Kate Hird

Could the upcoming changes to national insurance announced in this year’s Autumn Budget spell a recipe for disaster for the UK hospitality sector? With rising costs, staff shortages and changing consumer habits already impacting businesses, these additional burdens could push many to the brink. Below I discuss how tailored PR and marketing strategies could help UK hospitality businesses during these challenging times. #hospitality #UKhospitality #influencermarketing #pr #budget2024

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As LandAid gears up for the biggest event of 2025 - #SleepOut on February 27th, everyone in the property sector can play their part in contributing to the £1m fundraising target: ❄️ If you live near one of the eight event locations (Cambridge, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds and London) you can sign up to join the coolest (certainly the coldest) property networking event you are likely to be a part of. 💰 If you operate a property business in one of these locations, you can get involved as a regional sponsor. 🎪 If you live anywhere else (or even if you're on holiday) you can sign-up for #SleepOutatHome and spend the night in your garden, car, shed or anywhere that takes you away from your bed for one night. 👍 If you can't make the event, you can still donate to the cause at https://lnkd.in/eYaFguWa Early bird registration closes on 20th December and for the next 10 days you can sign-up for a lower registration fee. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eXdwtskJ Figures from last year (2022-2023) show that almost 136,000 young people (under 24) experienced, or were at risk of homelessness, so even by that measure, during the two days that the SleepOut spans, there will be another 744 young people who will seek help with somewhere warm and safe to sleep. That is before we consider that the numbers have already worsened this year. Come and join the 1,500+ property professionals who will support this event and make it the biggest and most successful fundraising event yet! #Property #Realestate #propertydevelopment #homes #homelessness #youthhomelessness #landaid #charity #fundraising #networking #youthhomelessness #housing #networking

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Trust is at the heart of our ability as a society to advance. Whether it's #GenerativeAI #Biometrics #Robotics the ability of companies to innovate relies on trust. Trust that companies will act responsibly. Trust among investors that innovations can be deployed without the heavy hand of regulation. Trust among consumers and citizens that the purpose is to build a better world. Looking forward to hosting a session next week at Viva Technology 2024 in Paris along with Neil Rogan Global Director of External Communications and Digital Marketing at Amadeus on how companies can strengthen their social license to operate in a world where trust seems to be a diminishing currency. #SocialLicense #Innovation #CorporateReputation #Trust 

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📰 CLIENT OPINION PIECE 📰 Could this be the pivotal moment tourism’s been waiting for? Thoughts from Marc Crothall MBE The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) ‘The new UK Labour government’s manifesto is all about change as we know, with references to ‘turning the page’, ‘rebuilding our country’ and ‘kick-starting economic growth’. Over the past few years (and indeed in many that came before), hospitality businesses have contended with vastly increased operational costs, reduced income due to the cost of living crisis, a skills gap, recruitment and housing crises, transport infrastructure issues and continued increases in taxation across a raft of new and existing policies. Change in my view, as CEO of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) the overarching representative body for Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry, brings with it expectation and opportunity, but is this the pivotal moment that one of Scotland’s most important sectors has been waiting for?’ Read in full 👇🏼

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The regions and new LVEPs are an important part of the future growth and sustainability of the visitor economy, with partnerships at the heart of everything we do. Today's #VEVBAnnualReview drives home the value of tourism to the national economy.

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Campaign launches to save Boxpark’s site in London’s Shoreditch from closure: A campaign has launched to save Boxpark’s site in Shoreditch, east London, from closure, with protestors urging the government to intervene. Having occupied the site since October 2011, Boxpark Shoreditch has reached the expiration of its lease and notice on the premises has been served by landlords Bishopsgate Goodsyard, which is set to be redevelop the site. But campaigners said Hackney Council’s failure to protect Boxpark Shoreditch would be a “glaring oversight, undermining the community’s trust and eroding the vibrant cultural landscape that defines east London”. Campaigners said since its inception, Boxpark Shoreditch has provided a platform for more than 250 businesses, supported in excess of 1,000 jobs, generated nearly £100m in economic value and attracted in excess of ten million visitors to the area. Boxpark founder Roger Wade said: “Despite our relentless efforts in collaboration with the Greater London Authority, Hackney Council and our landlords, we must close due to a planning requirement. Unfortunately, the developers will not start building immediately, which makes this decision even more disheartening, especially since our neighbours Power League received an extension. We have initiated a campaign to save Boxpark Shoreditch.” Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill added: “Public sentiment is clear – Boxpark Shoreditch must be preserved. The community is prepared to rally, protest, and escalate this issue to national attention if necessary. This is not a mere appeal; it is a demand for action. The new government’s commitments to planning regime changes must be leveraged to find a solution that ensures the survival of this indispensable venue.” BOXPARK Simon Champion Ben McLaughlin

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Super interesting article by Jungmin Seo – I think we all get caught up in soundbites and catchphrases, but it's great to see how each party views the hospitality industry specifically Also love that we get to do content like this on the new website! We're free to mix and match our formats to see what works and what doesn't – the word of the week is AGILE

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Join us with Chief Wine Officer & Slack at the luxurious Spring in London, where together, we’ll explore how you can create a ‘total experience strategy’ that perfectly aligns your customer and employee experience. 📆 Thursday 13th June - 18:30 – 21:30 BST #AI and #automations are changing the way teams collaborate and deliver results all over the world. AI-powered productivity platforms are the augmentation partner driving unprecedented success for household names. Let's unpack the power of AI-enabled processes, workflows, and collaboration, and see what they can do for you. 👇

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Thank you, Ruth Hogan, for the feature in the April edition of HM Magazine alongside Anthony Stanley. If you're in the mood for some light reading, I share my thoughts on commercial leadership mitigating the silo operating models of the past, operational excellence and revenue, balancing the value delivered by both remote work and onsite presence and the importance for operators to truly understand the functionality behind the tech they invest in, especially in relation to price recommendations. Also discussed is what makes a standout RM professional, and the need for savvy operators and owners seeking complete asset optimisation to recognise and value the transferrable skill set of top RM professionals into broader operations and commercial leadership roles. ARMA - Australian Revenue Management Association #revenuemanagement #revenueoptimisation #datadrivenresults #commercialleadership #operationalexcellence #remotework #standouttalent #understandtechnology #transferableskills https://lnkd.in/gCajdrxE

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October in the Channel Islands means the start of the Tennerfest, an initiative designed to boost restaurants, bars and cafes by offering fixed-price set menus. It's been going for ages and remains popular. That has inspired a foodie-themed roundup this week: 🥕 In the UK, a study last week showed that fewer than a third of children could identify a courgette, highlighting an alarming knowledge gap. Perhaps it's down to the fact there is no courgette emoji and I had to use a carrot, he types with tongue slightly in cheek. p.s. there's a PR lesson in here too - credible research gets you coverage! 🍝 In Italy, Georgia Meloni has adopted food as the symbol of her government, and of nationalism more broadly. What is the intercession of politics and food? And can a dish be patriotic? 🍄 In France, a chap is in trouble for developing an app that shows popular foraging sites for mushrooms like ceps and morels. Democratising access to quality produce? Or revealing long-held arcane rural knowledge? 💷 As noted, the tennerfest is back! Check out the menus here: https://lnkd.in/echN_Rg6

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Excellent #Guardian / #Observer interview with David Richards, chairman of #Prodrive, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and are a great client of my comms, PR, social media, content creation & digital marketing agency #DiagonalComms. Written by the fine journalist Giles Richards (no relation to David!), it includes the following DR quote: “Back then we were ambitious, starting with nothing, and we had great plans. But I always like to think that the best is still to come.” I am very sure it is. Click below to read more. https://lnkd.in/eiSMngDx

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Join me for The Sustainable Hotel Exchange: Data Matters webinar next Wednesday! We will talk all about hotels and sustainability data with the insight and knowledge of these fantastic industry experts. Sign up below.

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Critical agenda and event for leaders in hospitality and sustainability. Mark your calendar!

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Having just wrapped up a bustling 10 days - Phocuswright EU in Barcelona last week, delving into 'You, Me & the Machine,' and attending Travolution.com's Business Breakfast this morning on behalf of Sojern, I am reflecting on insights from both events. In the spirit of the revolution we are in, leaning into ChatGPT and Jasper AI to make sense of my lengthy notes, here is what I learnt: 🚀 Metaverse Strategy: The future looks promising with potential for augmented reality in hospitality, such as virtual hotel tours and immersive customer experiences. 🏨 Hospitality Trends: The focus is on personalized experiences. Successful tech should be seamless and not interfere with the guest experience. 🌴 Sustainability & Overtourism: Promote lesser-known destinations to combat overtourism. Education and transparent marketing are key and try to preserve the local culture and keeping community at the center. 👩‍💻 Travel Tech Trends: Sustainable travel and virtual experiences are rising trends. AI/ML will continue to shape the industry. Collaborate with experts to meet customer expectations and regulatory standards. Younger travelers are more tech-savvy but VR is still underutilised. 🤖 GenAI Debate: Senior executives require a profound grasp of people, financial, and Generation AI competencies. Accurate data foundations are crucial for successful business transformation. Address ethical concerns and bias through swift risk evaluations, while cultivating reliable partnerships and ethical AI protocols. Emphasize the establishment of trust, privacy, security, and resolution of copyright issues. Stay informed about AI advancements, invest strategically with defined business objectives, and adopt adaptive AI and considerate automation practices. The future lies in combining human insight with machine efficiency, as Gen AI gains traction, focusing on trust and enhancing travel experiences. What do you think? Keen to hear industry trends coming out of London's TravelTech Show this week!

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Is Happiness Your Company's Superpower? 🌟 Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the Alliance of Independent Agencies’ Festival of Happiness 2024, with fellow bean and Mental Health First Aider, Abi Fraser. A day dedicated to exploring the powerful connection between agency culture, wellbeing, and high performance. The key takeaway? Culture isn’t fluffy - it’s commercial. The stats speak for themselves: poor mental health costs UK businesses £51 billion annually, yet teams with strong cultures outperform others by 4x. Here’s what I learned: * Happiness is measurable: Tools like the The Happiness Index highlight how emotional data - not just engagement - can help leaders understand their teams. *Relationships matter: Feeling connected and safe at work significantly impacts retention. Have a workplace bestie? You’re less likely to leave. *Leaders set the tone: From values to actions, leadership shapes the culture and drives wellbeing - a BIG thank you to Elaine Jobson for sharing her insights and experiences. It’s not a sprint, though. Building a culture that fosters happiness and productivity takes time, a clear plan, and collective effort. But the results? Worth every step! Read my latest jellybean blog to learn more about the importance of culture when it comes to high performance. #FestivalOfHappiness #WorkplaceWellbeing #AgencyLife #Leadership https://lnkd.in/evbiuGCb

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Curious about the UK Later Living sector? Let’s dive in together! I’m proud to be a sponsor of The UK Living Series: Later Living Conference, coming to London on 4th December. It’s shaping up to be an unmissable event! Why is it so important? By 2040, over 25% of the UK population will be of retirement age. That’s a monumental shift—and a huge opportunity for the later living market! Here’s what you’ll gain: 🏘️ Insights into how investors are re-entering the sector post-pandemic 🏘️ A look at the facilities in highest demand—assisted living and memory care are trending big! 🏘️ The top UK locations for later living development 🏘️ An understanding of who’s moving into these communities and their motivations 🏘️ Updates on how new policies are making later living more accessible You’ll also have the chance to network with some of the sector’s leading owners, developers, investors, and policy-makers. Let me know if you’re going! I’d love to connect at the event. #LaterLiving #RetirementLiving #PropertyDevelopment #UKPropertyy

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Risk or opportunity⁉️   👨🏿‍💻Enroll in The Conduit Academy’s fantastic new online course, ‘AI for Social Good’ to learn about the big difference AI is already making in sectors ranging from energy to education, conservation to healthcare.    Over eight weeks, you'll learn about the big difference AI is already making in sectors ranging from energy to education, conservation to healthcare.  🩻⚡️🧑🏾‍🏫🌎 #TheConduitAcdemy #AIforSocialGood #DigitalLearning

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