Hospitality Mavericks Podcast

It’s great to have another deep dive into digital transformation with Hugo Engel who is Digital Executive at Leon restaurants where he is part of building the restaurant for the future.We will be talking about: how Leon is using digital ordering capabilities to serve and understand customers better.Michael and Hugo talk about:How to use digital ordering capabilities to serve and understand customers betterHow to put digital tools in the hands of the frontline How data can transform your customer exspirenceHow digital learning can improve the onboarding process The importance of stopping up and sorting out your tech stack.We also talk about their next big move when it comes to Digital Transformation in restaurants and much more.Please note that this interview was recorded back in Marts 2021, so lots of things have changed for both LEON & the industry.If you are a hungry learner when it comes to digital transformation in hospitality I would recommend downloading a copy of the free report DIgital t

Today’s guest David Lockwood has been involved with the British cheese scene for 25 years – and is currently the Managing Director of Neal's Yard Dairy. The artisanal cheese retailer works with about 40 cheesemakers. They select, mature and sell farmhouse cheese from the UK and Ireland. Their secret to their success? Always have a clear, long-term plan in mind.I had a great time meeting David in person, checking out their dairy in London. Tune in to our conversation as we explore the history of Neal’s Yard, mission statements, paying your staff good salaries, being flavour-driven, treating your suppliers like they are your partners – and his brief stint working on Wall Street. Links:Neal’s Yard Dairy: ​​https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/ #114 Ari Weinzweig, Co-Founder of Zingerman's, on Self-Leadership: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/114 #91 Pim de Morree, Co-Founder of Corporate Rebels, on Progressive Missions: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/91 David

Lee Curtis, CCHP, co-founded RESIDE in November 2017. RESIDE’s core purpose is to fundamentally change the short-term rental and alternative accommodation marketplace by leveraging their operational expertise, 3SIXTY technology platform and globally vetted supply chain to deliver a curated, compliant and high-touch, hyper local experience to guests anywhere in the world.In this fascinating conversation, I explore with Lee about the future of travel and the short stay trends we are now seeing across the industry. We also touch on compliance, embedding human touch points within technology, the range of consumer ‘travel skillsets’, sustainable trips – and David Brent.Links:RESIDE: https://staywithreside.com/ Lee’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-curtis-cchp-17196210 #88 Larry Korman, President of AKA Hotel Residences, on Being 3D: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/88 Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5rqyeq  A big

In this Digital Titans conversation, our guest is James Sandrini Co-Founder & Strategy Director at 48.1. They are a creative agency in London that helps companies to get clarity on their brand and positioning and help to tell their story clearly to customers and employees.In this conversation, we talk about the power step back start to get the strategy right before just doing it.  We talk about too many leaders just trying to copy what works somewhere else and don’t strategise on what is the right solution for their brand. He shares examples of companies that use this time to work on strategy instead of just putting out the fires.James shares how he has observed that the consumers now have accepted and expect that digital ordering and sees it as a fundamental factor when they engage with hospitality businesses.We also talk about their next big move when it comes to Digital Transformation in restaurants and much more.If you are a hungry learner when it comes to digital transformation in hospitali

The GC Index® is the organimetric that empowers organisations to drive performance and achieve innovation by creating game-changing teams and cultures. Today we’re joined by the Co-Founder and Chief Polisher, Nathan Ott. His fundamental belief is that everyone can make an impact in their world. As such, he has created a global community of GC Partners and GCologists, who are committed to fostering the impact and contribution from everyone around the globe.In this conversation we unpack how the GC Index works and the five different business owner types. Live on the show, we also go through my results from the test to find out about my ‘Game Changer’ tendencies. Don’t forget to also check out my interview with the other Co-Founder, Dr John Mervyn-Smith, linked in the show notes below.Links:Nathan’s LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nathanott The GC Index: https://www.thegcindex.com/ #31: Making Your Impact With Dr John Mervyn-Smith, Director of The GC Index: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.

Welcome to this special podcast series, Digital Titans, brought to you by Vita Mojo and Hospitality Mavericks.Tune into Amie from Vita Mojo who is excited to take you on this journey, as we explore the digital transformation within hospitality.During this series, you’ll hear from industry leaders from the likes of Leon, the Azzuri Group and Amazon. We’ll talk through how they transformed their business with digital solutions while meeting the changing needs of the market.If you have not yet got your version of the new free report “Digital transformation in hospitality” get it here now

There’s one thing using technology in your business, and there is another thing implementing it. The Food and Beverage Global Business Unit at Oracle helps organizations connect every guest interaction to your back-of-house operations. With me today is Tim Brown, the unit’s Vice President of Global Solution Engineering. He leads an international team of experienced technical sales consultants dedicated to devising and deploying pioneering IT solutions that accelerate innovation for food and beverage customers.I’m excited to learn from Tim how the industry can get the best out of technology. We also talk about dealing with ‘spaghetti’ architecture, how to help your staff with technology, voice-activated devices, revenue forecasting, and building loyalty.Links:Oracle for Food and Beverage: https://www.oracle.com/industries/food-beverage/ Tim’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timpbrown69/ Tim’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/timpbrown #83 Mark Gausden, Vice President at Oracle, on Your Digital

The Dubai Opera House, Four Seasons, Hard Rock, the Atlantis resorts – these are just a few of the notable projects designed by EDSA, a planning, landscape architecture and urban design firm founded in 1960. Dialling in from the US is ESDA’s Principal Richard Centolella, where he leads the Baltimore studio and oversees operations in New York City. He is a true maverick when it comes to designing functional, realistic, and engaging places for people.This conversation brings to light how we need to optimise spaces and environments for our customers and staff as we enter this new post-pandemic paradigm. Tune in as we discuss the future for developers and the real estate market, regenerative landscape design, staycation trends and the role of mentorship.Links:#114 Ari Weinzweig, Co-Founder of Zingerman's, on Self-Leadership: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/114 #30 Setting The Stage For The Best Hospitality Experiences with David Chenery: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/3

Throughout this series, we’ve explored the impactful ways of running a hospitality business, but the ultimate key to any business is to truly embody a diverse organisation. We are on a huge journey of learning when it comes to diversity and inclusion, and there are some clear blindspots as white men, so we needed to bring on Diversity and Inclusion expert Lorraine Copes as our guest. Lorraine is the founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality – a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to advance racial equity in Hospitality, Food & Drink. In this conversation, we explore how to create inclusive environments, passive racism, working with experts in the field of diversity and inclusion, and using data to review what needs to be done. It’s time to understand your biases, and learn how to challenge them, so we can create a space where everyone belongs.Why not tune in to our previous conversations here

With our shared passion for checklists, Carina Martins Nakamá joins the show to reveal the power of having plans and processes in place so you can operate from a place of calmness. Carina is the Founder and Director of Benessere, which helps people and organisations in hospitality become healthier, happier and more prosperous.Carina has an MBA in Business Management at Fundacao Getulio Vargas – considered one of the best business schools in Latin America, and later in the UK further specialised in Project Management and Process Improvement, becoming a certified Project Management Professional, Agile, Prince2 and Lean Practitioner. Before moving on to launch her own business, Carina was Director of Processes and Continuous Improvement at Kognitiv, a global travel and loyalty startup. Today we explore setting a plan for your staff. We also talk about leveraging digital tools, self-leadership, e-learning, fixing the fundamentals – and so much more. Links:‘Good To Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amaz

Paddy & Scott’s is a true maverick coffee business. They cut out the middle-men and conglomerates; shortening the distance between coffee grower and coffee drinker. In 2016 they took on their very own coffee farm in Meru, Kenya, working directly with a family who have been growing coffee for generations. Paddy & Scott’s now produce over 30,000 cups of coffee per day: from their own fuelling stations to over 150 branded concessions. MD at Paddy & Scott’s, Jonathan Reed, joins the show to share how their coffee empire continues to expand. In this episode we explore their flat hierarchy business, the power of reprioritising, the impact of core hires, how their reduced open days have boosted performance – and why a lot can be achieved with a humble cup of coffee. Links:‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0176M1A44 ‘Maverick’ by Ricardo Semler: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446670553 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PaddyandScottcoffee Paddy & Scott's Sh

We’re excited to be back with Hospitality and The Infinite Game, and today we dig into the different nuances of growth. A book that’s had a huge impact on us is ‘Small Giants’ by journalist Bo Burlingham. It explores what some of the most remarkable, under-the-radar companies are doing, and questions the usual definitions of business success.In this discussion, we unpick some key insights from the book, like finding your business mojo and looking at effort positively. We also explore the cultural changes as your business grows, financial freedom, how to maintain and improve the soul of the business – and ultimately, what type of growth is right for your business.Resources mentioned:‘Small Giants’ by Bo Burlingham: https://www.amazon.com/dp/014310960X ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0066620996/#114 Ari Weinzweig, Co-Founder of Zingerman's, on Self-Leadership: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/114 #122 Tom Barton, co-founder of Honest Burgers, on Leading by E

People stay at companies because they’re developing and progressing, not because their leaders think they ‘know it all’. To build this progressive culture, today’s guest shares how the skill in unlearning is more important than ever. Dialling in from the US, Barry O’Reilly is the Co-Founder of Nobody Studios, and author of ‘Unlearn’ and ‘Lean Enterprise’. He has pioneered the intersection of business model innovation, product development, organisational design, and culture transformation.In this episode, we discuss the three steps to unlearning, ‘culture hacks’, lessons from high performance companies, how to have difficult conversations with your employees, and Barry’s personal experience of unlearning that helped him write his latest book.Links:‘Unlearn’ by Barry O’Reilly: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1260143015 ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0066620996/ Icon Meals: https://iconmeals.com/ Nobody Studios: https://nobodystudios.com/ The Unlearn Podcast: https://www.

Simon Mitchell went from being a 90s DJ to his own events company, Impulse, in 2003, before joining Concerto Group in 2011. In early 2016, Simon joined as MD for KERB – a household name in the UK street food market. The membership organisation is dedicated to the incubation and acceleration of London’s most innovative street food businesses. Street food is an incredible way of starting your own food business. Find out in this episode how KERB helps support new talent, the major changes the company has had to make this year, and the trend that’s here stay: looking beyond just profits – how to make real social impact through your business.Links:#122 Tom Barton, co-founder of Honest Burgers, on Leading by Example: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/122 KERB Food: https://www.kerbfood.com/ #94 Elvin Turner, Author of 'Be Less Zombie', on Big Ideas: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/94 Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: http

There’s no doubt that the food delivery business supports the big chains but not the independent ones. Enter a real changemaker: Toby Savill, Co-Founder and CEO at Foodstuff – a new food delivery company in the UK which works with only independents, supports riders on living wage, and provides a zero emissions delivery.What’s more, Foodstuff launched during the pandemic, yet they’ve managed to scale across multiple locations in the UK – including Manchester, Bristol and Cambridge. Tune in to this conversation as we discuss the power of brand association, what it’s like challenging Just Eat and Uber Eats, Foodstuff’s restaurant vetting process, and building their advisory board. Links:Foodstuff: https://wearefoodstuff.co.uk/ Special Edition Episode: Out of the Blocks LAP ONE: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/special-edition-episode-out-of-the-blocks-with-peter-backman-and-michael-tingsager Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb.gy/5r

Peter Backman and Michael Tingsager have chosen to come together to create a series of conversations to help leaders in the food and drinks industry to get better out of the starting blocks recovering from a pandemic, no one wanted and no one was ready for.We don't have all the answers but we wish to share our observations and insights which can help leaders to make better decisions about their strategies and tactics as they navigate through the time ahead.Key takeaways from this episode are:The current impact on the world and the food drinks industry The delivery market is changing The debt crisis and landlordsStaffing CrisisCOVID ScareHow the future of the industry might look 6-12 months from nowLinks:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-backman-38305a6/https://www.peterbackmanfs.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltingsager/https://www.hospitalitymavericks.com/Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter More episodes for you to check out here This podcast uses the following

Mary Sue Miliken is one of my personal heroes. With over four decades of experience working in the hospitality sector, she has created a true legacy through her sustainability, social and culinary goals. Mary is an American chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, activist, and radio and TV personality. She is best known for Border Grill restaurants, trucks, and catering, which she runs with her business partner of more than 35 years, Susan Feniger.In this conversation we discuss what it’s like to work with a business partner, being a ‘celebrity chef’, lobbying legislators, overcoming the diversity challenges in the industry, leveraging women-owned restaurants – and working with Julia Childs. Links:#122 Tom Barton, co-founder of Honest Burgers, on Leading by Example: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/122Regarding Her: https://www.regardingherfood.com/The James Beard Foundation: https://www.jamesbeard.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marysuemilliken/ BorderGrill.com: https://www.

Systems, culture and business – those are the foundations for a successful, sustainable business. Jim Laube, Founder of RestaurantOwner.com, shares some practical applications and what you can start doing today. Join us as we explore the relationship between leadership and culture, and what we mean by ‘culture’. We also discuss communicating your values, empowering your staff, and practising daily gratitude. RestaurantOwner.com was founded in 1998 by Jim Laube. With a diverse food service background beginning in high school, Jim has held positions in the restaurant industry as a server, bartender, manager, controller and CFO. Today, Jim is focused on creating resources and training programs that support the creation of more independent restaurant success stories.Links:‘Good To Great’ by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0712676090 #32 The Rise of The Independent Restaurant Owners With Barry Shuster: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/32-the-rise-of-the-independent-restaurant-o

This is the first face-to-face conversation I’ve had since the pandemic, and I’m super excited to meet the co-founder of Honest Burgers, Tom Barton, in Brighton – where the business was conceived. Starting from humble beginnings, they now have burger restaurants in London, Reading, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Brighton, Manchester and Liverpool. They make British beef patties in their own butchery, and most of their ingredients are homemade.We discuss what it means to be honest, being an ‘anti-chain’, their Honest X Incubator initiative, eating food with your hands, regenerative farming, their role in climate change as a beef business – and green corduroy flares. Links:Clarkson’s Farm: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0SHGKA0J8D4G01ZGD647627NEJ Honest Burgers: https://www.honestburgers.co.uk/#77 Nicole Antonio-Gadsdon, Founder of Banana Pepper HR, on leading with care: https://hospitality-mavericks.captivate.fm/episode/77Connect with the podcast:Join the Hospitality Mavericks newsletter: https://rb

Daniel Hulme has a phenomenal approach to learning and unlearning. He has built multiple businesses, launched restaurants and bars – all from starting as a chef at 16 years old. As founder of On Air Dining, a unique Culinary Concierge Service and it’s sister brand On Air Interiors, supplying the world’s finest soft furnishings to aircraft, yachts and houses. His company has created a globally unique system of cooking, packaging and delivering of high end food on board an aircraft. In this conversation we explore the at-home cooking market, what it's like cooking on a plane, recovering from burnout and adrenal fatigue, watching out for ‘energy vampires’ – and why we need to jump on trampolines more.Links:‘Crossing the Chasm’ by Geoffrey Moore: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0062292986 ‘The E-Myth Revisited’ by Michael E. Gerber: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FZXTPS0‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tzu: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509827951/‘Sun Tzu and the Art of Business’ by Mark R. McNeilly: https://www.amaz