Acorn Awards 2026: Jai O’Brien, Forss House hotel

Position General manager, Forss House hotel

Age 22

Testimonial Ian Griebenow, group operations manager, Original Collection

Jai O’Brien is building a reputation for hands-on leadership, taking charge of Forss House hotel in the north of Scotland at the age of 21 and delivering rapid operational and financial improvements.

O’Brien started his hospitality career at the age of 18 in pubs and restaurants, progressing through management roles with Perth’s Crieff Hydro hotel and family-run hotel group Sonas Collection before being headhunted by Original Collection to lead the Caithness-based Forss House hotel. He now oversees all operational and commercial aspects of the business and manages a team of 100 employees. 

Since taking on the role, he has delivered six-figure year-on-year revenue growth, with a significant increase over Christmas and New Year. Guest feedback scores have risen by 17%, reflecting improvements in service standards, presentation and operational consistency. At the same time, O’Brien has significantly improved efficiency, reducing labour costs while maintaining service levels and team engagement. 

O’Brien’s leadership style is highly visible and hands-on, and he works across departments, including kitchen and housekeeping, to support operations and reinforce that every role contributes to the hotel’s success. He has also introduced training and mentoring programmes to improve retention, confidence and long-term career progression, which have contributed to approximately a 78% increase in sales since his appointment, alongside higher guest satisfaction scores.

As a passionate hotelier, he is committed to developing future hospitality talent, regularly speaking at careers fairs and building a trainee management programme inspired by his own early opportunities in the industry.