What Do Five-Star Hotel GMs Do During Lockdown?

Main Photo: The logo for Hospitality 4 Heroes Challenge

Date: April 2020

Location: Predominantly UK

Name: Hospitality 4 Heroes Challenge

Who: (Warren) James & (Matthew) Cranwell, HR Consultants to the industry, created the Hospitality 4 Heroes Challenge, in aid of our heroes at the NHS.

“We are going to show some tricks of the hospitality world and nominate 3 people who have 24 hours to complete their own challenge, as well as nominate their own 3 friends!”

To kick off they started with Micheal Bonser (MD The Rosewood, London), Thomas Kochs (GM The Corinthia, London) and Tom Booton (Head Chef The Dorchester, London) to video themselves doing “something” they are good at, and in turn nominate others to do so, in order to raise money for the NHS heroes

Now most people regard GMs and MDs of top-end hotels as rather “stiff, serious” people…these videos show that’s not the case, especially when you ask them do something great for the community, mostly from their own homes…

Thus far, and the campaign only started two weeks ago (early April 2020) the following have demonstrated skills that we didn’t think they had in themselves!

See some of the antics they got up to:

Matthew Cranwell, Director James & Cranwell – made a spicy tomato salsa
Michael Bonsor, MD Rosewood London – gardening
Thomas Kochs, GM The Corinthia London – making Wiener Schnitzel
Vincenzo Arnese, Dinner by Heston Bluementhal –
Martin Siska, Scarfes Bar –
Andrew Stembridge, Division Director Chewton Glen and other hotels within L&R – gardening
Sally Beck, GM Royal Lancaster London –
Francisco Macedo, GM Cliveden House –
James Hiley-Jones, MD Greenclose Hotels –
Sue Williams, MD Whateley Manor – making a Bug Hotel!
Michael Gray, ex GM Churchill London – reading his own poetry!
Danny Pecorelli, MD Exclusive Hotels and Venues – making cocktails with
David Taylor, ex IHG – in dinner jackets, or not!

Eveline Noort, GM Belmond Le Manoir –
Kieran Quinn, GM Kimpton Hotel Edinburgh – eating dry oatcakes whilst cycling!
Knut Wylde – GM The Berkeley, London – making Margheritas
Amanda Hyndman – GM Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park – making Monkfish in Parma Ham
Sandeep Bhalla, GM The Connaught, London – making Quesadilla
Helene Darroze, Owner Helene Darroze at The Connaught – making Tarte Tartin
Pierre Koffman, Owner Tante Claire, London – making John Dory with Boulangere Potatoes
Jon Dawson, HR Director – Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park – making Easter Chocolate Cornflake Bites
Bob van den Oord, MD, Langham London – making Confit Duck over pasta
Tom Booton, Head Chef Grill at The Dorchester – making Asian Chicken Noodle Salad
Jennifer Santner, GM Grill at The Dorchester –  making Swiss Vegelgeu Breakfast
Stefan Trepp, Executive Chef at The Dorchester – making Fennel Zucchini Salad
Michael Voigt, GM L’Oscar (soon to be GM at The Goring) – making Nettle Tea
Jonathan Raggett, MD Red Carnation Hotels – making cocktails

and many others…..

There is another campaign running at the same time with the name Hospitality for Heroes. They set up at about the same time to raise money to pay chefs and suppliers to make meals for the NHS, and then also launched a similar challenge idea to kickstart their campaign which is going in the same direction. All of the funds raised goes directly to the NHS.

THPT Comment: Great fun and in a good cause… at time of going to press, they have raised £7,500 of £10,000 target so do your “Captain Tom” and help exceed the amount ten-fold!

First Seen: Message from Hospitality 4 Heroes

The Hotel Property Team (THPT) are a small group of highly experienced business professionals. Between us, we provide a range of skills and experience which is directly relevant to those involved in the hotel property market.

For more information – Visit www.thpt.co.uk or email info@rrh.hmf.mybluehost.me.