers in the age of AI, the importance of maintaining authentic hospitality, and the future outlook of tech in the industry. Tommy emphasizes the significance of networking and adapting to rapid technological advancements to stay ahead in the field.Connect with Tommy:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-giraux-90030526/https://www.honestburgers.co.uk/Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, industry veterans Steve Holmes, and Joel Robinson discuss the rapid evolution in the hospitality sector brought about by technology and the pandemic. They explore how traditional methods no longer suffice and emphasise the need for new thinking and approaches, particularly leveraging technology. The discussion explores the origins and solutions proposed by Azzurri, highlighting the challenges of manual data entry, inefficiencies, and inaccuracies in the current system. They propose a standardised data model for hospitality as a game-changer, akin to revolutionary standards in other industries like barcodes in retail. The conversation also explores the role of AI and the potential for industry-wide collaboration to achieve these objectives. Connect with Joel and Steve:https://www.weareopenr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareopenr/posts/?feedView=allhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-holmes-a5a13613/https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-robinson-25352237/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, Michael welcomes Filip Linek, a hotel operator turned tech innovator, to discuss the advancements in AI and robotics in the hospitality industry. Filip shares his journey from running a packaging company to owning and managing hotels in the Czech Republic. Highlighting the challenges of staffing and maintaining high-quality service, Filip reveals how AI technology, particularly his creation, BE‑A, is transforming the guest experience by automating responses and improving efficiency without losing the human touch. Filip explains the development and future plans for BE‑A, including its potential to become a virtual receptionist capable of handling multiple languages and tasks seamlessly. The discussion also delves into the broader implications of AI in hospitality and how it might change the landscape of the industry. Filip shares his excitement about presenting BE‑A at an upcoming Hospitality Tech Expo in London and his belief in combining human and robotic efforts to enhance customer service. The episode concludes with his leadership insights on the importance of adaptability, the value of having a visionary team, and his hopes for the future of hospitality.Connect with Filip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/filip-linek-flæ-robotics/https://be-a.ai/Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode of the Hospitality Mavericks podcast, host Michael engages with Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and Kepler International Hospitality Academy. They discuss how the Kepler brand aims to redefine luxury hospitality by focusing on guests' essential needs rather than mere wants. Topics include the role of AI in hospitality, the importance of plant-based dining, and how businesses can serve as vehicles for positive societal change. They also explore insights on self-leadership and the future landscape of hospitality in a rapidly evolving world. The episode underscores the timelessness of human needs and the transformative potential of conscious hospitality.Connect with Jannes:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannessoerensen/https://www.learnkepler.com/Connect with the podcastJoin the Hospitality Mavericks newsletterTune in via your favourite podcast platform - here More episodes for you to check out here This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy