Meet the Judges
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.
Olivia Lord
Area Director of Finance, Dorsett Hospitality
Olivia is a Hospitality Finance Director with a background in self accounting hotels, most recently at The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences and Dukes Hotel, both in London’s Mayfair. Having started out with Le Meridien Hotels at both Hotel level and Head office, Olivia has also worked with franchises including Conrad, Holiday Inn, and Canopy by Hilton. Olivia has a background of reporting lines to Owners, Asset Managers and Boards, and have worked alongside influential General Managers, Managing Directors and CEOs.
Andrew Henning
General Manager, Grosvenor House Suites
Andrew Henning was appointed General Manager of Grosvenor House Suites in April 2021 and Area Managing Director - London for Highgate in July 2022. In his role as MD London, Andrew oversees business operations for Grosvenor House Suites in Mayfair and additionally supports Hotel Saint in Aldgate. Andrew reopened Grosvenor House Suites in 2021 following the COVID pandemic, transitioning the property from a branded to independent property managed by Highgate, the leading hospitality investment and management company. Hotel Saint was transitioned to Highgate management in March 2023, including rebranding and refurbishment projects. During his expansive career, Andrew has worked through a number of food & beverage operations and hotel openings in independent and branded hotels and resorts internationally. Before joining Highgate, Andrew spent 14 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he held numerous General Manager positions in Europe before opening the St Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort. Andrew’s most recent prior position was General Manager at The Westbury Mayfair in London, a Luxury Collection Hotel.
Grace Greensitt
Founder & CEO, GSI (Global Sustainability Index)
Grace is the Founder and CEO of GSI, a platform dedicated to making sustainability more accessible in the hospitality industry. With a background in brand development, user experience, and global event management, Grace now channels her creativity into helping hotels and venues communicate their sustainability commitments with clarity and credibility.
Through GSI’s sustainable venue directory, Grace supports hospitality businesses in sharing their sustainability data seamlessly, while enabling corporate travellers and event planners to easily source venues that align with their values.
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.
Debra Patterson
Director of Quality & Sustainability, Fairmont Hotels
Debra has dedicated 28 years to The Savoy and is a recognised leader in sustainable hospitality. She has led award-winning initiatives to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. Her work has earned national and international recognition, including being named one of the 50 Most Influential People in British Luxury in The Walpole Power List 2020 for shaping the Luxury Sustainability Manifesto. She also secured key certifications including BREEAM, FuturePlus, Forbes VERIFIED™, and Green Key UK.
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!
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.
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.
Joe Beaumont
Head of Hospitality, Exponential-e Limited
Joe spent more than five years working in Hospitality & Leisure before joining Exponential-e. Throughout this time, he has developed a clear knowledge and understanding of the sector's key challenges, what is to be expected from the guest experience, and the critical role technology has to play in this journey. Through his engagement with a wide range of customers across different brands, management companies and integration partners, Joe has further evolved his knowledge, which has enabled him to deliver leading-edge technological solutions that provide the client with total piece of mind.
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’).
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 - 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 Guest Infrastructure - EMEAA & AMER, IHG
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
Chief Commercial Officer, 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.
Clinton Campbell
Commercial Director, L&R Hotels
A previous winner of HOSPA’s Revenue Management leader of the Year award, Clinton has over 20 years experience in revenue management, commercial strategy and hospitality leadership.
Tommie Eaton
Founder, @BambuuBrush
Tommie is a passionate, enthusiastic founder of purpose driven, global business @BambuuBrush who work with some of the world’s most influential companies in the world like Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways, LUSH cosmetics, Channel4, Clean the World to inspire positive change through sustainable products, educational workshops and impact projects. Tommie is also Global Circularity Ambassador Clean the World who are global leaders in ESG solutions in action. Tommie’s passion of travel converted into sustainable travel after living in Asia for over 7years witnessing the direct negative impact plastic pollution was having on the environment but also to people in lower-socio economic regions of the world inspiring the to create a business for good. Since launching the business Tommie and partner Rebecca have sold over 10,250,000 bamboo toothbrushes stopping over 205,000kg of plastic entering commercial circulation whilst educating over 6,500 children, organising and supporting over 60 impact projects across the globe and have had the privilege to speak at COP26 and more recently Tommie delivered a TEDxTalk on why his disagrees that Net-Zero should be the leading goal for us to live sustainably and working towards a circular economy should be.
Austin Eaton
Head of Marketing, Clean the World Europe and UK
Austin is a sustainability advocate passionate about driving purposeful change. With a BA (Hons) in Business Management focused on Sustainable Futures and Innovation, he combines marketing expertise with impact-driven initiatives. Since joining Clean the World in 2022, Austin has championed conscious consumerism and hospitality sustainability, believing small, collective actions can spark powerful change toward a more sustainable future.
Simon Numphud
Managing Director, AA Media
Simon has spent his entire career in the hospitality industry, from managing hotels and restaurants through to the last twenty-five years with AA Media. As Managing Director, he is responsible for both AA Hotel and Hospitality services and VisitEngland Assessment services. This includes the various AA and VisitEngland classification and award schemes which in total numbers over 8,000 hospitality businesses.
Wider industry involvement includes Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality (former vice chair and trustee), Fellow of HOSPA, Chair South West Board of Hospitality Action and Ambassador, Room to Reward Ambassador and regular judge for various national hospitality awards. Simon is passionate about mentoring, having been a mentor for Oxford Brookes University hospitality management students, having studied hospitality there himself during his formative years. Simon writes a monthly column for Boutique Hotelier.
Emma Catterall
Finance Director, The Belfry
Winner of the Inspirational Finance Leader of the Year award in 2024, Emma is Finance Director at The Belfry Hotel and Resort. Her career to date has been spent in hospitality in all its forms, ranging from Whitbread to Punch Taverns to Merlin Entertainments. She is passionate about de-mystifying finance for non-finance teams across hospitality, designing and delivering training and coaching to enhance their commerciality and drive success. She is particularly proud to have played her part in the recent development of the Belfry, resulting in the opening of the new Masters Suite events space, The Club, a wellness and fitness hub, and the elegant Brabazon House with 149 new bedrooms.
Andy Hill
Finance Director, Iconic Luxury Hotels
With over 38 years in hospitality across mainly the UK, but also US, and Northern Europe, I’ve been lucky to work in many parts of this incredible industry. Along the way, I’ve met and worked with some truly inspiring people who’ve shaped my journey. I’m passionate about service, leadership, and the values that make hospitality such a rewarding profession.
Jon Davis
Chief Technology Officer, Village Hotels
Bio coming soon
Jacqui Roberts
Director – Employment Tax, BDO LLP
Jacqui is an accomplished Director with over twenty years’ experience in employment tax consultancy, across all sectors currently with focus on the Hospitality and Professional services. She offers expert advice on all areas of payroll, expenses, and benefits, termination payments, the complexities of off payroll labour supply chains (IR35 rules, employment status, agency rules) and the implementation and audit of in-house Tronc arrangements. In addition, she provides guidance on PAYE risks arising for Senior Accounting Officer obligations ensuring both compliance and operational efficiency. Beyond mere compliance, Jacqui advises on remuneration strategies, staff retention, and incentivisation schemes, helping businesses to develop robust and sustainable workforce solutions. She also represents clients in discussions with HMRC, adeptly handling both prompted and voluntary disclosure settlements through a strategic and pragmatic approach. More recently, Jacqui has taken a keen interest in the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act and has been advising Hospitality clients on the implications of the new obligations, which came into effect in October 2024.
Rachel Cabirol
Revenue Manager, Royal Lancaster London
Rachel began her hotelier career creating moments of magic in the rooms division at Shangri-La, Hilton, and now at Royal Lancaster London where she made the move to Revenue in 2022. Rachel continues creating magic behind the scenes which lead to winning Inspirational Revenue Leader of the Year in 2024.
Alex Slors
Founder, Alex Slors Consultancy
Bio coming soon
