Chris is founder of Hotel Makers Ltd, a commercial hospitality consultancy with a proven track record in helping independently owned and run Hospitality enterprises develop their brand(s) to improve trading performance and long term business value.

A highly experienced and respected luxury hospitality professional with over 25 years senior management and director level experience.

I have been fortunate to work at some of the best independent hotels in the world, including 3 years at Orient-Express Hotels (now Belmond), 7 years at Chewton Glen & Cliveden House and 5 years creating and developing the award-wining Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds.

Since setting up Hotel Makers, I have worked supported the likes of The Beaverbrook Estate, Lakes by YOO, The Calcot Collection and Artfarm (Fife Arms) as well as worked with various start-up businesses, helping them undertake viability and feasibility proposals for new hospitality ventures.

www.hotelmakers.co.uk

Guy Lean recently became Managing Director of specialist hospitality search and recruitment company Madison Mayfair, after ten years with the company. For more than 25 years, he has been finding top decision makers to fill key roles in the hospitality industry.

During his time at Madison Mayfair, Guy has worked with international clients in the hotel, food and beverage, gaming and hospitality sectors. He works to understand the nature of his clients’ businesses and to add value by building impactful teams.

Guy has built a reputation for designing and delivering human resources and training programmes internationally. He has also launched more than 150 franchised recruitment businesses. His ability to spot the correct fit from candidates in the talent pool makes him a leading player in the field of human resource consultancy.

www.madisonmayfair.com

Andrew Boer is Principal of Edge Hotel School, the prestigious hotel higher education establishment. Andrew’s background in education and hospitality has resulted in productive working relationships with hotel schools around the world. His previous roles include appointments as Associate Dean in the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University responsible for the Hospitality and Retail Group, and Head of Partnerships and International Development in the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University.  As an external examiner, he is well placed to advise on standards in hospitality education both in the UK and overseas, as well as being an authority on the ways in which higher education is developing the future talent and leaders of the hospitality industry.

Andrew’s career to date has involved him in building relationships between the education sector and some of the most respected names in hospitality industry, including hotel groups, restaurants, educational trusts and high profile individuals. He is an authority on ways in which technical, practical and vocational learning can contribute to the hospitality industry.

www.edgehotelschool.ac.uk

Simon Foster set up his own historic house consultancy business in 2007, drawing on a wealth of experience of the strategic estate management to offer advice and support to owners and managers of historic properties. The company has quickly attracted an impressive list of historic house clients, who benefit from Simon’s expert knowledge of the commercial issues and challenges to be faced.

As General Manager of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire from 1994-2007, Simon developed the historic property into a successful visitor attraction and events venue. Income and profit were developed by diversification into innovative events such as The Big Chill music festival, which Simon brought to Eastnor and which grew to a 35,000 ticket event in the new venue.

In May 2015, Simon Foster joined Savills to set a new Commercial Heritage Consultancy, based in their Cheltenham office. Simon continues to advise on all tourism, events and hospitality related issues in the heritage sector, both in the UK and overseas.

Simon is closely involved with relevant industry bodies, working with the ‘Hudsons Heritage Awards’ as a judge on their awards panel.

www.simonfosterassoc.co.uk

Alistair Johnson is an industry-leading specialist in developing wellness and leisure spas for the high end of the hospitality market.

With a background in managing the prestigious Aquae Sulis spa brand in the UK, Alistair went on to develop an international spa skin care line and open branded spas. He has gone on to develop Spa Creators, a spa consultancy service which draws on his experience to advise on the full life cycle of a spa project from design to development and delivery, including aspects such as feasibility, ROI and business planning.

Alistair provides design and consultancy for luxury hotels, leisure resorts and health clubs, selecting aesthetically pleasing, high quality materials, art and lighting to create an impressive yet soothing environment. Successfully completed projects include the Five Star Ellenborough Park in Gloucestershire, The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Bannatyne’s Health Clubs as well as high end residential and apartment complexes.

www.spacreators.co.uk

Adrian Burley has an extensive background in helping travel and hospitality brands to extend their marketing reach.

Adrian’s involvement in marketing this sector began with seven years as Head of Marketing (UK & Europe) for up-market travel company Abercrombie & Kent. During his time with the company, he increased the turnover by nearly a third. His successful marketing of overseas properties to the UK & Ireland market continued while Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Indian Ocean hotel group, Constance Hotels. During a three year period with the organisation,  Adrian doubled annual sales to his target market.  This success continued in his role as Director of Sales and Marketing at Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel, Portugal, where rooms revenue for the first full year of operation was significantly ahead of budget.

Adrian next entered into a joint venture with a leading private equity firm, to acquire seven hotels out of administration as Group Director of Sales & Marketing for Luxury Family Hotels, UK. Since acquisition, the group has delivered sustainable revenue growth of +15% year on year.

2013 brought a new project and Adrian partnered with an investment syndicate to acquire the iconic 5* Sheen Falls Lodge in Ireland. Once again, his strategic sales and marketing skills were called upon and the business has shown impressive revenue growth since acquisition – delivering positive pre-tax profits for the first time since 2007.

Adrian continues to make his strategic hospitality and tourism marketing skills available through Mirador Marketing. He is much sought after for consultancy work by enterprises aiming to increase their marketing reach and improve their profits.  His track record speaks for itself and he relishes the challenge of helping others to achieve success.

www.mirador-marketing.com

With over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Mark is probably best known for his work in the highest calibre country clubs and hotels. As well as holding the position of General Manager at the renowned Stoke Park, he also worked on development plans for the prestigious Dunhill Club in London and the set up of the Bobby Moore Club at Wembley Stadium. His involvement in the development of the annual Boodles Tennis Challenge has brought top professional players to Stoke Park in the week before Wimbledon.

With extensive experience in the refurbishment and development of country clubs, Mark oversaw the development of the Stoke Park Spa and Pavilion and extensive redevelopment of the estate’s accommodation offering. Mark prioritises smooth running and efficiency throughout these periods of change and growth, while sustaining the profitability of the businesses.

www.markfagan.co.uk

Jeffrey Epstein is a well-known consultant to the independent hotel sector in the UK and Ireland. He has a background in hotel marketing and publishing, with a record of success in founding and developing hospitality related businesses. He has a solid track record of representing hotels, restaurants and hospitality businesses and assisting them in attracting potential customers. He works with his clients to analyse the challenges that face them. Together they set marketing objectives and, by achieving these milestones, aim to improve the finances of the business.

Jeffrey’s career achievements include developing and founding the marketing led hotel representation company Celebrated Hotels (now known as Celebrated Experiences). He is also the founder of the successful hotel marketing and publishing venture Best Loved Hotels.

As an early adopter of digital media, Jeffrey was quick to see its potential in presenting businesses in the hospitality sector to a wider audience and reaching higher levels of engagement. He is an advocate for innovative web design and believes strongly in the use of social media to reach existing customers and potential clients.

An Anglo-American, based in London, Jeffrey holds BA in International Affairs from George Washington University in Washington DC and his interests span fitness, a passion for painting, sculpture and the performing arts.

www.hbim.co.uk

Nick Childs has over 25 years’ experience in hotel design and development, working with his clients to add value to their properties with creative flair. Projects have included new build design and delivery and the sympathetic development of heritage assets with due regards to conservation and gaining necessary consents.

Nick’s career spans the development of Country Club Hotels with Whitbread and Marriott; founding Childs+Sulzmann Architects and working with recognised brands in the country house hotel sector. His work has including developing the Luxury Family Hotel brand; creating the five hotels in the Alias Hotels group – over 300 rooms; adding value to many properties in the Von Essen portfolio, including Cliveden and Thornbury Castle and developing acclaimed hotel spas, such as that at The Greenway in Cheltenham. His expertise is also available to smaller independent hotels: another area in which he has rich experience of sensitively growing the business.

Nick is able to advise on options for creating, developing and adapting existing hotels, always with an eye to making wise investment decisions and increasing the value of the client portfolio. He understands the importance of building a brand and employing creativity and excellence in design to good effect, with the aim of adding value to a project.

www.childs-sulzmann.co.uk

Martin Rogers is a director of property agent Savills, where his remit is to grow the agency’s hotel portfolio in the Regions. With over 30 years’ experience in roles at Waycotts and Knight Frank, where he was head of hotels, before joining Savills in 2012.

Martin’s expertise is in dealing with transactional and professional work for hotel and leisure businesses worldwide and brokerage primarily in the UK and Western Europe.

Key to Martin’s success is his knowledge of the part property plays in ensuring that hospitality businesses reach their potential in a competitive market. His extensive experience in structuring, managing and completing deals in the UK and overseas give him an unequalled authority to guide and advise hoteliers and investors alike. With his finger on the pulse of the hospitality property market, he is well placed to make recommendations on property acquisition and development projects. Martin’s skills and experience are available, whether you’re considering a single property purchase, developing your own business or are managing a large portfolio.

www.savills.co.uk

Chester achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing and Biomechanics in 1993. Since then, he has gained over 22 years of senior management experience within the advertising, marketing, healthcare, sports and leisure industries. Chester is an expert in lifestyle sales, marketing, branding, events, operations and customer experience.

He was responsible for the creation, marketing, selling and operating of a number of clubs in the UK. These include The Bobby Moore Club for Wembley National Stadium and Alfred’s London for Alfred Dunhill.

He is currently the Chief Executive of Stoke Park, Britain’s leading Country Club, Spa and Hotel (5 AA Red Star rating) and of International Group Management, whose clients include Zhejiang Circuit, a luxury motorsport circuit in China.
In 2010, Chester was asked to join The Advisory Board for The Jaguar Academy of Sport alongside Lord Digby Jones, Sir Keith Mills and Dame Kelly Holmes.

He is involved in numerous events, including The Boodles Tennis Challenge, which has been hosted since 2002 at Stoke Park and was awarded the ‘Best Hospitality Experience’ at The 2014 Eventia Awards (Wimbledon came second). In 2009, he oversaw a Royal Wedding in Bahrain, hosted for 2,000 people, and flying out 350 staff from the UK. Last year, he helped the charity Sports Aid, whose Patron is The Duchess of Cambridge, to raise £825,000 at a Sir Elton John concert held at Stoke Park.

www.igroup.co.uk

Richard is the Regional Director at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, a global brokerage for commercial insurance, employee benefits and risk management solutions. He has over 30 years of experience working in the insurance industry and has spent the last 20 years working closely with hotel clients. During this time, Richard has encountered hotel businesses of all shapes and sizes both in the UK and overseas.

Richard Goodhand began his career in insurance over 30 years ago and I have been involved with hotel clients in the last 20 years. During that time I have come across hotel businesses of all shapes and sizes both in the UK and overseas. I have always found the hotel industry to both enjoyable and fascinating to deal with and look forward to my further involvement through Hospitality Experts.

The role of the insurance broker is not just about arranging competitive insurance cover. In fact its more about understanding a business and the risks it faces. In that way the appropriate insurance protection can be put in place so should the worst happens, the business is adequately protected.

Working for Arthur J Gallagher also gives me direct access to the all the other internal expertise, services and facilities we have at our disposal, all of which would assist any hotel business.

www.ajginternational.com

Gregor is the Principal at Optimum Hotel & Leisure Management, a privately-owned management consultancy to the hospitality sector. He is Co-founder and Head of Consultancy at Exclusive Hotel Management – the management and consultancy arm of the privately-owned luxury Exclusive Hotels. He has over 25 years of experience in hotel and asset management, predominantly within the upscale hospitality sector across both the UK and Channel Islands. Not only an experienced Main Board Director managing both multiple properties and the strategic planning of businesses, Gregor has been extensively involved in fund management and private equity, through acquisitions, development and refurbishments of assets. Optimum consults on a wide range of hotel, restaurant and spa related projects, whilst managing six upscale hotels across the UK for private owners and investors. He has an established track record in uplifting well-worn properties from 3 star to luxury 5 star hotels. In addition, he has developed major food and beverage offerings across fine dining, bistro, terraces (al fresco), cafes, afternoon tea concepts and small to large banqueting.

Recently appointed VP Operations of The East India Company, Gregor is responsible for the implementation of the EIC new upmarket tea lounges throughout EMEA over the next five years.

www.exclusivehotels.co.uk

Ed is an experienced hospitality marketer, having held various senior roles with some of the world’s leading hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Jumeirah Group, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts and Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

A graduate of Kent University in the UK and Università di Firenze in Italy, he began his career managing license agreements for the Ferrari Motor sports brand on behalf of Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) and Ferrari S.p.A. before moving into the hotel industry.

Ed founded TAPPED Consulting in 2014. TAPPED specializes in finding the ideal solutions to fit business needs, whether it’s as simple as providing marketing support where there is none, to writing and implementing sophisticated commercial strategies that defines future legacy in a destination or market.

Ed currently serves as Chairman of the Hotel Marketing Association, the hotel and hospitality marketing interest group of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

www.tappedconsulting.com