Tag Archives: Master Innholders

The Spirit of the Time

18 Thursday Jan 2018

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MIConf 2018Just look at this image for a moment. It represents 450 of the top hotel General Managers in Britain gathered for a very special two-day conference organised by the Master Innholders, which took place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms on Jan 15th & 16th.

I had the pleasure to act as MC on the first day, which ended with a superb talk from motivational speaker, Nigel Risner. My friend Jeremy Rata hosted the second day which closed with Olympic gold medallist Crista Cullen and there were plenty of sessions covering issues of interest or concern to the modern hotelier, although as always it was the networking over coffee and drinks later that really mattered most to the delegates. That is because running a hotel, or any other business, can be a lonely task and it is rare to get the chance to mix with literally hundreds of like-minded people facing similar challenges and joys.

I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

 

So much to learn, so little time

16 Monday Oct 2017

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MI confHas there ever been a time when hoteliers needed more skills? The basic stuff is almost taken for granted these days – creating a welcoming environment with good food, clean rooms and decent service. In the dim and distant past, when I worked as a hopelessly untrained general manager, those were the only objectives to be met. Customers seemed to just appear as though by magic and if you felt the urge to make a bit more money you simply put the prices up.

Not now. Managers must be masters of revenue management, digital marketing, cost control, HR, IT, PR and loads besides. They pay to discover what occupancy and rates their competitors are achieving and worry daily about how to fill vacancies and retain their best staff.

With such busy lives it is necessary to cram as much useful intelligence as one can into the shortest possible time, so as to keep ahead of the game. Here’s my top 5 (in no particular order) events made for the purpose:

  1. Independent Hotel Show
  2. National Hotel Marketing Conference
  3. HOSPACE (organised by HOSPA)
  4. General Managers Conference (organised by the Master Innholders)
  5. Pride of Britain’s Sales & Revenue Seminar (members only – sorry)

Your time is precious – use it wisely.

 

General Managers’ Conference

22 Thursday Dec 2016

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The first non-work thing in my diary for 2017 is an event in Cambridge with the Guild of Professional International Toastmasters which should be fun, if a little noisy! The third non-work thing in my diary for 2017 is “Springderella”, a pantomime organised by the Springboard charity showing at Kings Place in London on January 19th & 20th. See details here

Please come if you can – you will be entertained by a galaxy of leading figures from the catering trade, and I have a small part in it too.

But the second event is in many ways a high point of the year – the General Managers’ Conference organised by the Master Innholders (Hilton Bankside Jan 16 & 17) at which I have the honour to act as session chairman on both days. It’s a bit like being given a Rolls Royce to drive…all the hard work has been done by others and you simply point the thing in the right direction at the appropriate speed…and just be careful not to prang it. All the details are here

Excuse me while I knuckle down to a few more Pride of Britain tasks before all this.

 

 

Taking the mic

15 Friday Jan 2016

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This has been a busy week, much of it spent on stage.

First we had the General Managers’ Conference, organised by the Master Innholders, at which I served as chair of the second day and also as David Morgan-Hewitt’s comedy partner for a little “Two Ronnies” sketch at the start of dinner the night before (see pic).

Peter and David as Two Rons

A couple of days later I had the honour to perform as MC and after-dinner speaker for the Motorsport Industry Association’s annual awards for excellence dinner at the NEC. It was extraordinary to be surrounded by 450 business leaders from around the globe who either succeed or fail – there’s no room for mediocrity in the exacting world of motor racing – and who collectively contribute to a multi billion pound sector that adds considerably to our country’s prestige. Just as The USA has its Silicone Valley, the heart of the computer industry, we have “Motorsport Valley” in Central England which is home to dozens of high-tech engineering firms. The good news is they also have a great sense of humour.

Breaking news…Gyles Brandreth to entertain at MI Conference

10 Tuesday Nov 2015

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Followers of this blog will already know about the General Manager’s Conference, organised by the Master Innholders, which takes place at the Grosvenor House on January 11th & 12th. Last remaining spaces may be booked here: www.masterinnholders.co.uk/conference/booking

But dear reader, what a treat awaits us on the Monday evening. None other than Gyles Brandreth (pictured below) television and radio star, author, game show genius, former politician and all round wit. He is, in my opinion, at his very best when speaking at a formal dinner.

Now that the programme has been released I see that my duties on day two will include introducing leading experts in people engagement, PR, technology, political lobbying and behaviour (presumably of customers and staff). As always the agenda is packed with useful content, but not so packed as to prevent hoteliers from catching up over a cup of coffee or a glass of champagne – for some the most valuable part of the whole event.

I do hope to see you there.

Excellence is no coincidence

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

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Bookings are now being taken for the General Managers’ Conference organised by the Master Innholders, which takes place at The Grosvenor House in London on January 11th & 12th.

Entitled “Excellence is no Coincidence” the two day event promises a wealth of insight for hoteliers in the company of their peers. I shall be sharing the duties of conference chair with my friend David Morgan-Hewitt (who happens to also be chairman of Pride of Britain) while a top line-up of speakers includes serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson and behavioural expert Jez Rose.

Expect a couple of surprises at the dinner, too.

To secure your place at the conference and dinner please follow this link.

 

 

 

All gong wrong

17 Wednesday Jun 2015

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A former boss of mine used to say of anyone who over-promised and under-delivered that they were “all gong and no dinner”. I think it’s a great phrase.

Well, there were gongs a-plenty on display at The Guildhall last night for a splendid white tie dinner to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the granting of a first royal charter to the Worshipful Company of Innholders, which to you and me means the Master Innholders.

MI dinner

Unfortunately my own appearance was somewhat compromised by an ill-fitting hired outfit complete with broken waistcoat, a wonky clip-on tie and shirtsleeves about 6 inches too short. Picture reveals my shame, alongside two Pride of Britain members with no wardrobe malfunctions at all: Kate Levin of The Capital and Harry Murray MBE of Lucknam Park.

It really was a formal evening par excellence which included an address from the Lord Mayor of London and songs from the Military Wives Choir.

A couple of hoteliers lamented leaving their MI insignia at home, an oversight the company frowns upon especially at official occasions such as this. For them it was a case of all dinner and no gong.

Excellence is no Coincidence

11 Monday May 2015

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“Excellence is no Coincidence” will be the title of the next General Managers’ Conference, organised by the Master Innholders, which takes place at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London on January 11th & 12th 2016.

MI logo

Those of us who were lucky enough to attend the Master Innholders’ spring meeting at The Vineyard in Berkshire got a sneak preview of the speaker line-up. It promises to be a “must attend” event, as always organised BY general managers FOR general managers, and I look forward to playing a small part in the proceedings myself.

The conference is central to the organisation’s programme of fundraising to pay for scholarships and management courses which continue to equip aspiring leaders for more senior roles in our industry. The fact that most of them do end up running some of the finest hotels in the world is indeed no coincidence.

 

 

Jack of all trades – “Master” of one

16 Tuesday Sep 2014

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MI 2For at least 25 years I have been an admirer of the Master Innholders, an organisation that provides valuable management scholarships for the rising stars in our industry and presents the ultimate in standards among hotel general managers.

Joining this exclusive club is not easy. In fact I have heard anecdotal tales of successful hoteliers failing the intensive formal interview over and over again. This is because applicants have to demonstrate that, as well as being on top of their game in business, they are also putting something back into the wider industry.

Imagine my delight, then, upon learning that I had been accepted as an Honorary Master Innholder. The gong was presented to me by the MIs’ new chairman, Jonathan Raggett, at a fine dinner at Innholders Hall last Thursday.

So this is a huge THANK YOU to everyone on the executive committee for allowing me to pose as a serious hotel industry player and to spend even more time learning from the best in our trade.

Don’t forget to register for the next General Managers’ Conference, organised by the Master Innholders, which takes place at The Hilton, Park Lane on January 19 & 20th 2015. See http://www.masterinnholders.co.uk for details.