Hotel Cateys 2021: Hotelier of the Year: Daniel Pedreschi

As vice-president operations UK for PPHE Hotel Group, Daniel Pedreschi successfully runs a complex and extensive collection of properties while always prioritising the development of his team.

In his role as vice-president operations for a portfolio of 10 UK hotels comprising nearly 3,700 bedrooms, you would imagine – in the midst of the current hospitality recruitment crisis – that appointing new staff is the number one priority. But no, while he recognises that it is among his list of top five major concerns for the coming year, his main focus is looking after his existing staff, closely followed by breathing life back into providing a solid, customer-centric service culture.

After the past traumatic 20 months, Pedreschi believes it has never been more important to nurture his team and show sincere commitment to their true value. With a head count that numbered 2,200 pre-Covid, it can be no easy task to create the kind of personal and caring environment for staff that is more easily adopted within a small establishment. But it is something that Pedreschi has become well known for prioritising since joining PPHE Hotel Group 12 years ago.

The impressive and heartfelt commitment to the team during the pandemic helped the company carry off the Best Employer Award at the Cateys 2021. Now, he has been recognised in his own right by being presented with the 2021 Hotelier of the Year award, the 38th individual to receive the prestigious accolade.

For someone who is so focused on team building, overseeing the 2,200-strong UK workforce depleted during lockdowns to 1,450 has been a huge blow. But, every step of the way Pedreschi has ensured staff who were made redundant were fully supported throughout the process with CV workshops and an assurance that everyone who left would be given first right of refusal when the company began to redeploy.

The supportive role Pedreschi has so successfully adopted extends far beyond the workplace. He is a former chairman of the East One General Managers Association and London committee of Hospitality Action, one time member of British Hospitality Association (now UKHospitality) and formed part of the organising committee for a past Master Innholders General Managers’ Conference.

Members of this year’s judging panel, made up of past winners of the prestigious award, were effusive in their support for Pedreschi. They called him “unassuming and kind”, an “inspirational leader who is leading the way on how to address the serious staffing crisis” and someone whose “motivational and leadership skills are just what our industry needs during these unprecedented and difficult times”.

Andrew Stembridge summed up Pedreschi’s qualities when he said: “Daniel’s relentless dedication to valuing and developing his team, in such a pioneering manner, undoubtedly sets the benchmark. With hospitality staring down the lens at the greatest staffing crisis of our lifetimes, Daniel is an exemplar and role model who will lead the charge in helping to promote our incredible industry as a career of choice.”

Past winners

2019 Sally Beck, Royal Lancaster London

2018 David Taylor, InterContinental Hotels Group

2017 Sue Williams, Whatley Manor

2016 Craig Bancroft, Northcote

2015 Nick Jones, Soho House

2014 Danny Pecorelli, Exclusive Hotels

2013 Stuart Bowery, Grosvenor House

2012 Stuart Johnson, Brown’s Hotel London

2011 Stephen Carter, De Vere Cameron House Hotel

2010 Andrew Stembridge, Chewton Glen

2009 Jonathan Raggett, Red Carnation Hotels

2008 Andrew McKenzie, Vineyard at Stockcross

2007 Michael Gray, the Churchill

2006 Richard Ball, Calcot Manor

2005 John Stauss, Four Seasons, London

2004 Patrick Elsmie, Gleneagles

2003 Robin Hutson, Hotel du Vin

2002 Gordon Campbell Gray, One Aldwych

2001 Karen Earp, Four Seasons Canary Wharf

2000 Peter Crome, Chewton Glen