What if hospitality businesses could do more than just make profit?

In this season finale of Talking Hospitality, we’re joined by Michael Tingsager, founder of Hospitality Mavericks, to explore a bigger question facing the industry — can businesses genuinely be a force for good, or is that just talk?

Drawing on real examples and his “seven tenets” framework, Michael breaks down how the most progressive hospitality brands are building strong cultures, making better decisions, and creating long-term impact — not just short-term success.

This conversation goes beyond trends. It challenges how you think about leadership, culture, and responsibility in hospitality today.

Because if we’re honest… the industry doesn’t just need better operators. It needs better thinking.

And that starts here.

🔥 Key Takeaways

• Profit and purpose aren’t opposites — they rely on each other
• Culture isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s the engine of performance
• You can’t copy great businesses — you have to build your own model
• Clarity of purpose is the foundation of every successful organisation
• Frontline empowerment drives better customer experience
• Long-term thinking beats short-term wins every time

Contact Us: hey@talkinghospitality.com

Links to References in Episode:

Talking Hospitality Blogs

Talking Hospitality Courses

Talking Hospitality podcast Episode 46: How You Can Find Purpose

Talking Hospitality podcast Episode 50: How Do You Make A Podcast?

Hospitality Mavericks podcast Episode 29: Nisha Katona

Hospitality Mavericks podcast Episode 287: Ari Weinzweig

Hospitality Mavericks podcast series: Living The SIX Tenets Of Agile Hospitality Episodes

Ari Weinzweig's Four Books

Companies Mentioned:

Dishoom

Pizza Pilgrims

Paddy & Scotts

Zingerman’s

Mowgli's

How do you actually write your first book — and more importantly, finish it?

In this episode of Talking Hospitality, we explore what it really takes to move from idea to a completed book. This isn’t about waiting for inspiration or having the perfect concept. It’s about structure, discipline and doing the work.

Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by Monica Or, who shares her experience of writing alongside her work in hospitality consultancy. The conversation breaks down how to start writing, how to organise your thinking, and why so many people never get past the first few pages.

What becomes clear is that writing a book isn’t that different from building a business. It requires clarity, consistency and the ability to keep going when motivation drops.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book — or starting something you keep putting off — this episode offers a practical and honest perspective on what it actually takes.

In This Episode

• How to write your first book
• How to start writing when you don’t know where to begin
• Turning ideas into structure and chapters
• Why most people never finish writing a book
• The role of discipline and consistency
• Overcoming overthinking and self-doubt
• Applying business thinking to creative work

• Writing a book starts with structure, not inspiration
• Most people struggle to finish because they overthink the process
• Discipline and consistency matter more than talent
• Breaking ideas into smaller parts makes writing manageable
• The same mindset used in business applies to writing
• Progress comes from doing the work, not waiting for the right moment

To find out more about Star Quality Hospitality visit starqualityhospitality.co.uk

This episode of Talking Hospitality explores one of the most important topics in the industry today: how we treat people at work.

Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by John Herity, Operations Manager at the Caledonian Club, to discuss leadership, mentoring and creating environments where people can genuinely succeed.

John shares his journey through hospitality, from early roles in London to working in some of the most prestigious environments, before returning to the Caledonian Club — a place known for its long-serving team and strong culture.

The conversation focuses on how the industry has changed, particularly in how younger generations view work. John explains why treating young people with respect, giving them responsibility and allowing them to make mistakes is essential if businesses want to retain and develop talent.

There is also a deeper discussion around mentoring, leadership and the role managers play in shaping careers. Rather than simply giving answers, John shares why guiding people to find their own solutions leads to stronger confidence and long-term growth.

This episode is a practical reflection on leadership in hospitality — and a reminder that great businesses are built on how people are treated every day.

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss:

• John Herity’s career journey in hospitality
• Life inside a private members’ club
• How hospitality has changed over the years
• Attracting and retaining younger talent
• Why respect and autonomy matter at work
• Learning through mistakes and real experience
• The difference between good and bad managers
• Mentoring and developing future leaders
• Creating a genuine “home from home” culture
• Why small behaviours (like saying hello) matter

💡 Key Takeaways

1. Young people want respect and autonomy

They respond to how they are treated — and expect to be trusted and supported.

2. Mistakes are part of learning

Creating safe environments where people can learn without fear leads to better teams.

3. Leadership is shown in small moments

Simple behaviours like saying hello or thank you shape culture more than policies.

4. Mentoring is about guidance, not answers

Helping people find their own solutions builds confidence and long-term capability.

5. Culture drives retention

Environments where people feel valued lead to long-serving teams and stronger businesses.

6. You can learn from bad managers too

Negative experiences often shape better leadership behaviours later on.

• Caledonian Club
• PwC
• Close Brothers
• Credit Suisse
• Barclays
• State Street

Contact John on: jh@caledonianclub.com