New Tricks Podcast

This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Richard Clarke, managing director, Global Hotels & Leisure at Bernstein to discuss hotels as consumer brands, combining travel and sleeping in the most efficient of ways and the latest efforts by Airbnb to make itself as reliable as a hotel front desk.

This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Tim Dodd, partner at Maples Teesdale. After a film and music review, we moved on to discussing the changing consumer behaviour influencing the merging of concepts and mixed use operational real estate as well as the continued investor interest in luxury and mild speculation on who might buy Travelodge. We rejoice in the knowledge that Goldie Lookin Chain continue to thrill and delight audiences and marvel at Shaun Ryder’s talents for reading an autocue.

This week we are joined by Stephanie Ricca, editorial director of Hotel News Now, to discuss Travelodge, the view from NYU and whether you should be racked with a lifetime of guilt for taking a hotel room from a duck.

In this episode of New Tricks we’re joined by sector consultant, Philip Ward, as we ponder whether Wyndham and Choice shall leap into the pumpkin carriage and go to the Acquisition Ball. We also consider what Whitbread would do with the cash from the rumoured sale of their F&B business. And if that weren’t enough, there is a NewDog branded pen up for grabs.

This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Dimitris Manikis, president EMEA at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to discuss the rewriting of contracts across the community, the hotel and its investors. We also learn the unexpected power of a strong glasses frame.

Simon French, chief economist at Panmure Gordon joins us on this episode of New Tricks and shares his tales of bees and bonfires. On matters of macro economics, might the stabilising energy markets prove the elusive Quarter of Reckoning doesn’t darken our doors? Reasons to be cheerful continue with Liz Truss showing us the system does work whilst strong underlying demand for leisure and hospitality motivates investors to keep investing.

This week we are joined by Tom Oakden, managing director, Hilltop Hospitality, to discuss what’s occurring in the transactions market, why prime is winning and what cakes are likely to disappoint as an athletic aid.

On New Tricks this week we’re joined by Catt McLeod, director of strategic partnerships at HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts, and discuss savvy hoteliers who understand the customer, their journey and channel of choice and why a more holistic approach to all things commercial might be a jolly good thing. Also in this week’s episode, the crucial research on the availability of hot beverages and shelter that must be done when deciding which activities the youth should be participating in. As always a massive thanks to our guest, Catt, and all of you for continuing to listen and support the podcast.

This week we are joined by Justin Lanzkron, director, business development at Kew Green Hotels, where we discuss the shifting relationship with the brands, how there’s never a dull moment in hotels and the societal ramifications of Travelodge’s latest rent ‘smoothing’.

Naureen Ahmed, founder of Inspiring Women in Hospitality joins us on this episode of New Tricks and shares her story so far as well as her ambitions to bring gender balance to the industry and the opportunity for everyone to be part of the conversation. Her search for female role models drove her to establish the thriving network, educational platform and event programme that is Inspiring Women in Hospitality.

This week we are joined by George Sell, editor-in-chief, International Hospitality Media, to look at the year ahead, how many brands Accor can launch in a week and why the best hotel experiences aren’t always about rainfall showers and butter rubs matched to your DNA.

On New Tricks this week we’re joined by Lingxi Wang, Managing Associate at Foot Anstey LLP to discuss shariah compliant funding, its advantages and how it works for the hotel sector. We also talk about the hopes and dreams of the property industry as we look to the year ahead and of course find out how Katherine’s Kardashian gummy fuelled concentration is faring.

This week Emily and I down the Kardashian gummies and think thoughts about the year ahead in hotels. Accor is likely to set the news agenda as it splits off luxury and lifestyle, while technology continues to cement itself in operations. But what does this all mean for the Quarter of Reckoning?

Joining us on New Tricks this week is Carl Weldon, principal at CW Hospitality, previously chief operating officer for Europe at HFTP, chief executive of BAHA and then HOSPA. During a conveniently timed test match tea break we shared thoughts on adaptable technology that customers want, the metaverse and lessons from the pandemic.

As the hotel sector tries to keep rates high enough to accommodate heating bills, we are joined by Shona Whitehead, managing partner at Cogent Blue, to discuss how now is not the time to kick back and stop drawing on the creativity and resilience of the pandemic.

This week on New Tricks we’re joined by hospitality students, Yuna and Sarah, who are in their final year at Glion Institute of Higher Education. We discussed what drew them to the hospitality industry and hear how employers should prioritise company culture, career progression opportunities and their online presence to attract the next generation to join the sector.

Javier Batlle, managing partner at Okami Hotels joins us on New Tricks this week for a chat about whether luxury is still a safe bet, the return of opportunistic investors and how Musk’s purchase of Twitter might be just the boost the sector needs.

This week we are joined by Robert Cole, founder at Bettercopy, to discuss fencing, poetry and whether the hotel sector could create real value if it stopped thinking about M&A and started thinking about the guest.

This week we are joined by Mark Britton Jones, senior lecturer at Glion Institute of higher education, to discuss why elitism is OK if you’re luxury, and why it would be better if the segment could find fancier distribution than the OTAs.

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This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Eva White, CEO at Ariv Coliving and hear about the whopping number of opportunities available for the brand that provides flexible accommodation with the offer of local experiences and community connection.

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This week we were joined by Mark McCulloch, Hospitality Rising founder, to discuss what the sector can do to show a little ankle to the workforce. And in related loyalty matters, why sticking a logo on a pillow can go a long way.

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This week we’re delighted to be joined by Philippa Goldstein, Senior Analyst and Head of Hotels Research at Knight Frank who, via the medium of facts, alerted us to the positives to be found amidst the current political and economic chaos. Trading data to the end of August shows continued strong rates and we’re all hoping the pandemic lessons of market segmentation, cost control and searching for new revenue streams remain fresh in the minds of hotel owners for the coming months of uncertainty.

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Good news this week for anyone who used to enjoy an old-school pub lock in, because they are core to Center Parc’s latest strategy. This week Emily and I also discuss the death of the Queen, the death of the energy price cap - for now - and the potential death of all of us courtesy of V Putin.

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We’re back from summering and ready for a new work season and the next series of New Tricks. On this week’s episode we can’t help but speculate on when and how the booster rocket outgoing PM, Boris Johnson will return to the halls of Whitehall and more pressingly, whether our new leader will announce sufficient support for the sector in the coming days. We also consider just how much travel chaos really came to pass this summer – ferries and roof boxes permitting – and whether the staggering energy, supplies and staffing costs will force hotels into seasonal operating. It’s a joy to be back and we hope you enjoy listening.

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This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Antony Woodcock, co founder and managing director at GIG to discuss a more flexible approach to staffing. Is it time to stop viewing hospitality as a calling and career for life and instead provide a safe and transparent working structure that reflects these agile times?

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Harry Fielder, managing director, Umi Digital, joins us this week to talk about how to regain marketing control, whether you should be spending on ad words or socks and the question of the ages: how to score your pies.

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This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Murray McPherson, Founder at Embers Camping to talk about the great investment in the great outdoors. As the popularity of outdoor experiences continues to power on, are we moments away from every hotel group up and down the land having a camping brand? A disappointing low level of travel and political chaos to discuss this week but Katherine does have a balloon arch so there are reasons to be cheerful.

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This week on New Tricks we’re joined by Peter Heath, Founder at Venue Performance to discuss meetings, conferences, events and Christmas parties – legitimate ones. With no signs of the once anticipated post-pandemic calm and stable trading environment, venues, suppliers and hosts must now focus on the data to navigate the future.

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This week we are joined by Alistair Hockley, director, Christie & Co, to discuss harmonisation between buyers and sellers, the domestic leisure market and whether Mick Jagger takes cod liver oil.

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On New Tricks this week we’re joined by Merilee Karr, Founder and CEO, UnderTheDoormat Group and Chairperson, UK Short Term Accommodation Association.

In the eyes of investors, are the valuation challenges presented by the short-term rental sector outweighed by the speedy scale up and consumer demand? Are consumers starting to understand that a platform isn’t an operational brand? And what further consolidation and partnerships will we see in this space?

It was a pleasure to talk to Merilee about all of this and more. We hope you enjoy listening.

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This week we look forward to another summer of trepidation over whether holidays will go ahead, look back at Whitbread’s results and, in the light of Choice’s Radisson America’s deal, speculate on what might happen if hotels become sentient. 

On this week’s jubilant episode of New Tricks we’re joined by David Curtis-Brignell MBE, Business Advisor, Tourism & Hospitality at Tourism Reimagined. With the dulcet tones of Rod Stewart still ringing in our ears, we discuss the current catastrophic situation that folks attempting to enjoy some travel are experiencing, an update on the Registration Scheme for accommodation in England and the role, and importance, of a DMO.

This week we are joined by Prakash Krishnamurthy, director, owner relations and portfolio management, Europe, IHG, to talk about what owners want, how they are viewing loyalty and how everything is better when we are people who help people.

Ricky Kapoor, Managing Director, Palm Holdings UK joins us for this week’s New Tricks where we ponder the perils of foreign travel this summer amidst the current chaos of the Passport Office and whether, once the government has sorted that out, they might turn their attention to the sector and its pressing need for stability. We admire the resilience and patience of our industry and its ability to create marvellous memories.

Welcome to the latest episode of New Tricks, where we are joined by Tim Wheeldon, managing director at Zeal Hotels. We look back at car park networking at IHIF, what the cost of living and labour crises mean for the sector and thinking about working ‘with the planet, not against it’.

Refreshed from an Easter break, New Tricks returns this week to discuss Macron’s chest hair and election glory, lengthening booking windows and increasing consumer confidence in the sector. Daniel Johansson, Director of Development and Acquisitions at Cheval Collection kindly joins us and shares his views on all of this plus how the team at Cheval is preparing for an imminent return to conferencing.

This week we are joined by Marloes Knippenberg, CEO Kerten Hospitality, where we discuss turning experience into reality, how mixed use means full use of space and how women need to buddy up.

Dimitris Mittas, Vice President Finance, Europe Global Asset Solutions joins us on New Tricks this week to discuss the rise of asset management as owners continue to seek advise from independent experts in the wake of the pandemic and the soothing tones provided to lenders. And as travel restrictions ease, the thriving tourism industry on Ibiza looks forward to welcoming visitors back to its shores.

This week we’re joined by Ago Hotels co-founder Lionel Benjamin, where we discuss how hotels are focussing on value creation, whether you should put a car park in your restaurant and what this all the means for the future of florists.

On New Tricks this week we’re joined by Mo Sondhi, Senior Director, Debt Finance at OakNorth Bank as we inch ever closer to the Quarter of Reckoning. We discuss the opportunities the pandemic presented to proactive operators, the need to understand what is underpinning demand and how a flexible operating model is the key to ultimate glory.

Welcome to the latest episode of NewTricks, where we are joined by Richard Farrar, managing director of Leaf Hospitality. Richard talks about his route into ownership and how the pandemic brought about the year of automation.

This week we’re joined by Matthew Critchlow, Head of France and Ollie Allcock, Commercial Sustainability Manager at ClimatePartner as we talk about a pragmatic approach to ESG for a sector that is largely still working out how to recover from a crippling pandemic. But with increasing investor, consumer and legal focus on matters of environmental, social and governance it must be understood and implemented across the stack. And for more from Matthew, he’ll be appearing on the free to join Watson Farley & Williams webinar this Thursday 3 March at 9am GMT – registration details are plastered all over our LinkedIn account – just search for NewDog PR.

This week we were joined by Tom Rimmer, VP of Technology at Ennismore, live from the basement at Accor Towers to talk about why technology doesn’t mean humans need to go away and what augmented hospitality actually means, in one simple phrase.

This week we talk to Chris Penn, founder of Birch, about the emotional highs and lows of the pandemic, whether ethical choices really do cost more and the risk of devaluing a business through not engaging with ESG credentials. We also consider optimum window cleaning methods and whether zebras would make the school run more fun - no zebras were harmed in the making of this episode.

This week we are joined by Karen Friebe, Head of International Hotels and Hospitality Team, Bird & Bird, to discuss a flourishing hotel market and the imminent growth in M&A as companies prepare for a regional sell off. We also discuss the positive changes the sector has seen during the pandemic and our hopes that it won’t return to its less flexible times.

This week on New Tricks we were joined by Kristian Dijkstra, Director at C1 Capital when we happily talked about fried chicken – please refer to Dave Grohl’s autobiography for further life lessons – repurposing conference and meeting spaces and how to turn a dark kitchen into a bright vision.

This week we are joined by Jileen Loo, Head of Asian Investments - Cross Border Investments at CBRE Hospitality, Operating Real Estate and seller of hotels. We chat about the growth in interest in the sector from fresh faces, drawn to facts, not fairy tales, as well as the heart at its core.

Kathrin Cockhill, Director of Hotel Intelligence, EMEA at HotStats joins us for the first episode of New Tricks in 2022. We greatly enjoyed chatting about the changes to capex spend, whether we’ll all be seeking comfort in the arms of the OTAs  and how 2019 is so very, well, 2019. It’s good to be back and we hope you continue to enjoy listening.

For festive fun this week we’re joined by Julie Fawcett, CEO at Nkuku and previously CEO at Qbic Hotels. Amongst many things we talk Christmas tree farms, what hospitality can learn from retail and why we really are all in this together.