PPHE Hotel Group’s Daniel Pedreschi named 2021 Hotelier of the Year

Daniel Pedreschi, regional vice-president of UK operations at PPHE Hotel Group, has been crowned 2021 Hotelier of the Year.

He was presented with his award at a celebratory lunch today at the Royal Lancaster London hotel by Nick Appell of Casna Group, the award's sponsor, and James Stagg, editor of The Caterer.

Pedreschi has become well known for prioritising a personal and caring environment for staff since joining PPHE Hotel Group 12 years with a portfolio including 10 UK hotels and a pre-Covid head count of 2,200.

An impressive and heartfelt commitment to the team during the pandemic helped the company carry off the Best Employer Award at the Cateys earlier this year, with Pedreschi now recognised in his own right for cultivating a positive working environment for his employees.

Pedreschi completed a hotel management and business studies degree at Dublin College of Catering (now Technical University Dublin), after which he joined the 833-bedroom London Tara (now the Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington).

He credits the late then-general manager of the Tara Eoin Dillon (Hotelier of the Year 1987) for having a huge influence on him and being an example of how to create a supportive working environment.

He has worked in many departments across a myriad of hotels and catering companies, including Grosvenor House, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Café Royal and Somerset House. As a result he was well-placed to join the pre-opening team of the colossal 1,019-bedroom Park Plaza Westminster Bridge as hotel manager in 2009. Two years later he was promoted to general manager, a role he held for seven years before taking on the additional responsibility of overseeing all UK properties within PPHE Hotel Group. In 2019 he was promoted to his current position.

Twelve of the past 37 winners of the Hotelier of the Year award made up the judging panel that elected Pedreschi, including Iconic Luxury Hotels executive director Andrew Stembridge, who 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.”

Around 20 former Hoteliers of the Year, including Sue Williams (2018), Robin Hutson (2003), Nicholas Rettie (1998) and Harry Murray (1986) attended today's lunch, hosted by the 2019 winner Sally Beck, general manager of the Royal Lancaster London.

To read more about how Pedreschi is prioritising team development, see this week's edition of The Caterer.