Hotel Cateys 2025: Outstanding Contribution Award – Danny Pecorelli

Danny Pecorelli’s contribution to the industry has been described as “nothing short of extraordinary”. He has been praised as a “once in a generation” hotelier who has “enriched and positively influenced” the sector for all. 

As managing director of the Exclusive Collection of hotels, Pecorelli has long been a leading light, treading new ground in a myriad of areas including sustainable practises, workplace culture and the promoting of hospitality careers.

The Exclusive Collection was founded in 1981 by Danny’s father, Giuseppe Pecorelli, with the purchase of Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey. Danny took the helm in 1997 and grew the business into an award-winning collection of hospitality venues.

The Exclusive Collection now employs more than 850 people across seven hotels and an inn, all of which have their own distinct identity and offering.

Pecorelli has repeatedly said he regards his teams as the business’s greatest strength and his hands-on, values-led management style has produced an industry-leading people culture.

Measures introduced by the hotelier include establishing the collection’s Chefs’ Academy and graduate programmes as well as becoming a Living Wage Employer and signing up to the Hoteliers’ Charter. The success of his efforts can be seen in the business’s impressive retention rates and 91% of its employees recommending it as a great place to work. 

Pecorelli has also long promoted environmentally conscious business practises, and Exclusive Collection was the first hotel group in the UK to achieve B Corp certification.

His efforts have included overhauling operating practises to place sustainability at their heart and introducing biodiversity and carbon capture strategies. At South Lodge alone this has seen 1,500 vines and 1,267 trees planted. At the same venue the team has launched cutting-edge eco lodges using the latest design structures to offer a truly sustainable luxury.

The hotelier’s charity efforts have also been Herculean in their ambition, supporting countless people within and outside of the industry. From personal challenges to business and industry-wide efforts, Pecorelli has overseen the raising of hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities including Hospitality Action and supported initiatives such as the Edge Hotel School. 

What has stood Pecorelli aside through his career is his quiet determination to make a genuine difference. He has continually looked beyond industry norms and challenged himself to go a step further. He has inspired his peers across the industry by showing what dedication and determination can achieve.

Andrew Stembridge, executive director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, says: “Danny Pecorelli’s contribution to our industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. His relentless drive to innovate within Exclusive Collection has always been matched by his unwavering generosity to the wider hospitality community. Whether sharing his time, wisdom or energy, Danny leads with integrity, humility and heart. He is quietly unassuming, yet his impact is profound.”

Sue Williams, founder of Positive Hospitality and former general manager of Whatley Manor, adds: “Once in a generation a hotelier comes along who enriches and positively influences the sector for all of us and for me this is Danny. His true north, his values of people and the environment never falter. His personal efforts to support Hospitality Action, the Master Innholders and so many other industry bodies are not a tick box, he throws himself in wholeheartedly and positively moves the dial, raising the bar for others to follow. For Danny his values are non-negotiables and have carried him to the highest levels of respect.”