Meet the team
The team’s aim is to deliver the finest quality training to inspire our learners, all delivered at incredible value for money. We employ the same stringent business principles as those of a high performing hotel business. That’s why our team has a track record not just in teaching and mentoring, but in business management to the highest level.
ZOE MINIHAN
Programme Manager
Zoe is Hotel School’s programme manager with over 14 years experience in the voluntary & homelessness sector with Thames Reach and other leading organisations.
DANA HALLAM
Employment & Progression Manager
Dana’s career within the luxury hotel industry started with a two-year apprenticeship at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg in Germany. Whilst completing the apprenticeship, Dana received a job opportunity from The London EDITION. During her time at The London EDITION, Dana was promoted to the role of the Guest Relations Manager and was chosen as one of the lead front office trainers of The Abu Dhabi EDITION opening. Dana’s move into the charity sector saw her volunteering with a leading homelessness organisation before coming on board with Hotel School.
GIACOMO SCOPINICH
Hospitality Training Manager
Giacomo studied Hotel & Tourism Management at Vatel School in France and since then he has worked for multiple hotel companies including The Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental, Starwood, and Hyatt. Giacomo has been a cook in the south of France, a doorman in Barcelona, a concierge in Ho Chi Minh City, a receptionist in Milan, and a bartender in London. His huge passion for hospitality pushed him to learn more about different roles within the industry, something that he can now share with the students of Hotel School.
TABITHA CHIDEME
Employment & Progression Coach
Tabitha graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in English Literature and Journalism. She spent a year volunteering as an ESOL teacher with the charity Heart for Change in Medellin, Colombia . She then made a shift in her career by working as a Work Coach at DWP. This is where she gained experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds find employment whilst assisting them to overcome various barriers . Eventually this led towards Hotel School and its mission in supporting homeless and vulnerable people into sustainable employment
MICHAEL DAVIES
Chef Trainer
Michael is Hotel School’s chef trainer. A graduate of New York University and The French Culinary Institute, he has also worked in the food and media sector. Michael teaches everything from food safety, knife skills and gourmet cooking on a budget. Michael also focuses on understanding what real food is, and explores with Hotel School students a rich variety of delicious cuisines that are good for us, and good for the planet.
FLORA COOPER MADDOCKS
Fundraising Manager
Flora’s background is in fundraising, communications & creative campaigning for people and planet. She has worked for a variety of NGOs and mission-driven start-ups.
JEREMY GORING
Founder
Jeremy is Chief Executive of The Goring. Graduating from the Lausanne Hotel School, Jeremy has worked at the Four Seasons and The Lanesborough in London, and opened hotels for Rosewood in Mexico, the Caribbean and Indonesia.
MICK CLARKE
Founder
Mick is Chief Executive of the Passage, London's largest voluntary sector resource centre for homeless and vulnerable people.
RUTH DUSTON OBE, OC
Trustee
Ruth is one of the country's leading experts in urban partnerships, specialising in bringing together public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver meaningful change. She is the founder and CEO of Primera, which powers a dozen Business Improvement Districts across London.
ROB FLINTER
Trustee
Rob is Westmont Hospitality’s Group Regional General Manager across 4 Central London Properties. With a passion and dedication for the hospitality industry - Rob has a long history of promoting altruism within the sector.
NATHALIE FERRETTI
Trustee
Nathalie has over 15 years of experience in investment banking and financial services. She currently holds the position of Director in the London Industrials and Business Services M&A team at Rothschild & Co.
OUR SUPPORTERS
We can call upon a wide range of support from both the hospitality industry and education environments. We only employ those who can combine their knowledge and expertise with the right approach to mentoring our candidates. Our mission is to change lives by calling on the support of our wide network of industry and educational influencers. We aim to provide individual tailored learning experiences which help shape the futures of our learners.
INSPIRATIONAL GUEST SPEAKERS & DEMOS
David Morgan-Hewitt Managing Director, The Goring
Rob Flinter Regional General Manager London, Westmont Hospitality Group
Fernanda Lewis Head Housekeeper, The Goring
John Andrews Head Concierge, The Goring Well Kneaded Pizza with positive social impact Desirée Dills Founder and Director, Hospitality Mastery
WORLD CLASS Industry Trainers
Extract Coffee Roasters Barista Training Specialists
Intercontinental Hotels Group Concierge and Reception Training
HOP Training Bespoke Hospitality Customer Service Training The Ritz Restaurant and Service Skills Rosewood Group Winning CV and Interview Skills
EMPLOYER PARTNERS
Allpress Coffee Roasters . Carousel Restaurant . Conrad St James London . DUKES London . Fat Macy’s . FIKA Catering . Holiday Inn Express Southwark . Holiday Inn Camden Lock . Lantana . Marriott Kensington . Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch . One Great George Street . Park Plaza London Waterloo . Pret A Manger . Rosewood London . Searcys - Inner Temple, A&O Shearman, One Moorgate Place, 30 Euston Square, The IET, Royal College of Surgeons . St Martins Lane . TRAMPOLINE by NEMI Teas . The Athenaeum Club . The Athenaeum Hotel . The Goring . The Jones Family Kitchen . The London EDITION . The Ned . The Westin London City . The Westminster . Yotel .
TRAINING & TEACHING PARTNERS
Asma Khan . The Broadwick Soho. Intercontinental Hotels Group . Hospitality Action . Hop Training . The Goring . The Ritz . The Rosewood London . John Williams MBE Executive Chef . Extract Coffee Roasters and others
REFERRAL ORGANISATIONS
Beyond Food Foundation . Centre Point . Change Please . Crisis . House of St Barnabas . Groundwork London . Migrateful. Refugee Council . St Mungos . Thames Reach . Well Grounded . Westminster Employment Service and others
MAIN SPONSORS
The Goring . Savoy Educational Trust . Lord Forte Foundation . The Northbank Business Improvement District . Victoria, Victoria Westminster and Whitehall Business Improvement Districts . Westminster Community Contribution Fund . AlixPartners . AKO Foundation . 3i Group . The Albert Hunt Trust . West London Hotel Managers Association . My Budget Break . Royal Warrant Holders Association and others
SPECIAL SUPPORTERS & PATRONS
Ronan Keating . Ruby Bhogal . Will Greenwood OBE . Mary Berry . Nathan Outlaw . John Williams MBE . Chris Galvin and others
