On 16th January, we hosted our most dynamic and inspiring Conference to date, bringing together some of the most passionate voices in hospitality and beyond all around the key topic of PEOPLE!
With just over 100 attendees, the room was alive with energy, ideas, and community spirit.
Here’s a look back at the highlights from the day:
Kicking Things Off: Hospitality 2025 – #NationServiceInHospitality
We started strong with @TheHospitalityHero delivering an important message with the launch of a pre-launch into starting a campaign to get 1 million 16-24 year olds not in Education, Employment or Training into a compulsory national service in Hospitality. A huge opportunity to help both the Hospitality Industry and also support the hugely growing new pandemic of youngsters not developing their soft skills of communication, engagement, work ethic, etc – all of which Hospitality is a true deliver of.
It was a refreshing reminder of how important it is to tackle these issues head-on with collaboration and innovation.
Independent Hospitality Panel
Next, we dived into the realities of being a “solo business” in hospitality. The panel, featuring Monica Or, Steven Hesketh, and Prem Odedra-Jethwa, was raw, real, and incredibly relatable.
Monica’s perspective as both a hotel consultant and inspector resonated deeply, especially when she touched on the importance of staying true to your vision as an independent operator. Prem touched on the tools and tech out there to support Independents in so many different ways to aid their delivery, costs and overall experience and Steven touched lightly on the need for collaboration with other businesses, education institutes and also being mindful of the ever increasing environmental expectations.
Recruitment and Temp Agencies
Our second panel challenged perceptions around recruitment agencies, with Stephen Ramsden, Jack Mitchell, and Charlotte Jenkins shedding light on their world.
Describing themselves as the “emergency service” for hospitality, they emphasised the hidden costs and challenges of agency staffing, from overheads to navigating the new National Insurance increases.
This panel sparked real “aha” moments in the audience and the fact that Industry needs to embrace Recruitment Agencies as a super power to support your business and not always an emergency service.
In Conversation with Dan Price
After lunch, we shifted gears with Dan Price, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire.
His insights into safety and policing within the industry were thought-provoking and practical, leaving attendees with strategies to take back to their own businesses. Huge emphasis on Fraud, and the increasing IT based attacks businesses are facing and how support is out there.
People First Panel: Wider Industry Lessons
This panel stole the show as Craig Weeks, Craig Brown, and Rachel Clacher shared their stories.
Craig Brown’s journey from homelessness and addiction to successful business owner was deeply moving, while Rachel’s story of co-founding Moneypenny with her brother inspired everyone, to Craig Weeks sharing his from the ground up career path.
Rachel’s philosophy of creating workplaces people want to be in and her work with the “We Mind the Gap” charity were incredible reminders of the power of purpose-driven business.
Many attendees left this session visibly emotional, calling it the most inspiring part of the day.
Confidence and Inclusion with Dani Wallace
Our final keynote from Dani Wallace, “The Queen Bee,” brought the event full circle. Her talk on building community within your business left the audience buzzing with ideas and determination.
She reminded us that great businesses aren’t just about profits—they’re about people, purpose, and the connections we foster.
A Day to Remember
The day wrapped up with great feedback from attendees, many of whom said it was our best conference yet!
From the inspiring stories to the tangible takeaways, everyone left feeling motivated to make a difference in their businesses.
We believe that “surprise and delight” is at the very heart of great hospitality, and it’s a philosophy I embed into all my businesses.
Whether it’s a complimentary glass of champagne for a birthday or a free dessert for an anniversary, these small gestures make customers feel truly special.
With this in mind, we wanted to give our conference attendees a little something extraordinary—so we surprised everyone with a ticket to DevaFest, a family-friendly festival right here in Cheshire, which I’m thrilled to say I’ve recently become a joint owner of.
DevaFest is all about joy, community, and creating unforgettable memories, and it felt like the perfect way to thank our attendees for making the day so incredible.
Special thanks to our incredible venue, which offered great parking and easy train access, our sponsors who we couldn’t go this without, and to everyone who made the lunch service seamless and enjoyable.
