CEO of Crerar Hotels, the AA Small Hotel Group of the Year 2023/24, Chris Wayne-Wills joins Mark McC on this week’s episode to discuss his career, his experience in the hospitality industry and the unique culture and approach of Crerar Hotels.  Chris emphasises the importance of personalised guest experiences and attention to detail and highlights the company's focus on quality, local experiences, and the development of their properties to offer the best possible service to guests. Chris also touches on the challenges facing the industry, such as the residual impact of the pandemic, busin ..read more

Gemma Barter, the Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Honest Burgers discusses the importance of approaching digital marketing from a customer's perspective and emphasises the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the fast-paced digital landscape. She highlights the success of a campaign at Honest Burgers that focused on introducing a new menu item through an omni-channel approach, showcasing the power of cohesive marketing strategies. She shares valuable insights into the world of digital marketing, loyalty programs, and brand engagement from Gemma's experiences at Honest Burgers and ..read more

It’s bubble tea but for grown ups. In this episode, Mark McC has a chat with Paul Tanner, the Managing Director of CUPP, a bubble tea brand. Paul shares his journey from being a barista to becoming an MD. He discusses some learnings from his career, emphasising the importance of training and development for the team.  Paul and Mark chat about the unique offerings of CUPP, such as their brown sugar range as well as their sustainable practices to reduce plastic usage. They talk about the various hospitality tech initiatives taken by CUPP including the introduction of kiosks with Vita Mojo a ..read more

From operation to marketing, employee to freelancer Alan Armstrong has a variety of experience in the hospitality sector, giving him a very holistic perspective on things. He discusses his experience working with celebrities and managing venues at a young age and what he learned from this experience. Alan talks about his freelance journey, offering advice on building a strong network and developing a diverse skill set to succeed in the marketing field. He also delves into the importance of customer experience, brand DNA, and future trends in hospitality marketing. Throughout the episode, Alan ..read more

Is beer and curry a match made in heaven? Combining Indian street food and craft beer Marko Husak and Mayur Patel founded Bundobust, a casual restaurant and microbrewery chain. In this episode, they discuss their journey in the hospitality industry with host Mark McC. They share insights into their background in the industry, detailing how they combined their influences to create a unique dining experience. They address the challenges and successes they faced in starting Bundobustt, including their approach to menu development and the creation of their own brewery. Marko and Mayur discuss thei ..read more

Hospitality entrepreneur and podcaster Mark Wogan shares his valuable insights on the hospitality industry including the challenges faced during the past four years, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and the need for government support. Along with host Mark McC they highlight the essence of kindness, generosity, and a welcoming spirit in the industry. They also touch on the evolving landscape of hospitality recruitment, with a focus on the potential for career growth and success within the sector, especially for young professionals. Mark Wogan and Mark McC discuss the vocational nature o ..read more

Mark McC interviews Paulo de Tarso, a renowned figure in the hospitality industry with a rich background working in top restaurants worldwide. Paulo shares his journey from working in New York to opening his own restaurant, Margot, in London. He emphasises the importance of hospitality, service, and creating a positive atmosphere for guests. Paulo reflects on his experiences serving famous actors like Al Pacino and the impact of genuine connections in the industry. He discusses the differences between the dining scenes in LA, New York, and London, highlighting the evolution and growth of the i ..read more

Robbie Bargh, founder of the Gorgeous Group joins Mark McC, sharing insights into just why his restaurants are so gorgeous. They discuss the importance of creating memorable and transformative experiences for guests, emphasising the significance of attention to detail in menu creation and storytelling. The discussion delves into the success story of Dishoom and its younger sister, Permit Room, highlighting the meticulous approach to creating unique and immersive dining experiences. Robbie shares his objective to provide “emotion per square foot” in restaurant design and operations and also emp ..read more

In this podcast episode, Dan Brookman, CEO, and Sam Brown, CCO, of Airship and Toggle, discuss their journey in the hospitality industry and the evolution of their companies. They emphasise the importance of effective B2B marketing and how they approach it as a way to bring life and excitement to events and spur the industry forward. They also highlight the need for marketers to fully utilise CRM platforms like Airship to personalise and automate their marketing campaigns, driving customer behaviour and generating better ROI. They discuss the upcoming developments in their platforms, including ..read more

Jack Edge is a digital rock star and founder of Cuttin Edge Digital. Jack shares his journey in the hospitality industry, starting from his bartending job at a student nightclub to his role as a sales and marketing manager for a group of bars and clubs. He emphasises the importance of understanding the guest and utilising digital tools to drive sales and marketing efforts. Jack also discusses his recent venture into entrepreneurship, offering his expertise as a digital marketing consultant to help businesses optimise their digital presence and drive growth. Throughout the episode, Jack highlig ..read more