EP Business in Hospitality Issue 49 - April 2014

WELCOME
EPBusiness in Hospitality
Front cover
Stephen Boxall from The Ritz
Photography Nick Dawe
Editor
info@epmagazine.co.uk
EP, 26 Carnaby Street, London W1F 7DF UK
www.epmagazine.co.uk
Design and Production
Archant Dialogue Ltd
Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich,
Norfolk NR1 1RE
01603 664242
mail@archantdialogue.co.uk
www.archantdialogue.co.uk
Group Editor Joanne Sindall
Editorial Assistant Jess Phillipson
Art Editor Nicola Preston
Client Services Director Richard Woolliams
Account Director Catherine Goad
Print
William Gibbons & Sons
www.williamgibbons.co.uk
Photography
Nick Dawe email@nickdawe.co.uk
© 2014 EP magazine is owned by Chess
Executive Ltd. Every effort is made to ensure
the accuracy of the information contained in
the publication.
Reproduction or use of this material without
permission of Chess Executive Ltd is prohibited.
The opinions expressed herein are not
necessarily those of the editor/publisher.
EP ONLINE
Why not get involved online?
• Check out articles from EP
magazine on our website
www.epmagazine.co.uk/archive/magazine
• Follow our editor’s blog
www.epmagazine.co.uk/category/
editors-blog
• Catch up on upcoming events
and forums
www.epmagazine.co.uk/ep-events
• Follow us...
@En_Passant_
Challenging the
status quo
The last issue of EP did attract quite a lot of
positive comment with its slight change in focus
from mainstream industry issues and subjects,
to those that also sit on the boundaries and are
challenging the status quo. As with all things
in life, it is about balance, and that is what
we seek to strike between asking questions of
the established and highlighting the new and
innovative. It is this balance that has always sat
at the heart of the industry and made it special
– the new and innovative can challenge the
established as we are all seeking to engage
the consumer.
After six years, it does appear we are on the
road to recovery and business clearly feels more
positive about the future than at any time in
the past few years. However, the world has changed and there are new players and
influencers at the fore. Russian investment in London and in the industry has become
more pronounced and we are running a special feature which looks at this very issue,
with interviews with three Russian entrepreneurs and a Russian business.
In any recession, the events sector is the one that can be most brutally ravaged and
yet we feature two companies that have evolved and prospered – Absolute Taste and
Smart Hospitality. Two very different approaches; two good stories.
During difficult times, consumers do look for different experiences and there is a
new generation of boutique hotels that have risen up across the world. EP attended
the World Boutique Awards and we highlight a range of different hotels that are
winning custom from across all continents.
Entrepreneurs will always challenge the norm and we carry three features with very
different stories – Lucas Hugh’s founder, whose clothing was featured in The Hunger
Games films; the founder of The Knotted Vine, who carries little-known wines that
can rival the more celebrated brands; and Wild Trail, which also ties in with a new
Nutrition campaign that EP is launching in 2014. As we have become more conscious
of what we eat, EP will promote great foods and products that are nutritional.
We have always strived to be constructive, promote factually led debate and
be gently thought provoking. We will not change this focus but we also want to
celebrate a great industry and our lead feature is on The Ritz, which has really risen
again to become a leader on the London scene under Stephen Boxall’s leadership.
We hope you enjoy this edition and find that it is informative and leaves you
with food for thought.
CHRIS SHEPPARDSON
Editor
MEET THE TEAM
JAZ NOTAY SARA STEWART NICK SHEPPARDSON NICOLE THOMPSON WELDON MATHERS ARLENE MCCAFFREY LINN VISLIE
EP | April 14 | 3