Meet the judges
Chris Cowls
CEO, Eproductive
Chris is Chief Executive of Eproductive Ltd which provides EPS, the leading People Management System for hotels.
With a background in international hospitality management Chris co-founded Eproductive in 2000 and EPS now supports hundreds of hotels in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. Chris also coordinates 2050.network, the UK foodservice leaders' network, and has been Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey's School of Hospitality & Tourism Management since 2015.
Clinton Campbell
Commercial Director, L&R Hotels
Sue Williams MI FIH
Founder, Positive Hospitality
Whatley Manor’s Sustainability Journey began 2019, prompted by the owner’s belief that the business had a responsibility to reduce its negative impact on the environment. Sue, with no previous experience in the field committed to researching the topic and educating herself as much as possible, quickly partnering with accreditation partners, Earcheck.org and studying a Cambridge course on, “Businesses transitioning to Net Zero Emissions”. In 2021 they were awarded Sustainable Business Catey and were the first country house hotel to achieve Silver accreditation with Earthcheck in 2022. Alongside being an operational GM, Sue is fully engaged in the wider hospitality sector and is a well known voice on the subject of sustainability, helping other hoteliers where possible to grow their knowledge of this complex subject.
Jason Simpson
CEO, Raw Charging
As CEO of RAW Charging, Jason Simpson drives the company’s mission to deliver top-tier EV charging solutions for the leisure and hospitality industries. With a background in luxury travel, under Jason's leadership, RAW Charging has partnered with prominent names such as Merlin Entertainments, National Trust, Exclusive Hotels and McArthurGlen designer outlets to provide seamless, sustainable charging experiences that elevate guest experience and satisfaction. In a former life Jason was a GM of a Small Luxury Hotels property in Morocco and has spent an enormous amount of time in and around luxury hotels with his former partner who is a travel writer and author.
Sally Beck
General Manager, Royal Lancaster London
Sally Beck is the General Manager of the Royal Lancaster London. At the helm since 2013, Sally is responsible for leading one of London’s largest independent hotels, the Royal Lancaster has 411 bedrooms, three restaurants and bars and some of the largest banqueting space in Europe. Believing that a happy team makes happy guests and happy owners, team and guest engagement is Sally’s first priority. The team are also passionate about giving back to the community and about the hotel’s commitment to social responsibility. They support various charities and work closely with The Clink Charity, Springboard and Hospitality Action.
Grace Greensitt
Founder & CEO, Global Sustainable Index
With a lifelong passion for travel and over five years in event leadership, I’m committed to advancing sustainability in the hospitality industry. My design and UX experience inspire solutions that simplify sustainable practices, ensuring travel’s educational value endures for future generations while creating a more responsible industry.
Declan Gallagher
Group Management Accountant, Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland
Declan Gallagher is currently the Group Management Accountant at Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland. A Hotel & Tourism Management graduate of the University of Ulster and a HOSPA fellow since 2017, his career in hospitality began in 1988 within hotel operations until he transferred to a finance role within the now Leonardo hotels in 1999. He moved up the ranks holding different finance positions both at property and head office level until his appointment to his current role in 2016.
He is passionate about passing on the knowledge and experience learned over his years in hospitality to the next generation and has collaborated with both the company’s L&D department and with HOSPA’s training partners the Heyward Group in developing programmes for finance and operational hospitality team members.
He has followed the mantra that “we are born to be real, not perfect” throughout his career and sees hospitality as a way of life, not just a job.
Cesco Righetti
CFO, The Arts Club
Cesco, a seasoned leader in luxury hospitality, has excelled as CFO of The Arts Club UK since 2020 and recently became Company Director at Artslans Urban Limited. Known for his adaptability and passion, he fosters a positive, profitable work environment, blending his accounting expertise with a dedication to excellence.
Nicola Trew
Founder and Director, Vroom
With a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry Nicola has worked across a range of hotels from large corporate chains to small independently owned boutique hotels. From 5 star Golf & Spa resorts to city centre budget hotels.
Unlike the traditional Revenue Manager, she is creative and thinks ‘outside of the box’. Nicola focuses on working with the Hotel teams to think more on a global basis, looking for revenue opportunities, on a continual basis, for all departments.
Janel Clark
Programme Director, HOSPA Professional Development
An accomplished Educator who is passionate about the importance of Learning and Development and its commercial impact on people and profits
Following several years working in Revenue Management, Janel has used her extensive practical knowledge to create, develop and deliver numerous training courses, working with some of the world’s leading educational establishments. She has experience across the full spectrum of hotels, from 5-star chain properties to independent boutique hotels, and has helped them embed, achieve and exceed best practice.
A passionate industry expert, and a qualified educator, Janel is involved in creating programmes for both industry and hospitality schools, which introduce improved ways for hotels to make commercial decisions.
Janel believes that one day, Revenue Managers will rule the world!
Andrew Evers
Group Director of IT, Rocco Forte
I began working in tech in 1997 and then in 2008, my tech path crossed with the high-intensity, pressured and prestigious world of hospitality, when my employer took a contact for a London hotel chain. Since then, I moved on and spent the best part of ten years with Red Carnation. In 2014, we fully refurbished the world famous Ashford Castle, transforming it into one of Europe's most beloved resort hotels. Today, I enjoy the role of Group Director of IT for Rocco Forte -famed for luxury boutique leisure hotels across Europe. I've been very lucky in my life to work in the tech space for some of the best loved hotels in the world. The challenge keeps ratcheting up with fierce competition and a confused marketplace. In the years following the covid crisis, and following a decade of perceived tech underinvestment, the entire industry is now host to one of the most aggressive re-teaching programmes of any global industry. Now's the time to own the recovery and wield the change!
Natasha Patel
Director - Corporate and M&A Tax Services, BDO LLP
Natasha has worked at BDO for 17 years , qualifying in audit and moving over to corporate tax with 13 years experience working in the retail and leisure and hospitality sector. Aswell as supporting businesses with their tax affairs, Natasha also leads D&I initiatives within the firm which she is incredibly passionate about.
David Nicolson
Director - The Carlton Tower Ltd, Jumeirah Group
David worked for the Jumeirah Group as Vice President of Finance in Europe, looking after six hotels including three in London, one in Frankfurt , one in Mallorca and another one in Istanbul, before moving into an asset management role as a Director of the Carlton Tower Ltd.
Mark Rupert Read
Director of IT, Firmdale Hotels
Shane Doyle
Group IT Manager, Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland
Shane Doyle, a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector, serves as the Group IT Manager for Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland. He oversees IT operations for 57 hotels in the region and contributes to the global network of 300 hotels.
William Gibbs
Hotels Director, SRSL
Currently Hotel Director with Sir Richard Sutton with ownership/asset management oversight of the Sheraton Grand and the Athenaeum. Launched Sutton Hotel Collection in April 2022 with three iconic hotels with the vision to reignite these historic hotels.
William studied at Shannon College of Hotel Management and University College Galway, before qualifying as an accountant. He started his career at Forte Hotels and worked his way through finance roles in many leading hospitality organisations, including, Le Meridien, Dorchester Hotel, and Stein Hotels. He joined Hamilton Hotel Partners to focus on asset management before moving to private equity with Westmont Hospitality. William works closely with colleges in terms of promoting hospitality as a career, as well as charities such as Only a Pavement Away and Hospitality Action.
Sarah Duncan
Co-Founder and Director, Sleeping Lion
Sarah Duncan is Co-founder and Director of Expert Advice / Sleeping Lion – a certified BCorp. Her background is in leisure and hospitality, and she now specialises in Sustainability (or ESG), having written two books on the subject: The Sustainable Business Book (2023) and The Ethical Business Book (2019).
She advises on how to make sustainability a genuine part of your business culture and day-to-day practice, not just a tick-box exercise (or race to be the ‘least bad’).
Danny Ruler
BT
Danny has worked at BT for over 35 years with the last 14 being a Public Wifi Specialist. Being a lead for Acquisition, Danny focuses on bringing on new customers to BT Wifi from varied sectors including but not limited to, Hospitality, the Public Sector and housing associations.
Liz Callaghan
Director of Revenue & Distribution, Cheval Collection
Liz, Group Director of Revenue at Cheval Collection, oversees luxury serviced apartments in London, Edinburgh, and Dubai. With a B.Sc. (Mgt) and a H.Dip. in Hotel Management from Trinity College Dublin, Liz boasts 20+ years of experience in 5* and 4* deluxe hotels and apartments in London. She joined Cheval in 2014 after roles in operations at Guoman Hotels and later focusing on Revenue and Reservations. With a history of key roles in revenue management and business development, she's been instrumental in Cheval's growth, both domestically and internationally, in the luxury market.
Hannah Scarbrough
Associate Director - Clients & Markets, BDO
Hannah is the Associate Director - Clients & Markets for BDO LLP’s Audit and Assurance practice where she is responsible for the national marketing and communications strategy. BDO LLP is a leading accountant and advisor to the hospitality sector and Hannah spent a number of years in BDO’s Leisure and Hospitality team, working with a range of well-known hotel brands and industry suppliers.
Adrienne Hanna
CEO, Right Revenue
Adrienne is the Founder & CEO of Right Revenue and an all-round revenue nerd! With a lifetime career in travel and hospitality, Adrienne has spent the last 20+ years in the amazing world of revenue management.
With a background in Revenue Management consultancy, Adrienne saw a problem in an industry she was passionate about, hence Right Revenue was born. Designing and developing a revenue software solution that takes the myth out of Revenue Management, Right Revenue’s goal is to partner with independent hotels providing a software solution that gives great rate recommendations, accurate forecasting and bespoke reporting – all with the goal of not only adding profitability to the bottom line but also supporting a revenue culture through your whole business.
David Pryde
Director of IT - Europe, Millennium Hotels and Resorts
David has worked for over 30 years within the Hospitality industry both internationally and within the UK, 25 years of which has been focused on technology.
He was worked with large international hotel groups such as IHG, management companies such as Bespoke Hotels and luxury boutique hotels such as Red Carnation Hotel Collection. David says it is the industry’s vitality and desire to keep changing and trying to exceed its guests' expectations that keep him excited. It is this constant change that sets the challenge for the IT Community to seek greater engagement between the business and technology, and to share “best practice and innovation” throughout the industry.
Fergus Boyd
CTO, IP Dividual
Dr Fergus Boyd, CTO, IP Dividual.com. In top 100 of the “CIO 100” awards three times. IT and Digital Director/VP and consultant for blue chip and innovative brands including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Yotel Hotels, Red Carnation Hotels, Village Hotels and Soho House Membership Group. Achieved numerous awards in IT, website design, digital marketing and mobile app for several of these brands. Also, a trustee / NED / investor of several charities and start-up companies such as The Royal Institution (oldest UK science charity) and Linnean Society (biological diversity charity). Fellow of HOSPA and Council Member of HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals). I now run my own hospitality consultancy specialising in digital transformation, business strategy and technology stack reviews.
Jodie Wright
Commercial Director, Crerar Hotels
Jodie is Commercial Director for Crerar Hotels Group which is a collection of 4* & 5* Hotels and Inn’s across Scotland and England. Experienced hotelier with 18 years’ in the industry. Working her way up through reservations and reception to eventually taking her first Revenue manager role 10 years ago at the Iconic Midland Hotel in Manchester. Since then she has worked with the likes of Marriott and IHG.
Thomas Finn
Managing Director, Edwards & Finn
Thomas has over ten years of experience in specialist recruitment working with some of the most prestigious clients globally in the Hospitality, Travel & Tourism and Finance industries. He built his reputation as the “go-to guy” for all things Revenue Management Recruitment and is known for his speed and consistency when it comes to finding the right commercial talent.
The combination of Thomas’s passion for the industry and recruitment expertise enables him to understand the nuances and complexities of our client’s needs and what is needed for Edwards & Finn and its specialist recruitment team to continue to deliver an industry-leading service.
