Robert Richardson FIH MI Hon DLitt

In the UK, a pint of beer carries both 20% VAT and around 56p in alcohol duty.

In Switzerland, the same pint carries 8.1% VAT and around 13p in alcohol duty.

Switzerland treats hospitality as a national economic asset, with the profession enjoying formal recognition and policy support from government bodies. In return, Swiss hospitality employs 4% of the national workforce, contributes up to 6% of GDP, creates community hubs, develops its people, and plays a central role in strengthening the economy.

It’s a Wednesday evening in Lucerne, Switzerland, and every restaurant and bar is full, no businesses are closed, the atmosphere is joyous, and the welcome and service are both first-class.

And it's a real-world example of how balanced taxation and government recognition can drive economic growth, skills development, and thriving communities.

#HospitalityFamily #HospitalityMatters #TaxReform #GlobalHospitality #Switzerland #LearningFromOthers #InspireMotivateLearn #imin

Amazing Sunday lunch, wonderful company.

@TheWhiteHorsePu @GaryUsher_ @Sacha_Lord

After yesterday, it’s hard to not be walking around with a huge smile on your face!

With attendees from five countries, the next generation of hospitality talent was at the forefront of our sold-out Passion4Hospitality: The Future Leaders Conference, where we brought together over 800 students, apprentices, graduates, educators, employers and industry leaders from across five countries for an incredibly inspiring and interactive day.

Highlights of the day included a keynote address from the Rt Hon Gillian Keegan, opportunities for our future leaders to set out where they see hospitality heading over the next decade, a fireside chat with Sacha Lord FIH, and stage presentations on Operational Leadership, How Placements Shape Careers, speed mentoring and a Careers Discovery Centre.

We are all aware of the challenges facing our profession in the UK, but hospitality is a global profession employing 1 in every 17 adults on the planet. And if our conference gave me anything, it gave me hope for the future. A future shaped by talented, passionate and ambitious young people who are ready to take our profession forward, and who deserve every opportunity to succeed. Our attendees made new connections, found inspiration in the talent around them, and learnt the value of collaboration, shared experiences and the opportunities that come from being part of a global professional community.

As ever, none of this would have happened without the hard work and dedication of so many, and none more supportive than my team. So, a huge thank you to the incredible Emma Ellis MIH, Sonja Cresswell MIH, Aymen Fetouak MIH CMgr, Lee Brady AIH, Jo Smith FIH, Maria Lockwood FIH, Ruth Weddell AIH, Isabel Hargreaves FIH, Leon Williams FIH, Bradley Dorrington AIH, Lizzie Grundy AIH, Alina Mushtuk, MIH, Katy Chen AIH, Francesca M. Assoc CIPD MIH, Phil Street FIH, and Rosalyn Berry FIH.

Thank you also to our Headline Sponsor, the Savoy Educational Trust, our sponsors, host venue, exhibitors, speakers and competition judges. None of this would have been possible without you.

As I said when I closed our conference, “Never underestimate the opportunities that come your way, and never underestimate what you might be capable of achieving.” That speaks to me not just of the people who joined us, but of our profession as a whole, and the extraordinary potential we have to shape a better future if we recognise, nurture and invest in the talent within it.

So, Passion4Hospitality: The Future Leaders Conference 2026 – DONE!

#P4H2026 #HospitalityFamily #imin #InspireMotivateLearn #StrongerTogether

A privilege to have been a judge for the Manchester Hoteliers Association annual awards, and to join the celebrations at Emirates, Old Trafford, this week.
Thank you to their chair, Matt Townley FIH, for the invitation, and fantastic to catch up with Adrian Ellis FIH, Pamela Reckert, Chiranjeewa Atapattu, and Francisco Macedo FIH.
Congratulations to all the well deserved winners, including our new Fellow Mark Spanton FIH!

#imin #HospitalityFamily #MeetingOurMembers

Café des Amis, Canterbury. (Modern Mexican cuisine with a Parisian café influence, using locally sourced ingredients.) Established in 1988 and housed in a 16th century building, the upkeep of which is funded, in part, by the restaurant’s revenues.

The owners also operate a sister restaurant in Paia, Hawaii, and Café du Soleil, also in Canterbury.

Businesses like these are an important part of our community landscape, preserving historic buildings, supporting local economies and contributing to the character of the communities they serve.

Any business that has operated across two countries for nearly four decades, employing hundreds of people along the way, deserves to be valued, supported and treasured by the communities it serves.

(The food's pretty exceptional too!)

My point? Every community has a business like this. Businesses that are part of its history, its character and its identity. We need to support them, not lose them.

#imin #HospitalityFamily #Community