Hotelier of the Year 2018: David Taylor
David Taylor has been at the forefront of a succession of the most innovative hotel openings in recent times. The Hotelier of the Year 2018 tells Janet Harmer how he has carved a niche for himself in realising the vision of some of the most creative operators in the business
David Taylor's drive and ambition to succeed was evident from the outset. At just 15 years of age he walked into the Hyatt Regency Birmingham and told the duty manager that he was looking for work experience.
"Normally you have to be 16 for work experience, and so it was probably good fate that I spoke to Sophia Chan (now regional vice president human resources, Asia Pacific, Hyatt). With her blessing, I was gifted to the team of bell boys," explains Taylor. "The head concierge regarded me as something of a project."
The year was 1992 and Taylor, now 42, loved being immersed in hotel operations. Nothing was going to sway him from pursuing his ambition. Hence, with a successful batch of A Levels under his belt, he eschewed a provisional place at Oxford Polytechnic and turned the weekend work experience into a full-time trainee position at the Hyatt Regency.
"I was utterly shocked," he says. "Although I'm proud of what I do, I did not expect to receive this level of recognition from my peers, bearing in mind the former winners and the timing. I'm thrilled and delighted."
Taylor's reference to the timing of the award concerns his recent appointment as vice president operations at Principal Hotels within InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), following the £858m sale of the 13-strong Principal brand by US-based private investment firm Starwood Capital Group to French investor Covivio. The new owner appointed IHG to operate the hotels, resulting in Taylor finding himself as an employee of a global behemoth - something of a surprise for a hotelier whose recent career appears to be the antithesis of everything the corporate hospitality market has to offer.
t he doesn't see it like that. "The Principal deal is a catapult for expansion in the luxury sector for IHG. I'm excited by that. IHG like what we have done with our people, our approach to food and drink, our design and our clever deployment of capex. We have made this group of hotels successful and it is critical for IHG that they remain successful - they want me to ensure that the next chapter is written correctly."
It is a relief to hear that the Principal hotels will continue to be loved and nourished, despite being split between different IHG brands. Praise for Starwood's work on transforming a group of tired, under-invested hotels and - under Taylor's guidance - turning them into vibrant venues, relevant for today's guests and to their cities, has been fulsome.
It is no surprise then to learn that there was widespread interest in the Principal brand - numerous other global entities were keen to snap up the collection of hotels - before the Covivio deal was secured.
lor's experience prior to his appointment as chief operating officer of Principal in 2015 stood him in good stead for what lay ahead. Two spells at the Great Eastern - initially as business development manager and then later as director of sales and marketing - opened his eyes to what can happen when operators start to think outside the box. As well as working for Sir Terence Conran, the designer of the hotel, he was also introduced to Nicholas Rettie, the managing director of the hotel and one of two individuals Taylor highlights as having had the most significant impact upon his career.
"I used to describe Nicholas as 'Mr Savoy in an Armani suit', because Rettie carried the skills of a traditional hotelier but imparted them with great style. This was when I decided I wanted to be involved with things at the beginning - not because I regard myself as highly creative, but I see myself as someone who can work with people with a vision and help them deliver on that vision."
The second most influential personality to inspire Taylor has been Sinclair Beecham, the founder with Julian Metcalfe of Pret A Manger, who went on the launch the Hoxton hotel. After leaving the Great Eastern, Taylor spent what he describes as "six amazing years" as general manager of the Hoxton. "While always being commercially minded, Sinclair was totally focused on enhancing the guest experience. I genuinely felt I was gifted with a very high-end business coach; I think it helped that he was a non-hotelier."
Taylor points to numerous examples of initiatives dreamt up by Beecham that drove publicity and ultimately guests to the mid-market hotel, one which he refers to as a "Holiday Inn on steroids". They included flash sales of rooms at £1; breakfast bags filled with yogurt, granola, freshly squeezed orange juice and a banana; one hour's worth of free phone calls at a time before mobile phones had taken over; and a lobby shop selling items at retail prices in place of mini bars. The latter idea was the forerunner of the corner shops Taylor later introduced into Principal hotels.
ing the process of Beecham selling the Hoxton in 2012, Taylor came into contact with hotel design guru Ian Schrager, who at the time was looking for a London property for his Public brand. Schrager was also working on creating the Edition lifestyle brand for Marriott International. Taylor was enticed by another hotel opening and took on a major challenge. The launch of the London Edition was regarded as critical to the success of the brand, following the failure of the first two properties in Hawaii and Istanbul.
"The general perception of Schrager is that he creates sexy spaces, but the service in his hotels is usually terrible. I looked at how we could use his vision to deliver a global concept, that included creating an exciting restaurant Berners Tavern, in partnership with chef Jason Atherton], bars and a nightclub, with a service experience that could compete with hotels on Park Lane and in Mayfair."
Central to the London Edition's success - the hotel scooped the Hotel of the Year - Group award at the 2015 Cateys two years after opening - was the customer-centric approach Taylor had taken from the Hoxton combined with building a strong, loyal team. "If you can get the people piece knitted together very early on, then it is going to make it so much easier to create a successful business. In all my roles, my wingman has been my people person - at the Edition it was Jon Dawson [now director of human resources at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London] and at the Principal it's Sean Wheeler as director of people development."
h Taylor's involvement in the expansion of Edition globally - he has an input in the creation of the Miami and New York hotels and there was talk of him taking on a role in the US - he had no intention of moving on. But then he received a call from Cody Bradshaw, head of international hotels at Starwood Capital Group.
"Cody caught my interest with the opportunity of building the Principal brand at a time when I was umm-ing and ahh-ing about moving abroad. When you consider how some other investors quickly flip assets, the proposal was quite unique. Starwood Capital wanted to do the job properly and spend money on making the hotels great. It wasn't just a matter of rebadging some old hotels."
Looking back now, Taylor is pleased that he didn't head off to the States: "I feel like I have had 10 years of life learning in the past three to four years. We were blessed with some of the best buildings in the best locations as we set out to create a group of British hotels that were local at heart, with a deeply ingrained people culture led by Sean."
Taylor knew that Starwood Capital would eventually sell, but the decision to do so perhaps came earlier than was previously expected. It was a relief when Covivio was revealed as the new owner.
David Taylor: career to dateJuly 2018- present Vice president operations, Principal Hotels, InterContinental Hotels 2015-2018 Chief operating officer, Principal Hotels 2012-2015 General manager, the London Edition, London 2006-2012 General manager, the Hoxton, London 2004-2006 Director of sales and marketing, Great Eastern, London 2003-2005 Director of sales and marketing, Jumeriah Carlton Tower, London 2001-2003 Director of sales, Sofitel St James, London 1999-2001 Business development manager, Great Eastern, London 1997-1999 Corporate sales manager, Forte Hotels 1996-1997 Agency sales specialist, Jarvis Hotels 1995-1996 Trainee, Hyatt Regency Birmingham
What the sponsor says "We are extremely proud to sponsor the Hotelier of the Year award, as it highlights the excellent work taking place in today's hospitality industry. "Being successful at this level takes a huge amount of hard work, 24-hour commitment and a total dedication to exceeding excellence. These are standards and ethics that we share at Casna, and that's one of the reasons why we are so delighted to see our colleagues in the industry reap the rewards of their hard work, and take their place as a real inspiration to others. "The Hotelier of the Year award is an accolade of the highest honour, and David is a very worthy winner." Nick Appel, managing director, Casna Group
What the Hotelier of the Year judges say "The timing of David Taylor winning Hotelier of the Year 2018 could not be better. He is a strong, inspirational and innovative leader who engages and motivates his team to achieve the goals and objectives of the companies for whom he has worked. He has an impressive track record of success and, in my view, his style of leadership will be necessary post-Brexit if hoteliers want to achieve future success." Harry Murray, chairman, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Colerne, Wiltshire, and 1986 Hotelier of the Year "These are difficult times for our industry with Brexit looming. Strong, forward-thinking hoteliers are much needed and David is just this. He is an exciting operator and a very worthy winner." Gordon Campbell Gray, founder and chairman, CampbellGray Hotels, and 2002 Hotelier of the Year "David has been at the vanguard of the new face of this industry for a number of years and he is the type of inspiring leader hospitality needs in these challenging times." Robin Hutson, chairman and chief executive,Lime Wood Group & Home Grown Hotels, and 2003 Hotelier of the Year "David is one of the dynamic hoteliers of the moment, with a track record of innovative and award-winning openings and, more recently, bringing fresh energy and vision to weary hotel stock in provincial cities and the capital. He is also one of the most respected hoteliers of our time and his holistic approach to creating new brands and building great teams is a formula that has earned him a very loyal following." Andrew Stembridge, executive director, Iconic Luxury Hotels, and 2010 Hotelier of the Year "David shines as an all-round exemplar of his trade and is a hugely worthy recipient of award. As busy a work schedule as we know him to have, his demeanour is constantly one of the consummate professional who manages to make time to be ever-present on the circuit, always making a very worthwhile contribution to the industry. Over and above that he is a gracious gentleman, a diplomat and has the essential good humour which endears him to all." Sue Williams, general manager, Whatley Manor, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and 2017 Hotelier of the Year "David Taylor has always stood out from the crowd. When I first met him, then general manager of the Hoxton, I could tell that he had that innate but rare understanding of what it takes to create and run a successful hotel, whether it be an independent or a chain of city landmarks. He's personable, he's bright, he's visionary, he's a great communicator, he cares about pleasing guests and getting it right and he is a great team player. A terrific role model for future hoteliers." Fiona Duncan, hotel critic, The Telegraph "David Taylor has had an outstanding career to date and has led many great, diverse and innovative hotels, utilising his amazing skill set. He is a wonderful ambassador for the hospitality industry, creating cultures and longevity within the businesses he leads. A truly gifted, passionate hotelier with a great eye for detail who is fully deserving of this most prestigious of awards." Giovanna Grossi, hotel consultant [The Principal London: a hotel for the new Bloomsbury Set >>](/articles/524721/the-principal-london-a-hotel-for-the-new-bloomsbury-set) [Details of rebranding of Principal hotel portfolio revealed >>](/articles/534048/details-of-rebranding-of-principal-hotel-portfolio-revealed) [Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).
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