(Host, 2020– ) Timothy R. Andrews has spent over two decades in hospitality, beginning by collecting glasses in bars and steadily working his way up. After founding and leading a successful recruitment and training business for luxury, 4-star, and 5-star markets for 16 years, Timothy now serves as Head of Talent for Jumeirah Hotels London, focusing on team-building at Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes. His role includes creating recruitment pipelines and developing comprehensive training programs, which have helped reduce vacancies by 63% and brought turnover down from 85% to 32%. He’s also championed initiatives from apprenticeship programmes to staff wellness days, keeping growth and well-being front and centre.

Beyond Jumeirah, Timothy hosts Talking Hospitality, a podcast known for its direct approach to industry issues and practical advice. Each episode tackles real challenges in hospitality today, with guest experts who offer solutions that can be put into action. Through Educating Hospitality, he also provides carefully selected industry-specific training courses that align with podcast topics, helping listeners stay up-to-date and gain practical skills.

Timothy’s work extends into community initiatives as well, including his impactful efforts to support Ukrainian refugees. From guiding them through the complexities of life in the UK to securing jobs, accommodations, and essential services, Timothy’s dedication reflects a belief that hospitality extends beyond the workplace.

Whether listeners want to stay updated on industry trend… Read More

(Host 2023 - )

Tracey Rashid, the founder of Essence of Cake and Essence of Teams, is a multifaceted professional with a rich background in both the culinary and corporate worlds.

Professional Background: Before venturing into the cake world, Tracey Rashid worked in a corporate environment for nearly 20 years. Her experience spans across various large organizations such as BMW, Transport for London, Aon, and Cable & Wireless Plc. In these roles, she excelled as a Trainer, Facilitator, and People Capability Manager.

Transition to Culinary Entrepreneurship: Tracey's passion for baking led her to professionally delve into the cake world about seven years ago. She is the owner, baker, and cake designer at Essence of Cake, where she combines her love for culinary arts with her expertise in training and facilitation.

Essence of Teams: Recognizing a unique opportunity to blend her corporate experience with her culinary skills, Tracey founded Essence of Teams. This venture was inspired by her desire to break the mold in traditional team building, offering something different and unique. Essence of Teams focuses on creating bespoke team-building experiences, leveraging Tracey's expertise in both the corporate and culinary sectors.

Awards and Recognition: Under Tracey's leadership, her team-building events won an award in 2021 for Excellence in Team Building. This accolade is a testament to her innovative approach and commitment to excellence in both her entrepreneurial ventures.

Current Endeavors: As a founder, … Read More

(Co-host 2024 -)

Combining a relentless drive to improve the hospitality industry through his consultancy 200Hospitality, Joe McDonnell is a force for positive change.

As a hospitality consultant specialising in growth strategies, systems, and business development, Joe has seen first-hand how a focus on people, purpose, and profit can elevate every aspect of a hospitality environment.

Following on from his successful guest appearance on Talking Hospitality, Joe now takes the reins as co-host, determined to grow the platform for industry leaders to share insights, drive innovation, and reshape the hospitality landscape.

With his sharp business acumen and a heartfelt commitment to the people powering the industry, Joe McDonnell embodies the values Talking Hospitality stands for.

He will be joining for season 5 but you'll be able to see him before then on our Instagram as he gets down and dirty with Hospitality professionals and experts, asking them about the industry.

Get ready for insightful conversations, actionable solutions, and a healthy dose of inspiration as Joe educates and redefines what it means to be in hospitality.

(Host 2020-24)

Sarah Kettel has been actively working in the hospitality industry for the last ten years. Her experience is diverse, encompassing roles in outdoor catering, front of house, back of house, and delivery cloud kitchens. This breadth of experience underlines her deep understanding and passion for the hospitality sector.

In 2020, Sarah embarked on further education, studying for a foundation degree in Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College. She also expanded her studies into sustainability (Food System Transformation at the University of Copenhagen) and AI for deployment (DeepLearning.ai and Oxford Said Business School starting February 2022). Her commitment to education reflects her dedication to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of culinary innovation.

Sarah is working to merge her love of food with her interest in technology. She aims to influence positive change in the hospitality industry by integrating culinary arts with advancements in sustainability and AI.

Alongside Timothy R Andrews, Sarah co-created the podcast "Timothy Put The Kettel On," a platform to share stories and celebrate the resilience and ingenuity found in the hospitality industry. She rejoins in season 4 as part of the rebranded "Talking Hospitality" podcast, and brings her knowledge, enthusiasm to the show, sharing insights and experiences from the hospitality world.

Notable Contributions and Achievements:

Mentoring in The Tooting Street Food Challenge; Sarah mentored a winning team of young peop… Read More