This is Hospitality: Time to look after our own

In the week in which we launched our This is Hospitality campaign – in which we will demonstrate why it is so great to be working in the sector, as well as highlight the great work hospitality does for communities across the UK – it has been instructive to see what the industry is battling in terms of perception.

 

We have been inundated with support for the initiative and are in the process of engaging with all those keen to contribute.

 

This week we have featured operators including Tom Kerridge, Jill Stein and Amber Francis, who have all explained why hospitality means so much to them. They describe what they and their teams get out of working in the industry, as well as the joy they feel from delighting guests.

 

Francis told us why she now works in school catering, allowing her to directly influence children’s interaction with food. She said: “Rather than working in fine dining and doing things alongside that to support communities, I wanted to try and have my full-time role within communities and food education, using the skill sets I’d gained in fine dining.”

 

Meanwhile, Good Front Room founder Dom Taylor emphasised how hospitality brings people together and why being able to do that for a living is so rewarding: “Hospitality has taught me that people want to connect – we’re all connected and food is a medium in how we do that,” he explained.

 

Corinthia London managing director Charlotte Weatherall shared with us the reason why she loves hospitality, explaining why leaving the industry – briefly – was the biggest mistake she ever made.

 

But despite all this positivity, it is disappointing to see Gareth Ward having to continue to wage his own social media campaign following negative headlines over a one-star hygiene rating.

 

In our Michelin predictions he was the most regularly mentioned for further recognition and deserves great credit for the quality of the experience he has created at Ynyshir.

 

No operator wants a low hygiene rating and all work hard to provide an outstanding product in the safest way possible, but every business owner and chef knows that there are occasions when they sail close to the wind when it comes to full compliance. That’s why there has been such an outpouring for support for Ward.

 

For Ward’s full hygiene report to be pored over without adequate context is clearly harrowing for the chef, but also shows what the industry is up against in terms of perception.

 

That’s why we believe This is Hospitality, supported by Compass Group, is more important than ever. We will continue to champion why hospitality stands apart as a sector that brings people together and also punches way above its weight in supporting the communities in which it operates – and remains rewarding for those working in in, despite the challenges being thrown our way.

 

What is This Is Hospitality?

Three easy ways to get involved

Get behind our This is Hospitality campaign and you could help change the perception of your industry. 

 

Follow us on our dedicated page www.thecaterer.com/thisishospitality and on Instagram @thecaterermag for news and updates.

 

Send in your short videos or share them on social media, explaining why you love working in hospitality, and support the campaign using the hashtag #thisishospitality

 

Email us. If you have suggestions for our campaign or want to share a positive story about our industry, get in touch at thisishospitality@thecaterer.com

 

This Is Hospitality