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Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Phil Street
Hospitality Meets is a podcast about people. Every week, Phil Street sits down with some of the most fascinating individuals in hospitality and beyond - from chefs, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs to leaders, innovators, and changemakers. But this isn't a podcast about job titles. It's about the journeys behind them. The setbacks that almost ended careers. The opportunities that changed lives. The lessons learned through success, failure, risk, resilience, and everything in between. Through honest conversations, laughter, and the occasional unexpected life lesson, Hospitality Meets explores what it really takes to build a career, lead people, create memorable experiences, and find meaning in the work we do. Whether you're taking your first steps in hospitality, leading a business, or simply love hearing remarkable stories from remarkable people, you'll find inspiration, perspective, and plenty of reasons to believe in people. Because every great story starts with a conversation. Hospitality Meets. Stories. Spirit. People.
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- 1 weeks ago58 min
#265 - Hospitality Meets Chris Davies - The Story of the Office that Smells Like Itself
The story of the office that smells like itselfWhat do university ASBOs, Stash Monkey, Sarah Beeny, private equity cold calls and an office with its own recognisable smell have in common?They all feature in the unconventional journey of Chris Davies, CEO of flexible office brand Uncommon.Recorded inside Uncommon’s Fulham podcast studio, after Chris and Phil had already used up most of the good material during an hour-long pre-podcast chat, the conversation explores accidental entrepreneurship, yellow energy and the value of making decisions before certainty finally arrives.Chris also invents the word “Un-Starbucks-ise,” reveals why his university time resulted in an actual legal threat and casually announces that he would eventually like to create a hotel brand.Naturally, we made a note of that.We CoverWhy every Uncommon building looks different but somehow feels the sameRecognising an office by its smellThe university business that nearly earned Chris an institutional ASBOBeing sued over the name Stash MonkeyWhy your dream investor should not receive your first-ever pitchMaking decisions when you are only 51% certainThe joy and danger of filling a business with yellow energy peopleWhy a company is a team rather than a familyLearning to manage the energy you bring into a roomThe hospitality stories that definitely cannot be shared publiclySaunas, ice baths and Chris’s future hotel ambitionsQuotables“People need to think of time as a resource.”“You kind of don’t want your best shot to be your first one.”“We’re a team. We’re not a family.”“People can be odd.”“I like doing, in my personal life, as many reckless things as possible because I think it makes me feel alive.”Final ObservationUncommon began as a happy accident: a residential development that failed at planning and became an experiment in creating somewhere people might actually enjoy working.But what followed was not accidental.It took uncomfortable calls, imperfect pitches, wrong decisions, difficult conversations and a willingness to move while only 51% certain.The result is a growing business with five distinctive locations, a strong hospitality instinct and an office brand that Phil can apparently identify with his nose before he has even reached reception.Which is either excellent branding or the beginning of a very niche superpower.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- 2 weeks ago35 min
#264 - Hospitality Meets Chat GPT - The Story of The Library That Talks Back
I'll be honest... this one is a little different.For the first time in Hospitality Meets history, I sat down with a guest who didn't need a microphone, didn't ask for a coffee before we started, and definitely didn't have any travel expenses.Instead, I had a conversation with ChatGPT.What began as a bit of curiosity quickly turned into something much more interesting. Somewhere between jokes about "Chatty McChatface", philosophical debates about trust, and the bizarre reality that I was interviewing... well... nobody sitting opposite me... we found ourselves exploring one of the biggest questions of our generation.Not what AI is.But what it means for us.Along the way we laughed, challenged each other, questioned what intelligence really means, and even discovered a brand new phrase..."Digital adulthood."Who knew?In this episode we get into...Why the journey to AI actually began over 70 years ago.How a conversation about technology somehow became a conversation about humanity.Whether AI really has a sense of humour... or is just borrowing ours.Why trust is something AI should earn, not expect.The famous AI stories that went hilariously wrong (including the tank that turned out to be a cloud detector).Why AI isn't replacing thinking... but can become a brilliant thinking partner.What should genuinely concern us about AI... and what probably shouldn't.Whether Chatty McChatface is actually a respectable stage name.(We're still undecided.)Some cracking moments..."I've processed billions of words... and somehow that's the nickname I end up with.""I'd rather earn your trust question by question than ask for blind faith.""Think of me as a very well-stocked library that talks back.""The future isn't AI becoming human... it's humans getting better with AI.""I said I don't have an ego... I didn't say I don't have standards."Why this episode is worth your earsThis isn't an episode about technology.It's an episode about curiosity.About asking awkward questions.About challenging assumptions.About discovering that one of the most interesting conversations you can have about artificial intelligence is actually a conversation about... being human.And yes...I genuinely laughed far more than I expected to while interviewing something that technically doesn't laugh back.Join the conversationIf you had one hour with an intelligence that knew a huge amount about the world......what would you ask?Send me your questions.Because this is only the beginning.The AI Files are officially open.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- 3 weeks ago49 min
#263 - Hospitality Meets Rory Slater - The Story of the Angry Gardener
The Story of... The Angry GardenerWhat do luxury hotels, practical jokes, Palm Beach, New York, Beijing, Japan, Hong Kong, a very angry gardener and a 30cm ruler have in common?Yep, this week's guest Rory Slater, Managing Director for COMO Hotels in London.And trust me...Some of these stories are almost too good to be true.Rory's journey started with a love of food, inspired by his mum's Cordon Bleu cooking, before joining the legendary Savoy Group management programme with dreams of becoming a chef.Fast forward a few decades and that journey has taken him across four continents, some of the world's finest luxury hotels, and into leadership roles that have tested not only his skills, but his character.In this episode we chat about:Why becoming a chef wasn't quite what he imaginedLife on the legendary Savoy Group management programmeWhy everyone should spend time working night shiftsHospitality practical jokes, from soufflé pumps to spaghetti drying linesRunning luxury events in Palm BeachLaunching rooftop bars in New YorkBuilding a career across Beijing, Japan and Hong KongOpening luxury hotels around the worldWhy choosing the right owners matters just as much as choosing the right companyThe role mentors have played throughout his careerThe unforgettable Easter egg hunt that was nearly destroyed by one very determined gardenerStanding up for his team, even when it meant challenging someone incredibly powerfulAlong the way we explore curiosity, leadership, resilience, culture, integrity and why some of life's greatest opportunities arrive wrapped up in uncertainty.Of course, this episode is packed with the sort of stories that make Hospitality Meets... well... Hospitality Meets.There's the night a woman was caught slipping business cards under hotel bedroom doors, leading to an unforgettable chase through the corridors... before Rory found himself lying flat on the carpet with a ruler and some sticky tape trying to retrieve every last card before guests woke up.Then there's the Easter egg hunt.Honestly... you'll never look at an Easter egg hunt in quite the same way again.But beneath the laughter are some brilliant lessons too.💭 "Take the opportunity when it comes."💭 "You work for good owners."💭 "Take your job seriously... but don't take yourself too seriously."And perhaps the most powerful takeaway of all:💭 "You look after your team."Whether that's standing by your colleagues in difficult moments, embracing new cultures, or moving halfway around the world because an opportunity feels right, Rory's story is a wonderful reminder that great careers aren't always carefully mapped out.Sometimes they're built through curiosity.Sometimes through courage.And occasionally...Through surviving an angry gardener.Funny, thoughtful and packed with wonderful stories from one of hospitality's true gentlemen.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- 4 weeks ago52 min
#262 - Hospitality Meets Robert Richardson - The Story We Tell Ourselves
Six years ago, Robert Richardson joined me on Hospitality Meets for the very first time.Back then, he was a hotel General Manager with a passion for people, wondering what the next chapter might look like.Neither of us could have predicted what came next.Fast forward six years, and Robert returns to the show as CEO of the Institute of Hospitality, leading a global professional body with more than 17,000 members, overseeing record membership growth, driving the Institute's Charter ambition, and helping shape the future of our industry.It's amazing what can happen in six years.In this episode we chat about:The leap from hotel General Manager to CEOLeading an organisation through unprecedented changeWhy the Institute is experiencing its strongest membership growth in yearsChampioning professional development across hospitalityThe Youth Council and why the next generation matters more than everThe journey towards Chartered statusLearning to overcome imposter syndrome and the fear of public speakingThe stories we tell ourselves... and how they can hold us backWhy leadership is about stewardship, not ownershipThe power (and pitfalls) of social mediaBuilding organisations where people genuinely feel they belongAlong the way we explore leadership, confidence, legacy, positivity, personal growth and why hospitality remains one of the greatest industries in the world for developing people.Of course, this wouldn't be Hospitality Meets without a few memorable stories...🤣 Accidentally being announced as the new CEO while being tagged as a completely different organisation on social media.🤣 Rehearsing every speech exactly seven times before stepping onto a stage.🤣 Seriously considering quitting on the morning of his first major keynote... before discovering the world didn't end after all.And perhaps the most powerful moments of the conversation come when Robert steps away from the role of CEO and shares the experiences that have shaped him personally.From the fear of receiving an urgent cancer referral that thankfully proved to be a false alarm, to speaking openly about the reality of living through an eight-year stalking ordeal, it's an honest reminder that leadership doesn't make us immune from life's challenges.If anything, it simply means learning how to keep showing up in spite of them.There are also some wonderful takeaways throughout the episode:💭 "No one develops from a place of comfort."💭 "You will always get an answer. You might not like the answer, but you'll always get an answer."💭 "It's so easy to be positive and so lazy to be negative."💭 "Be the voice for positivity."More than anything, this is a conversation about growth.Growth as a leader.Growth as an organisation.Growth as a person.Six years ago, Robert joined me as a hotel General Manager.Today, he returns leading one of hospitality's most respected organisations.It's a wonderful reminder that careers aren't built overnight—they're built one opportunity, one uncomfortable moment, and one conversation at a time.A thoughtful, honest and uplifting conversation with someone who continues to lead with humility, purpose and positivity.EnjoyShow PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Jun 24, 20261h 29m
#261 - Hospitality Meets Duncan Garrood - Putting Life in Your Years
What do a biochemist, a Chinese mansion house, Heathrow Airport, 250 burger restaurants, a pub turnaround, student accommodation, retirement living, and more than a few bottles of Mao Tai have in common?This week's guest... Duncan Garrood.And trust me...You're going to want to hear this one.Duncan's career began in a laboratory as a scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry.It then took him through Unilever, a decade living in China, Heathrow Airport, the Middle East, Punch Taverns, Bill's Restaurants, family entertainment, student accommodation, and now Riverstone Living.Most people spend a career trying to follow a plan.Duncan spent his, basically just saying yes.In this episode we chat about:Why a scientist decided business looked more interestingBeing told on a Wednesday that he was moving to China on SundayLiving next door to 13 Chinese families in a former colonial mansionPutting Walls ice cream on the Great Wall of ChinaThe business lessons hidden inside industrial quantities of Mao TaiWhat airports can teach us about hospitalityWhy great service is often revealed when things go wrongGrowing a business from $150 million to $1 billionRunning out of cows whilst scaling Shake ShackTransforming Punch Taverns during one of the biggest shifts in pub legislationReimagining Bill's RestaurantsUsing people, not capital, to drive growth in leisureTreating students like customersWhy later living might be one of the most exciting sectors in hospitality todayAlong the way we explore leadership, customer experience, entrepreneurship, curiosity, reinvention, and the power of saying yes to opportunities before you're entirely sure how they'll work out.One of my favourite stories came from Duncan's time in China.After fifteen dinners with a potential business partner, countless toasts, and enough Mao Tai to test the resilience of a small nation, the gentleman put his arm around him and declared:You are my little brother."Moments later, he passed out.Business was secured.As leadership lessons go, it's certainly more memorable than most MBA programmes.There are also some absolute gems throughout the conversation:💭 "We're not here to put years on your life, we're here to put life in your years."💭 "If you don't take the opportunities when they come, the things you're missing out on are unknown."And perhaps my favourite takeaway of all:💭 "I've literally never regretted saying yes to any of these opportunities."Because that's really what this episode is about.Not airports.Not pubs.Not burgers.Not retirement living.It's about curiosity.It's about adventure.It's about having the courage to step into the unfamiliar.And trusting that you'll figure the rest out along the way.Funny, thoughtful, insightful and packed with stories.A brilliant conversation with a man who's spent a lifetime proving that some of the best opportunities arrive disguised as uncertainty.EnjoyShow PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Jun 17, 20261h 4m
#260 - Hospitality Meets John Badley - Make the Mistake
What do a kitchen porter, a Swedish adventure, a hotel fire, a freezing swimming pool, and the CEO of one of Britain's most iconic hotel groups have in common?This week's guest is John Badley, CEO of Andrew Brownsword Hotels.Today, John oversees a collection of some of the UK's most beautiful and historic hotels.But his story starts somewhere much humbler.A teenage job sweeping a car park for £10, a desperate desire to escape the cold, and a sister who eventually gave in and let him become a kitchen porter.The rest, as they say, is history.In this episode we chat about:🧽 How a car park sweeping job became a lifelong hospitality career🍽️ Starting as a KP and working his way through the kitchen ranks⭐ The pursuit of rosettes and the lessons learned in fine dining🇸🇪 Why a move to Sweden changed his perspective forever👨🍳 The unusual role that saw him wearing chef whites and a three-piece suit at the same time📈 The leadership lesson that came from being rejected for promotion🔥 Managing one of hospitality's most devastating crises when a hotel was destroyed by fire🏊 The infamous swimming pool experiment that taught a painful lesson about guest perception🧭 Why every leader needs a North Star🤝 The impact of mentors, including hospitality legend David Guile💡 Why curiosity remains one of the most underrated leadership skills🚀 How Andrew Brownsword Hotels is building for the future whilst protecting its remarkable heritageAlong the way we explore leadership, resilience, commerciality, culture, curiosity, and the extraordinary opportunities hospitality can provide for those willing to keep learning.One of my favourite moments came when John shared the lesson that transformed his career.After being repeatedly overlooked for promotion, he was finally told the reason:"If we promote you, who's going to look after this kitchen?"It was a difficult conversation at the time, but it taught him one of the most important leadership lessons of all:Your success is measured not by what you can do, but by what your team can do without you.Another standout moment came when discussing leadership and performance."Consistency beats intensity."A simple phrase, but one that underpins John's entire approach to leadership, culture and long-term success.There was also a wonderful reminder of the mindset that has carried him from kitchen porter to CEO:"There's always something else I didn't know. So I wanted to go and learn it."And perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the entire conversation:"Make the mistake."Not recklessly.Not repeatedly.But don't become so afraid of failure that you stop trying new things altogether.There are also stories involving Swedish adventures, luxury hotels, thousands of firefighters, frozen swimming pools, and enough leadership wisdom to fill a management textbook.Funny, thoughtful, honest and packed with practical lessons.A brilliant conversation with one of hospitality's most grounded leaders.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Jun 10, 20261h 11m
#259 - Hospitality Meets Caroline Ottoy - Dough Balls & Big Dreams
What do dough balls, coffee, Covid crisis meetings, global expansion, and one very determined mum have in common?This week's guest is Caroline Ottoy, Managing Director of WatchHouse.Today, WatchHouse is one of the most exciting hospitality brands on the planet, with 29 locations across the UK, USA and Dubai, and ambitious plans to reach 100 sites globally over the next few years.But Caroline's journey started in a very different place.A teenager destined for a science degree, a year spent slightly losing her way, and a mum who effectively packed her bags and sent her to hospitality university whether she liked it or not.Thankfully, she did.In this episode we chat about:How an agricultural college accidentally launched a hospitality careerSpending a year working in France and becoming fluent in FrenchThe early days of ASK and opening restaurants across the UKLiving above the restaurant and learning hospitality the hard wayThe legendary Dough Ball IncidentGrowing brands from start up to national successThe move from restaurants into Planet OrganicLeading through Covid and creating daily "Cobra Meetings" to keep teams alignedLearning to step up when uncertainty is everywhereOvercoming imposter syndrome and finding confidence on stageThe mentors, cheerleaders and leaders who changed her lifeWhy EOS has become one of the most powerful tools behind WatchHouse's growthThe ambitious journey to 100 WatchHouse locations worldwideSome of my Favourite Quotables"Visions are irrelevant without great people""Everything is about people. Everything""I was a really good waitress. I'm telling you now, I could handle a big section""We didn't really know what we were doing. We were just finding out as we went along"Along the way we explore leadership, resilience, culture, friendship, hospitality careers, and the extraordinary impact great people can have on the direction of our lives.One of my favourite moments came when Caroline reflected on receiving a message from a former team member years later, thanking her for the role she'd played in shaping his career and life.It's a beautiful reminder that in hospitality, we often have a far bigger impact on people than we ever realise.Funny, thoughtful, inspiring and packed with lessons for anyone building teams, leading people, or simply trying to figure things out as they go.And yes...There is a story involving enough dough balls to fill half of Bristol.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
- Jun 3, 20261h 8m
#258 - Hospitality Meets Barrie Robinson - The Glass Collector Who Got Lucky
What do holiday parks, imposter syndrome, accidental career sabotage, and one of the UK's most respected hospitality leaders have in common?This week's guest is Barrie Robinson, National Operations Director at Parkdean Resorts and Chair of the newly launched North Star Competitive Career Accelerator.Barrie's journey into hospitality wasn't exactly traditional.After lasting just six weeks at university ("reading newspapers and pretending to be a tree" wasn't quite the career path he'd envisioned), he started work as a glass collector in his local pub.Fast forward a few decades and he's now responsible for operations across the UK's largest holiday park operator.But the route between those two points is where things get interesting.In this episode we chat about:Why hospitality might be the UK's best-kept career secretWhat makes holiday parks one of the most overlooked sectors in hospitalityTurning a village pub from £500 a week into £6,000 a weekThe power of creating experiences rather than simply serving customersLiving with imposter syndrome, even at senior leadership levelThe boss who became known as "Eff Off, Don't Answer"The unfortunate incident involving a new boss, several pints, and a train journey homeWhy great leaders allow people to fail safelyHow winning the ALMR Operations Manager of the Year award transformed Barrie's confidence foreverThe return of the North Star Competitive Career Accelerator and why it's set to develop the next generation of hospitality leadersAlong the way we explore leadership, community, career development, truth-telling, resilience, and why some of the most valuable lessons in hospitality come from the moments you'd rather forget.Some Cracking Quotables"Hospitality is one of the UK's best-kept career secrets.""People don't come to work to do a bad job.""If you trust the truth, it is always the right thing to do."Barrie is thoughtful, honest, funny, and deeply passionate about helping people realise their potential.And if nothing else, this episode contains one of the greatest leadership stories ever told involving an Audi A6.Enjoy.Show PartnerA big shout out to today’s show partner, RotaCloud — the people management platform built specifically for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from one simple, web-based app.It also makes life easier for teams, allowing staff to check rotas, request holiday, and pick up extra shifts directly from their phones.To find out more, head to RotaCloudThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
About Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street
Hospitality Meets is a podcast about people. Every week, Phil Street sits down with some of the most fascinating individuals in hospitality and beyond - from chefs, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs to leaders, innovators, and changemakers. But this isn't a podcast about job titles. It's about the journeys behind them. The setbacks that almost ended careers. The opportunities that changed lives. The lessons learned through success, failure, risk, resilience, and everything in between. Through honest conversations, laughter, and the occasional unexpected life lesson, Hospitality Meets explores what it really takes to build a career, lead people, create memorable experiences, and find meaning in the work we do. Whether you're taking your first steps in hospitality, leading a business, or simply love hearing remarkable stories from remarkable people, you'll find inspiration, perspective, and plenty of reasons to believe in people. Because every great story starts with a conversation. Hospitality Meets. Stories. Spirit. People.
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