#206 - Hospitality Meets Professor Peter Jones - From Army to Advocacy

Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

🎙️ About This Episode:

Get ready to dive into an episode brimming with laughter, heartfelt stories, and eye-opening revelations! I sat down for a candid chat with Professor Peter Jones MBE, a hospitality industry guru with a heart of gold and a knack for comedic storytelling.

📰 Here’s What You’ll Discover:

• The Art of Inclusion: Peter shares how inviting employees to explain tasks to new team members—especially those with disabilities—not only boosts team performance but also turns mundane tasks into a collective learning experience. Who knew improving professionalism could be so fun?
• A Journey Through History & Comedy: From serendipitously walking into an army recruiting office to managing massive catering events for royalty in Germany, Peter’s career path is as entertaining as it is inspiring. There's more than a few raspberries in here.
• Breaking Barriers: Peter’s mission to challenge traditional views on disability employment isn’t just inspiring; it’s bang on point. Learn how a grateful interaction with a deaf doorman in India and a loyal trainee at Crumbs have turned traditional notions upside down.
• Theatre of Hospitality: Phil and Peter explore the concept of the hospitality industry as a grand stage, where confidence, professionalism, and a dash of showmanship can make all the difference. And let’s face it, nothing builds confidence like serving the Queen herself!
• Outwitting the Odds: Hear how Peter’s innovative approach in transforming a Georgian building into a four-star hotel, despite several setbacks, showcases the power of persistence and a good sense of humour.

💼 Key Takeaways:

• Improving Through Inclusion: Involving team members in training fosters a culture of continuous improvement and inclusion. Plus, it’s a great way to bond over shared knowledge and a few laughs.
• Finding Joy in the Journey: Peter’s career is a testament to embracing unexpected opportunities and finding humour in the challenges. Whether in the army or hospitality, a good laugh can open many doors (and hearts).
• Breaking Down Barriers: Employing individuals with disabilities isn’t just good for inclusivity—it's good for business. Discover how integrating diverse talents can lead to surprising moments of joy and loyalty.
• Confidence is Key: In the world of hospitality (and in life), confidence can make you stand out. Building a professional, confidence-boosting environment is crucial, and having a bit of fun along the way doesn’t hurt!
• Persistence Pays Off: From initial failures to ultimate triumphs, Peter’s story highlights the importance of persistence, innovation, and a bit of comedic resilience.

Join us for an episode that’s as informative as it is entertaining, with a few laughs along the way! Whether you’re in hospitality, education, or just love a good story, Peter Jones will leave you inspired and smiling.

The Guest

Professor Peter A Jones, MBE DSc(Hon) FIH FCGI FRACA

Peter Jones is the chair of the Crumbs Project. A disability charity that provides hospitality education and training for adults with learning and mental health disabilities. Peter has been involved with the charity for some years and is a powerful advocate and champion for creating professional opportunities for those with disabilities who are often overlooked at the margins of society.

Peter has enjoyed a varied professional career in various army, industry and higher education appointments.

He is a published academic and edited a number of academic and professional journals. He has chaired and been a member of professional and government bodies in the UK, Australia and Lithuania. His professional projects included as the Project Director for the development of the Edge Hotel School.

He is currently Chair of the Professional Review Panel of the Institute of Hospitality, Chair of Gate College Academic Council (Nepal), Board Advisor of the International Association of Hotel Schools (EUHOFA), Special Advisor to Kathmandu University, a Director of Missenden Abbey, Academic Director of eHotelier, a member of the Institute of Hospitality DEIB Council, and a Trustee of the Savoy Educational Trust.

He was made Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the hospitality industry ion 2007 and most recently won the Education and Training Catey 2024.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-peter-jones-55185513/

Show Partners

A big shout out to Today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.

RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.

It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.

Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/phil

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