HOSPA to deliver week of educational masterclasses for operators


The Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) is set to host a week of hospitality focused masterclasses which will offer advice to operators on how they can reduce the impact of various ‘pain points’ affecting the sector.

Looking at elements such as sustainability, staff shortages, overworking, offering the perfect stay and the challenges of marketing, HOSPA has called upon an array of experts to deliver the sessions, which will look to impart workable guidance for operators to action and benefit from.

The series of masterclasses will be delivered over a five-day period, starting at 10am on Monday, 7 March 2022.

The timetable for the talks is as follows:
• How can a hotelier be sure they are offering guests their perfect stay
10am Monday 7 March
• Sustainability (ESG) - no longer a 'nice to have' but a license to do business
10am Tuesday, 8 March
• Ideas on how to solve staff shortages
10am Wednesday, 9 March
• Keeping one step ahead in marketing
10am Thursday, 10 March
• My team is overworked! How tech can save invaluable time
10am Friday, 11 March

Those experts called to contribute include Robert Guttridge, Head of Sales at Oaky, a provider of hotel upselling software, Sarah Duncan, an ethical marketing consultant, Kees Van Donk, Senior Director of Travel, Hospitality & Leisure EMEA at NEC, David Barrett, Managing Director of Pic PR, a communications agency specialising in hospitality, and Maria Macree, Head of Sales at IVvy, a provider of venue management software.

Jane Pendlebury, CEO of HOSPA, (pictured), said, “There are enormous challenges facing hospitality at present, and current world events aren’t offering any reassurance that things are about to get better any time soon. As ever, we must weather what’s thrown at us and carry on doing the best we can – but much of that centres on us all working together to help one another.”

She continued, “Here at HOSPA, we’re at the centre of a network of hospitality professionals who boast a vast array of skills and expertise. Consequently, we’re able to help our members by delivering informative, helpful content that benefits them through actionable insight.

'This is exactly what we’re trying to do with our ‘pain point’ masterclasses. Following conversations with our members, we’ve identified some of the key areas they’re keen to receive advice on and our masterclasses seek to do just that.

Pendlebury added, “A masterclass will be delivered daily, starting from the 7th March – with a time of 10am each day and there’ll be some really interesting points discussed. We do hope you’ll be able to join us!”

Recognised as one of the UK’s foremost authoritative voices in the hospitality industry, HOSPA’s membership consists of senior industry professionals hailing from various strands of hospitality.