David Morgan-Hewitt replaces Danny Pecorelli as Master Innholders chair

David Morgan-Hewitt, managing director of the Goring hotel, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Master Innholders.

He replaces Danny Pecorelli, managing director of the Exclusive Collection, who has held the position at the head of the professional hoteliers' organisation for the past two years.

Master Innholders aims to influence standards and extend professionalism within the industry; and promote consideration, study, discussion and research in the areas affecting hotel management, including management development, training, education and recruitment.

There are more than 150 Master Innholders, all of whom are, or have been, prominent hoteliers, and just last week the organisation announced six new members.

Morgan-Hewitt has spent the last 30 years – most of his hospitality career – at the five-red-AA-star, 69-bedroom Goring hotel in London's Belgravia, during which time he has established himself as a personality synonymous with the property, which is owned by Jeremy Goring.

He was one of the inaugural hoteliers to be awarded a Master Innholders scholarship to study at Cornell University in New York State in 1997. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Hotel Cateys in 2017.

After reading history at Durham University, he started a career in consumer and then financial PR. However, inspired by holiday work he had undertaken as a student at Sprowston Manor hotel in Norwich, he decided to pursue his love of hospitality and went to work for Keith Read, the owner of Reads, a neighbourhood restaurant in London's Old Brompton Road.

After a brief spell at a new hotel project in Faversham, Kent, Morgan-Hewitt joined the family-owned Goring hotel in 1990 as restaurant manager. He worked his way up to general manger and then eventually managing director in 2005.

Morgan-Hewitt said: “I’m honoured to take over this prestigious position from Danny, who has done a fantastic job in leading the organisation over the last two years.

“If the last few months has taught us anything it’s how resilient and open our industry is to supporting one another in challenging times. With the support of our executive committee, I aim to continue the brilliant work we do on the development of our future leaders, while providing the industry with resources and insight and championing our great profession.”

Previous chairs include Andrew McKenzie, Andrew Stembridge, Jonathan Raggett and Stuart Bowery.