#198 - Hospitality Meets Conor O'Leary - Global Adventures and Ferret Frenzies

Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

In this lively and insightful episode of "Hospitality Meets," I welcomed the ever-engaging Conor O'Leary, the Managing Director at the iconic Gleneagles Hotel. Buckle up for a mix of humour, wild anecdotes, and invaluable career lessons as Conor takes us on his remarkable journey through the world of hospitality!

Highlights from the Episode:

From Tokyo Dreams to Dubai Realities:

Conor shares his career trajectory, initially planning a move to Tokyo but ultimately finding himself in the bustling hospitality scene of Dubai. Three years at the Grand Hyatt offered immense growth and solidified his interest in international markets.

The Return to the UK:

Despite initial hesitations about returning home, the compelling vision of Gleneagles' new ownership lured Conor back to the UK in 2016. He discusses the thrilling transformation of Gleneagles from a golf hotel to a luxury lifestyle destination.

Crazy Ferret Fiascos:

Ever curious about how a stray ferret can upend an evening? Conor narrates his hilarious encounter with a ferret found at home, detailing the ensuing chaos with his dog, cat, and daughter's reactions. This amusing story alone is worth the listen!

Leadership and Cultural Adaptations:

Conor and Phil delve into the importance of adapting leadership styles to different cultural environments, contrasting Dubai’s top-down approach with London’s employee-centric style. Conor emphasises communication and flexibility as key leadership traits.

Early Career Missteps and Learnings:

From misadvising guests on wine to confronting a chef about his sauce, Conor's early days were filled with learning curves. His proactive approach to self-improvement, like buying culinary guides, highlights a thirst for knowledge that listeners will find inspiring.

Hospitality's Sliding Doors:

Conor reflects on pivotal career decisions, like working at the Royal Garden Hotel and later choosing between roles in Hong Kong and the Ritz in London. These “sliding door moments” shaped his path, offering listeners insights into the significance of career choices.

From Beefeaters to Banquets:

Stories from his early years, including working at a beefeater restaurant and managing bustling banqueting events, illustrate the wide array of experiences that have built Conor’s robust hospitality expertise.

Gleneagles’ Transformation:

Hear about the substantial investment and renovations at Gleneagles after its acquisition by a dedicated private family. The addition of 55+ activities and a shift towards a family-friendly luxury experience under Conor's leadership is nothing short of inspiring.

Join Phil and Conor for an episode that perfectly blends profound takeaways with humorous tales from the hospitality trenches. Whether you’re in the industry or simply enjoy a well-told story, this episode offers a delightful dose of both!

Tune in now and get ready for a fascinating ride!

Make sure to subscribe to "Hospitality Meets" for more captivating conversations with industry leaders and follow us on social media for the latest updates. Have a funny hospitality story or key takeaway from this episode? Share it with us using #HospitalityMeets.

The Guest

Conor’s hospitality career began in London’s bustling bar and restaurant scene, which led to senior F&B and leadership roles in some of the UK and the Middle East’s finest five-star hotels.

Immediately prior to joining the team, he led the Hyatt group’s largest food and beverage operation in the world at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai.

A Master Innholder, a St Julian Scholar and an honorary member of the Academy of Culinary Arts, Conor joined Gleneagles as Hotel Manager in 2016 before being promoted to General Manager. He took the reins as Managing Director shortly thereafter to lead the team through the biggest period of change and investment in the hotel’s 100-year history including a five-year renovation programme and the launch of a brand-new hotel and members’ club, Gleneagles Townhouse, in Edinburgh.

During this time, Conor has led Gleneagles to win a host of industry awards, including The Times and Sunday Times ‘Hotel of The Year’ 2024; No.10 Best Resorts in the World in the 2023 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards; Best Hotel in the World in Virtuoso’s Best of the Best Awards 2022; Golf World Magazine’s No.1 Golf Resort in Britain & Ireland, 2019 – 2023; and Employer of the Year in the 2024 Cateys. He’s been ranked among the 50 most influential people in British Luxury Brands in the Walpole Power List and was named Hotelier of the Year in the 2023 Hotel Cateys.

In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen approved the appointment of Conor as Honorary Catering Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, which saw him taking the rank of major general (hon) to independently review and report on catering in the British Armed Forces.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/conor-o-leary-38820571

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/conor_ol/

The Sponsor

Today’s episode comes to you in partnership with RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.

RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.

It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.

Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/phil

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