Hotel and Leisure Lawyers

Hotel and leisure experience

I’ve advised Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), ACCOR, MacDonald Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Regency, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, The Knightsbridge and Sofra Restaurants across the spectrum of employment law issues. Whether advising on day-to-day HR issues, business restructuring/ consolidation, exit management or defending an employment tribunal claim, I enjoy steering my clients comfortably through the legal maze to help them achieve their commercial objectives.

Recent work

The smoking ban has raised some interesting HR issues in relation to the rights of smokers and non-smokers in the workplace. One issue is whether employees can refuse to work in ‘smoking bedrooms’ on and after 1 July 2007. I have advised my clients to carry out risk assessments so that they can protect the health and safety of their employees. Part of that advice means creating practical solutions to protect those chambermaids, porters and room service staff who may be exposed to passive smoking at work.

Why should clients choose you?

Hotels are my passion – I’ve been fortunate enough to stay in some of the world’s finest – so working for them is doubly rewarding. Cooking and eating out is another indulgence. Over the years, I’ve developed a good knowledge of the operational side of the hospitality business and this enables me to respond to my clients with a real commercial focus. Whether the issue is to do with the restaurant, bedrooms or front of house, I understand the pressures and practical concerns. I like to think that in solving HR problems for my clients, I help to keep their guests happy and put more heads on beds and bums on seats in the long run.

Challenges to meet

Like any other service industry, hotels are reliant on their employees to win guests’ satisfaction and loyalty. I see recruitment and retention of staff, grievance management and dispute resolution as the main challenges for HR. Thankfully, the hotel sector is not heavily unionised – that’s one less thing for HR to worry about.

Dream destination

There are plenty of hotspots on my radar. For food, spa, hospitality and shopping, Bangkok is top of my list. For mystique and culture, Bali retains its charms. For sun worshipping, give me the clear, emerald waters of Mauritius, St Lucia and Ibiza.

The place to stay

Actually, I have a few! The Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler is very special – imagine a floor-to-ceiling view of the ski slopes, your very own fireplace and Heavenly Bed®. The Grand Hyatt in Shanghai, which resembles a modern pagoda, is architecturally captivating and, being the highest hotel in the world, waking up amidst the clouds is quite an experience. The Ritz Carlton in Istanbul offers a picturesque view of the Bosphorus River, which divides Asia from Europe. In Bangkok, the Vertigo Bar on the 61st floor of The Banyan Tree Hotel and Resort is the perfect place to enjoy leisurely cocktails and tropical sunsets. I’ll be at The Four Seasons Vancouver later this year and will let you know what it’s like!