Viewpoint

VIEWPOINT

Andrew Scott of Scott Hospitality Services gives his tips for success

08-May-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Andrew Scott of Scott Hospitality Services started working as a kitchen porter at the age of 13. Now, 27 years later he runs coffee shop brand Heaven Scent, Kinnairds restaurant at Knockhill Racing Circuit, a vending business, wedding company and an event...

VIEWPOINT

Paul Bayliss of Macdonald Hotels on how luxury hotels can survive the budget boom

24-Apr-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Paul Bayliss, the general manager of the Macdonald Manchester Hotel & Spa and Macdonald Manchester Townhouse and Chair of the Manchester Hotelier’s Association (MHA), talks about how the luxury hotel market can survive faced with such strong growth...

VIEWPOINT

Graham Long of The Chancery on the benefits of using seasonal produce

09-Apr-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Graham Long joined The Chancery in London last year as executive chef. After a two-year stint working in Hong Kong, where much of the produce is imported, Long became passionate about only using seasonal produce. 

VIEWPOINT

Bruno Zoccola of Valentina Fine Foods on why diversifying your business helps build success

13-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Valentina Fine Foods opened its first site as a delicatessen in East Sheen in 1991 and is now operator of seven restaurants, delis and an online shop. Owner Bruno Zoccola talks about how adding to and adapting the business while staying true to its family-run...

VIEWPOINT

Simon Jenkins on how we can improve prospects for pastry and pastry chefs

27-Feb-2015 By Emma Eversham

Simon Jenkins is the group pastry chef at Marcus Wareing Restaurants. He talks to BigHospitality about why giving pastry chefs more recognition could help make it easier to recruit and retain people in this sector. 

VIEWPOINT

Debbie Taylor of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts on why there is finally optimism in the regional hotel market

13-Feb-2015 By Emma Eversham

Debbie Taylor, managing director for Manchester and the North West at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, talks about the general optimism for regional hotels and why investing in them and their people can help with continual growth. 

Sandra Kelly of Whitbread on plugging the skills gap in hospitality

23-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Sandra Kelly, head of education at Whitbread, suggests ways the hospitality sector can best address its skills shortage.

VIEWPOINT

Josh Wyatt on Generator and the transformation of hostels

09-Jan-2015 By Melodie Michel

Josh Wyatt is a partner at Patron Capital, Generator’s primary investor. He talks about innovations within the hostel world and how the sector is now the 'next major asset class in hospitality'.

Viewpoint

Even Frydenberg on Aloft and mid-scale hotels’ need for change

12-Dec-2014 By Melodie Michel

Even Frydenberg is senior vice president of operations for Western Europe and global initiatives at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. He talks to BigHospitality about the Aloft brand and how mid-scale hotels need to change to remain competitive.

Viewpoint

Graham Corfield on Just Eat and allergen labelling

27-Nov-2014 By Melodie Michel

Graham Corfield is the UK managing director of Just Eat. He tells BigHospitality what impact the upcoming allergen labelling regulations are having on restaurants.

Viewpoint

Frédéric Bau on why chefs should be more adventurous with chocolate

13-Nov-2014 By Carina Perkins

Pastry chef Frédéric Bau, principal founder of the Valrhona Chocolate School and author of Chocolate Fusion, recently hosted a five-course chocolate dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard. 

Viewpoint

Robert Crook on Interstate and the modern complexity of running a hotel

30-Oct-2014 By Melodie Michel

Robert Crook is the UK managing director of hotel management firm Interstate. He talks to BigHospitality about the state of the market and the similarities between running a hotel and making a cocktail. 

Viewpoint

Charles Scudamore on HCP and the UK hotel market

18-Sep-2014 By Carina Perkins

Charles Scudamore is the principal and founder of Hetherley Capital Partners (HCP), a specialist hotel real estate investment and asset management firm, based in London. He talks BigHospitality about the current state of the UK hotel investment market...

Viewpoint

Will Thompson on Vivo and the rise of all-day dining

05-Sep-2014 By Carina Perkins

Will Thompson opened Italian café and bar Vivo on Islington's Upper Street with his brother Ben. He talks to BigHospitality about Italian food culture, the rise of all-day dining in London, and how restaurants can benefit from a more casual approach.

Viewpoint

Eric Partaker on Chilango and spearheading a new funding route for SMEs

22-Aug-2014 By Melodie Michel

Eric Partaker is the co-founder of Chilango, the Mexican chain that has raised £1.8m via a mini-bond hosted on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. He talks to BigHospitality about the success of this initiative and why crowdfunding is a great alternative...