Amplify founders launch new guest services firm Hestia

Amplify founder Amanda Kay and its former head of operations Jo Newton have launched independent guest services firm Hestia.

Announcing the news on LinkedIn today (25 November), Newton wrote: “I’m so excited to finally introduce you to what Amanda Kay and I have been building together - meet Hestia Guest Services.”

She said the business’s name was inspired by the Greek goddess of home and hospitality, and one who “embodies warmth, care, and a sense of belonging”.

Newton added: “Hestia is all about thoughtful service, genuine connection, and making sure workplaces feel welcoming and human.”

Kay said: “As founders, we’ve always championed cultures where people feel seen and valued. With Hestia, we’re taking that commitment further. Clients can trust that our only agenda is theirs and that we deliver service with both warmth and precision.”

Newton said there was a "real appetite" in the market for a partner who was solely dedicated to guest services and said Hestia would bring the "expertise, rigour and consistency clients expect".

Kay had held several roles in foodservice prior to launching Amplify in July 2022, with Newton joining the team in the November. They both left the business in September this year, with Kay describing her time at Amplify as the “most incredible chapter” of her career and added “this is the hardest goodbye”.

Amplify earned a spot in the Top Six in The Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality, coming second to winner Red Carnation.