What does it take to pivot from a 20-year global career with Marriott to launching your own hospitality consultancy?

In this episode of The Halo Effect, Ashleigh and Michael Donald are joined by the brilliant Matt Hughes, founder of Accommodate Consulting, for a rich conversation spanning hotel franchising, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

With experience across asset strategy, global sales, and franchise development, Matt shares the highs and challenges of building a business from scratch – all while training for a marathon. We dig into the evolving franchise landscape, the ROI of ESG, and the very real ways AI is reshaping hotel operations. From navigating owner-brand dynamics to the value of curiosity, community, and cross-disciplinary skills, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Whether you’re a hotel owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or just fascinated by where hospitality is heading, this one’s for you.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

We’re back with Season Three of The Halo Effect, and what better way to return than with an episode that combines luxury hospitality, brand storytelling, and a touch of HBO glamour.

In this episode, Ashleigh and Michael Donald are joined by the brilliant Natasha Eldred , a brand and PR specialist with years of experience working across Thailand’s most iconic hospitality brands. From her time rebranding the stunning Samujana Villas on Koh Samui (yes, that villa from White Lotus Season 3!) to her insider perspective on how storytelling shapes guest experiences, Natasha takes us deep into the heart of Thai hospitality.

We explore the rise of ‘set jetting’, the emotional resonance of authentic marketing, and the challenges (and opportunities) for Thailand as a luxury destination. There’s a candid discussion on how destinations can sustain the “White Lotus Effect” beyond a moment of screen time through meaningful branding, culture-led storytelling, and conscious tourism development.

A must-listen for marketers, hoteliers, brand-builders, and anyone with a soft spot for Thailand, storytelling, or just gorgeous villas and sweeping views.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In Episode 18 we spoke to Graham Norris and Dean Crews about their journey in hospitality and the recent launch of InnPractice. In this episode, we welcome Dean back to explore the deep impact of mentorship within the hospitality industry. We discuss the realities of supporting people in a high-pressure sector where human connection often makes the difference between staying and walking away.

Dean shares some personal stories – from hard truths in kitchen brigades to unexpected lessons in leadership and empathy. We discuss the changing nature of pastoral care in hospitality, the responsibility of employers to nurture not just skills but wellbeing, and the fine line between mentorship, management, and sponsorship.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In this episode of The Halo Effect, Ashleigh and Michael explore the fundamental difference between guest service and guest experience – and why getting it right can make or break a hotel’s reputation.

🏨 Guest Service = The operational basics. Clean rooms, efficient check-in, responding to requests.

🌟 Guest Experience = The emotional connection. The moments that surprise, delight, and create loyalty beyond reason.

In this episode, we cover:

✅ Why service is the foundation, but experience is the magic

✅ How expectations evolve – what wowed guests five years ago is now just standard

✅ The role of emotional intelligence in creating memorable experiences

✅ How bad service can be saved by great experience – but never the other way around

✅ The impact of reviews – and why managing guest perception is everything

🎙️ Listen now: www.gohalo.co.uk/podcast

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs join us on future episodes so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In this episode of The Halo Effect, Ashleigh and Michael are excited to welcome two of the co-founders of InnPractice⁠, Graham Norris and Dean Crews, who share their incredible journeys through the hospitality industry—from accidental beginnings to shaping the future of hotel management.

Graham and Dean discuss the philosophy behind their new venture InnPractice and share their mission to do hospitality the right way—putting people, community, and sustainability at the heart of every decision. With decades of experience between them, they talk about:

✔️ The power of mentorship and why people are the true driving force of hospitality

✔️ How ESG and sustainability can drive profit, not just purpose

✔️ The importance of aligning values with partners, investors, and employees

✔️ Why experience-driven hospitality is shaping the future of hotels

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the evolution of the hospitality industry and what it means to build a business with purpose

🎙️ Listen now: www.gohalo.co.uk/podcast

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs join us on future episodes so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In this episode of The Halo Effect, Ashleigh and Michael chat about awards applications – and why they can be so much more than just a shiny trophy.

Drawing on their own experiences from being part of hotel teams that won some amazing accolades to judging startup awards and winning industry awards with Halo, they discuss…

🏆 Why awards matter – beyond recognition, from networking to marketing impact

📝 How to write a winning application – key tips to stand out and avoid common pitfalls

🤝 The real value of awards ceremonies – how to maximise networking opportunities and build long-term connections

🎯 Finding the right awards for your business – what to look for and what to avoid

🎙️ Listen now: www.gohalo.co.uk/podcast

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs join us on future episodes so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In this episode, released just before International Women's Day on the 8th March, we’re joined by the incredible Naureen Ahmed, founder of Inspiring Women in Hospitality, a global community championing the voices of women across the industry. With nearly 200 podcast interviews, countless mentorship sessions, and a thriving membership network, Naureen is on a mission to inspire, connect, and empower.

We discuss:

✅ Visibility & Career Growth – Why putting yourself out there is key

✅ Mentorship vs. Sponsorship – The real game-changer for women in leadership

✅ Diversity in Hospitality – How to drive change in the workplace

✅ Networking That Works – How to cultivate meaningful professional relationships

If you’re passionate about gender balance, career development, and making hospitality a more inclusive space, this episode is for you.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs join us on future episodes so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

In this special episode of The Halo Effect, we bring you a conversation that originally appeared as a part of Obvlo’s webinar series, Personalising the Guest Journey.

Hosted by James Parsons⁠, this session features Ashleigh presenting her ABCs of Hotel Openings – a powerful framework designed around three core pillars, that every hotelier should consider to ensure seamless, impactful hotel launches.

✅ Audience – Understanding who your guests are and what they value.

✅ Brand – Crafting a memorable identity that resonates and stands out.

✅ Communication – Personalising guest engagement from pre-opening to post-stay.

Want to watch the full webinar? Here’s the link to the full video

https://youtu.be/UOVszKy4wSM

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs join us on future episodes so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.