Nico is the COO at Paris Baguette.Born from a love of bread and a passion for quality, we are an international, company-owned and franchised fast-casual bakery-café founded in 1988, specializing in both French and Asian-inspired goods. In addition to cakes, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and signature coffee & tea, we offer a unique bakery and café experience to thousands of guests daily. Currently, we have over 4,000 locations worldwide, satisfying cravings and taste buds of all ages and backgrounds. Today, we invite you to become part of our storied history. No pressure. Apply to join a talented, diverse, collaborative, and highly competitive team—a collection of individuals united by a desire to have fun and with a passion to succeed. We work hard to bring world-class product and guest experience to our customers. And with your help, we’ll continue with that mission!

Darren is the Managing Director of Mollie's Motel. The former CFO at Soho House & Tesco, Darren now plans to scale this wonderful concept with his team.

Holly Hilton is the Marketing Director for Market Place and started with the company in September 2023. An innovative, outcome-oriented, digital marketing professional with over 15 years’ experience managing promotions, campaigns, and creative content across the retail, leisure, and gastronomy industries. Holly has a strong background in data analysis and price establishment, using this skill as the foundation for creative marketing solutions to drive footfall.

Jessica Tapfar is the Hotel Manager at The Chancery Rosewood – opening late Summer 2025 – a design icon, reborn as an epicentre of contemporary creativity. Located in Mayfair, Jessica will oversee the hotel’s operations and guest experience, positioning the property it as a destination for culture in the city. With over a decade of experience in luxury hospitality, Jessica is known from her role as Hotel Director at The Ned, where she managed day-to-day operations of a £84M property, including 250 guest rooms, 10 restaurants, a private members’ club, and wellness facilities. Jessica has a proven track record in driving business growth and operational excellence. From reimagining guest experiences to leading post-pandemic reopening strategies and global expansions into New York City and Doha, Jessica is adept at navigating complex challenges. Her work at The Ned earned her recognition, including being named Amex Travel’s Hotel Partner of the Year and securing prestigious travel consortium memberships. Jessica's leadership extends beyond business operation: she is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Jessica was previously chair of The Ned’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and now at The Chancery Rosewood, she advocates for a more inclusive hospitality industry. She also supports career growth through her volunteer work with Smart Works, a UK charity that prepares unemployed women for job interviews. On this panel, Jessica will share her insights into overcoming operational barriers, scaling luxury brands, and fostering innovation through diversity. With her extensive experience in leading high-profile properties and her passion for redefining hospitality, Jessica will offer valuable perspectives on how businesses can turn differences into strengths and strategically grow in a fast-evolving industry.

Holly has spent over 15 years working in the hospitality industry. 7 years of Holly's career was spent as Head of Openings for Carluccio’s, overseeing the opening of over 25 restaurants across the world. More recently, Holly worked as Head of Operations for Deliciously Ella, opening 3 sites and executing all events, product launches and trade shows before joining Social Pantry in 2019.

As the Hospitality Director of Food and Beverage at Market Halls, I lead the development and expansion of the food brands portfolio and the food offering in our foodhall. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant sector, I have a vast pool of knowledge, contacts, and enthusiasm to help food enterprises grow and thrive. I also have a strong background in marketing communications, new business development, and social networking, which I leverage to raise the profile, tell the story, and attract customers to our eco-friendly and high-quality food venues. I am passionate about creating dynamic, flexible, and engaging places that reflect modern consumer trends, adapt to changing tastes, and reinvigorate locations and communities.

Stephanie Freeman joined the Mollie’s Bristol team in 2021, starting out as floor manager. She swiftly ascended to diner manager, helping the venue climb to first place on review site TripAdvisor. Last year, Stephanie moved to Mollie’s Oxford to take up the role of general manager. She brings 10 years’ experience in the industry to her latest role, having previously enjoyed positions at renowned hospitality groups including Elite Hotels, IHG and Hilton. Stephanie’s efforts were previously recognised when she was named as the Inspirational Leader of the Year at the 2023 HR in Hospitality awards.

Mariam French is the Marketing Director at Lyon Restaurants. With over 13 years of experience in the industry, Mariam has a deep understanding of marketing and product development. She started her own restaurant and has firsthand experience of the challenges and hustle involved in running a restaurant. At Lyon, Mariam has been instrumental in implementing digital ordering and launching their native app. She is passionate about creating a positive guest experience and finding innovative ways to enhance the brand's digital strategy.

Susan is Marketing Director at Kitch, an award-winning social agency with a well-earned reputation for growing thriving communities and supercharging brands online. Their clients include Young's Pubs, Ole & Steen, Harry Ramsden's, Panasonic and Gusbourne. Kitch has partnered with KAM to deliver State of Social, the first industry-wide benchmarking report dedicated to social metrics in hospitality.

Antonia is a seasoned sales & marketing lead with 15 years experience in the sector. She joined Manchester’s favourite indie group Common & Co in 2022 to take hold of the Nell’s NY Pizza & Bar brand as they gear up for regional expansion.

After a MasterChef win and time spent in Mexico, our co-founders, Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby’s desire to prove to the UK just how vibrant and delicious Mexican food is began. In 2007, Wahaca was born to do just that. ​ The first Wahaca was opened in Covent Garden by Tommi and and Mark, and they continue to write the story today. ​ Today, we have a family of 13 restaurants, each with their own unique design and our Wahaca teams ready to serve you up a taste of Mexican sunshine. ​

Steve Groucott, Founder and Owner of The Cornish Bakery, has guided the company to become the UK’s leading independent, high-end bakery, with over 50 locations nationwide. The Cornish Bakery has consistently chosen unconventional paths, identifying opportunities where others did not. Over the past decade, while the high street became increasingly competitive and expensive, the company strategically targeted holiday hotspots with the right market fit. This approach has proven highly successful, especially during the pandemic. Additionally, The Cornish Bakery has mastered creating an emotional connection with the ‘Cornwall state of mind,’ appealing to customers seeking unique, niche experiences. As Cornwall’s popularity grows, so does the success of The Cornish Bakery.

With over 17 years of experience in Hospitality and 4 years as the Head of Projects at Honest Burgers, Tommy is passionate about leveraging technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency, improve guest experiences, and drive business growth. Tommy has a strong background in operations, management, tech partner sourcing and relations, EPOS, menu management, F&B, online ordering platforms, integrations, tronc and payroll, HRIS, rota and forecast tools, multi-unit management, and business development. As the Head of Projects, Tommy leads the strategic direction and implementation of innovative restaurant technologies across various locations. Collaborating with senior management and cross-functional teams, Tommy identifies business needs and opportunities, evaluates and selects tech solutions, manages tech partner relationships, oversees the successful integration and utilization of tech solutions, and monitors and optimizes performance and user experience. Tommy also provides training and support to employees, ensuring they are equipped to use the technology solutions efficiently.

Accomplished and people-focused professional with 15+ year of experience in talent management, communication, engagement, performance management, client retention, business operations, and customer service delivery.

Tom James is an experienced hospitality professional with a proven track record in operations leadership and brand development. Currently the Managing Director at Bill’s Restaurants, he has a strong background in creating and executing strategic plans that enhance guest experiences and drive business growth. His expertise spans brand creation, new openings, financial strategy, and team training. With previous roles at Harbour Hotels, Coppa Club, and Jamie’s Italian, Tom is known for his ability to build effective teams and optimise operations in dynamic and challenging environments. A Clifton College graduate, he is passionate about fostering talent and innovation in the hospitality industry.

James Brown is CEO at Prezzo and Founder of Cashless Tipping Platform TiPJAR. James lead over 2300 staff globally James spends most of his time on the road travelling between BrewDog’s global location of Bars and Breweries.Hear from James as he sets out his vision for Prezzo in 2025.