Top hoteliers set £100,000 target for Back to the Floor 2017 in aid of Hospitality Action

Leading hoteliers Philip Newman-Hall (pictured), Stuart Bowery and Danny Pecorelli are calling on the industry to go back to the floor to motivate teams and raise £100,000 for industry charity Hospitality Action (HA).

The Back to the Floor campaign will culminate with a third fundraising dinner, to be staged in the Great Room at Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel in April 2017.

The campaign and fundraising initiative is being led by Newman-Hall, the former managing director of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and winner of the 2015 Hotel Catey Outstanding Contribution Award; 2013 Hotelier of the Year Bowery, general manager of Grosvenor House; and 2014 Hotelier of the Year Pecorelli, managing director of Exclusive Hotels & Venues.

Newman-Hall commented: "We have held two memorable Back to the Floor fundraising dinners in aid of Hospitality Action. Next April, we will be back with a bang at Grosvenor House with more waiters and sommeliers than ever before. Our last Back to the Floor dinner raised over £50,000 but this time around we want to raise £50,000 before the event even takes place. I will be going back to the floor in various establishments over the coming months where I will be assigned many roles, some of which I have not undertaken for a very long time."

The hoteliers are hoping that operators nationwide will get behind the initiative and go back to the floor themselves to motivate their colleagues, entertain guests and raise money for HA. Those already signed up include Jonathan Raggett of Red Carnation Hotels and Sally Beck of the Lancaster London.

Beck said: "Working towards a common goal to create the perfect experience for your guests can only be achieved with teamwork. Years could pass since you last welcomed a guest at the door, noted a customer's order or turned down a bed and I would urge everyone to get involved. There are many ways to have fun with this unique initiative; for example, why not ask your colleagues to decide which department you return to? Who wouldn't love to see their managing director take a spell in housekeeping?"

In order to reach the ambitious fundraising target, the hoteliers are asking operators across all sectors of the industry to swap their day job for another role within their organisation, such as in housekeeping, reception, in the kitchen, restaurant, or behind the bar. Those going back to the floor would then encourage employees and customers to sponsor them to help raise funds.

The 2015 Back to the Floor dinner raised £53,000 for Hospitality Action and was held at the Langham hotel, while the inaugural event, held in 2013 at Pennyhill Park, raised £25,000.

The third Back to the Floor fundraising dinner will take place on 7 April 2017. Tickets cost £150 per head or £1,350 for a table of 10. Grosvenor House is also offering guests a special room rate of £195 including VAT for that evening.

Last year, HA spent £632,650 helping 2,021 past and present hospitality workers who have fallen on hard times, of which 82% were below the age of 60.

Sponsorship money for going Back to the Floor can be collected by setting up a fundraising page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/ or donating via www.virginmoneygiving.com/backtothefloor3

Visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/events for further information.

Back to the Floor dinner raises £53,000 for Hospitality Action >>