In this episode of Suite Talk, hosts Jade Evans and Declan Wale sit down with Fergus Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about leadership, resilience and redefining hospitality culture.

From a paper round in Scotland to leading one of London’s most iconic landmark hotels, Fergus shares the formative experiences that shaped his work ethic, philosophy and people-first approach. He reflects candidly on a career-defining tragedy overseas, the mentors who influenced him, and why humility remains one of the most important traits in leadership.

This episode explores what great hospitality really means beyond chandeliers and suites, and why the way you make someone feel will always matter more than the physical product.

✅ Growing up in Scotland and the work ethic that shaped his career

✅ From aspiring footballer to hotel management graduate

✅ The power of early responsibility and resilience

✅ A defining tragedy overseas that reshaped perspective

✅ Why humility is essential in leadership

✅ The difference between luxury and emotional connection

✅ Moving away from “command and control” leadership

✅ Why hospitality must end bullying culture for good

✅ Lessons from working in 11 different countries

✅ How to attract young talent back into hospitality

✅ Integrity, trust and earning followership

Fergus speaks openly about loss, accountability and culture, reminding us that hospitality is not about status or ego, but about lifting others and creating environments where both guests and teams thrive.

Whether you’re leading a landmark hotel or building your career in hospitality, this episode offers a masterclass in grounded leadership and long-term impact.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation with Fergus Stewart.

Read more episodes and industry insights at Hotel Magazine.

00:00 - From Scotland to CEO: Early life, family influence and work ethic

04:30 - Football dreams and choosing hospitality as a career

08:15 - Paper rounds, resilience and responsibility at a young age

12:40 - Mentorship and the £100 leadership lesson

18:50 - A tragic loss in Egypt that reshaped Fergus’ perspective

27:30 - Humility, grief and what truly matters in hospitality

31:45 - Defining great hospitality: It’s about how you make people feel

36:20 - Evolving leadership: From command and control to collaboration

44:10 - Changing hospitality culture and ending toxic kitchen behaviour

52:00 - Technology, personalisation and the future guest experience

📩 Like, comment and subscribe to stay up to date on leadership, culture and innovation in hospitality.

🔗 Learn more at The Landmark London and Hotel Magazine.

In this episode of Suite Talk, hosts Jade Evans and Declan Wale are joined by Samantha Van Exter, Head of Hotels at Montcalm Collection, for a thoughtful conversation on what luxury hospitality looks like today, and where it’s heading next.

With more than 25 years of experience across Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Samantha shares her journey from growing up in a hospitality family in Cape Town to leading one of London’s most design-led hotel collections. She unpacks Montcalm’s philosophy of sensitive luxury, where intuition, empathy and clarity matter more than excess, and explains why making guests feel “seen” is the true marker of great service.

From leadership and culture to AI, sustainability and wellness, this episode explores how hospitality leaders can balance operational excellence with human connection, and why kindness and curiosity remain powerful competitive advantages.

✅ Growing up in a hospitality family and finding a career through service

✅ Defining “sensitive luxury” and why intuitive service matters more than opulence

✅ How guest expectations have shifted from formality to comfort and familiarity

✅ The small details that create memorable guest experiences

✅ Building strong partnerships rooted in sustainability and shared values

✅ Leading teams through change with clarity, empathy and communication

✅ Using AI to remove friction and create more time for human connection

✅ Why wellbeing and wellness are shaping luxury hospitality in 2025

✅ Developing future leaders through curiosity, openness and mentorship

Whether you lead a boutique hotel or a multi-property portfolio, this episode offers grounded insights on delivering modern luxury through people-first leadership and thoughtful service.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation with Montcalm Collection’s Samantha Van Exter.

Read more episodes and hospitality insights at https://thehotelmagazine.co.uk/

1. 00:00 - Introduction & Opening
2. 01:47 - Early Life in Cape Town
3. 04:00 - Discovering the Power of Hospitality
4. 07:26 - Montcalm Mayfair & Design Philosophy
5. 08:53 - Sensitive Luxury Explained
6. 13:28 - Evolution of Guest Experience
7. 18:20 - Partnerships & Sustainability
8. 20:20 - Overcoming Industry Challenges
9. 23:58 - The Future: AI & Sustainability
10. 30:30 - Leadership & Legacy

📩 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to date on leadership, design and innovation in hospitality.

🔗 Learn more at https://montcalmcollection.com/ and https://thehotelmagazine.co.uk/.

In this candid leadership conversation, Foxhills Managing Director Tej Walia joins hosts Jade and Declan to unpack how a modern country club and resort can feel like a thriving village. From “accidental hotelier” to MD, Tej shares the mindset, investments and people-first practices behind Foxhills’ growth.

With a major multi-million pound redevelopment completed and more on the way, this episode explores how to balance shiny new facilities with relentless attention to basics, and why culture, training and community are the true differentiators.

Tej doesn’t sugarcoat it. He talks staff retention and promotion from within, the realities of post-pandemic hiring, and why AI should power the back office so teams can spend more time with guests. He also reframes wellness for today’s guest — from Pilates and paddle to a well-earned cocktail with friends.

Key topics include:

✅ The “accidental hotelier” journey and Atithi Devo Bhava — guest as God

✅ What makes Foxhills feel like a village and how that shapes service

✅ Redefining wellness for business, members and families

✅ Investing in facilities while never dropping the basics

✅ Staff retention at scale, training, and promoting from within

✅ AI as a facilitator for better human service

✅ Mentoring, mental health, and making hospitality a chosen profession

Whether you lead a hotel, club or resort, this episode offers practical lessons on culture, consistency and community that you can apply right away.

🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation with Foxhills MD Tej Walia.

Read more episodes and hospitality insights at Hotel Magazine.

00:00 – Tej’s origin story and the principle of Atithi Devo Bhava

00:42 – Introduction and career highlights to date

01:41 – Three things people may not know about Tej

02:54 – What makes Foxhills a “village” for members and guests

04:01 – Inside the Pavilion family building and estate facilities

05:17 – Hospitality as a lifestyle, not just a job

07:35 – Balancing community feel with national events and tournaments

08:43 – A broader definition of wellness that meets guests where they are

10:33 – Lessons from major refurb and development projects

14:04 – Staff retention, perks and why familiarity matters to members

16:28 – Training that sticks and promoting supervisors from within

18:57 – Trends to watch and why “bleisure” fits Foxhills

19:56 – Where AI helps — and where only people will do

22:21 – Commuting, work rhythms, and family support

24:42 – Quick-fire: habits, myths, first impressions

25:39 – AI: threat or opportunity

27:27 – A favourite hotel and early career foundations

28:29 – Mentors then and now — and mentoring others

31:54 – Leading millennials and Gen Z with open feedback

33:02 – Learning to support mental health at work

34:37 – Nurturing talent with clear pathways and the “Passport” program

35:54 – Hotelier Hall of Fame pick — Tej’s mum

37:12 – What Tej is doing to better the industry

39:01 – The biggest frustration and the promise of hospitality as a profession

40:25 – Career highlights and hosting major events

42:25 – Tej’s definition of hospitality today

📩 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to date on leadership, wellness and innovation in hospitality.

🔗 Learn more at Foxhills Club & Resort and Hotel Magazine.