“When the whole world was saying no, you can't, I had one person that said yes, you can.”
In this episode of the XpertHost Hospitality Leadership Series, Bertran sits down with Simon Casson, Chief Executive Officer at Corinthia Hotels — one of the most respected figures in global hospitality and former President of Hotel Operations for Four Seasons EMEA.
Simon opens up about the journey from his early days at Four Seasons to reaching the top of Corinthia, the sacrifices and lessons along the way, and how a commitment to servant leadership has shaped his career.
This is a candid conversation on Simon's journey, mentorship, and how looking after your own health can be the most powerful professional strategy of all.
🎯 We discuss:
✅ Formative lessons from Four Seasons
✅ Simon’s journey to the top at Corinthia
✅ His servant leadership philosophy
✅ The value of great mentors and advice for aspiring leaders
✅ The role of wellbeing in leadership and "The Blood Type Cookbook" by Danijela Casson, Simon's wife, designed to help you find your best diet so you can feel at your best. Find out more about the book here
🔗 Connect with Simon Casson:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-casson-fih-44b5b814/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simon_casson
🔗 Stay up to date with Corinthia Hotels expansion:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/corinthiahotels
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/corinthiahotels/
📩 Enjoyed the episode?
Subscribe, leave a review, and visit www.xperthost.xyz for more leadership insights and career opportunities.
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🎧 Hosted by Bertran Moreno, Founder of XpertHost, the executive search partner for forward-thinking hospitality brands.
🌐 Discover more at www.xperthost.xyz
📧 Contact: contact@xperthost.xyz
🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertran-moreno/
📩 Want to be part of our next conversation? Get in touch.
#SimonCasson #HospitalityLeadership #XpertHost #FourSeasons #CorinthiaHotels #ServantLeadership #Wellbeing #LeadershipPodcast #HospitalityIndustry
“Follow your fear to find your destiny."
In this episode of the XpertHost Hospitality Leadership Series, Bertran sits down with Simon Woodroffe OBE. He’s a British Entrepreneur and business guru, the founder of YO! Sushi, YOTEL and the YO! Company, and original Dragon on BBC’s Dragons' Den — for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, creativity, personal reinvention, and leading through uncertainty.
Simon shares stories that shaped his journey: from building a global hospitality brand to navigating difficult times and bouncing back with a renewed sense of purpose.
If you're in hospitality, leadership, or simply passionate about personal growth and entrepreneurship, this is an unmissable episode.
🎯 We discuss:
✅ How YO! Sushi and YOTEL started
✅ What real innovation looks like in hospitality
✅ How to raise capital and manage risk
✅ Simon's three rules for life
✅ Simon's upcoming projects
✅ How to push through difficult times in life
🔗 Connect with Simon Woodroffe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosimonwoodroffe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yosimonwoodroffe
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yosimonwoodroffeYO!
Company: https://yo.co.uk/
Book of YO!: https://bookofyo.com/
📩 Enjoyed the episode?
Subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us at www.xperthost.xyz for more leadership insights and career opportunities.
—
🎧 Hosted by Bertran Moreno, Founder of XpertHost, the executive search partner for forward-thinking hospitality brands.
🌐 Discover more at www.xperthost.xyz
📧 Contact: contact@xperthost.xyz
📩 Want to be part of our next conversation? contact us.
#SimonWoodroffe #HospitalityLeadership #XpertHost #YOSushi #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipPodcast #HospitalityIndustry #PersonalGrowth #DragonsDen
In this episode of the XpertHost Hospitality Leadership Series, we sit down with Naureen Ahmed, founder of Inspiring Women in Hospitality — a platform that has become a powerful voice for gender inclusion and leadership in the global hospitality industry.
Naureen's journey is a compelling one. Having worked in some of the world’s most respected hospitality environments, she has shaped brands, led teams, and built a reputation as an advocate for gender balance. Her time in commercial strategy and marketing at STR gave her a global lens on hospitality trends, but it was her passion for inclusion, diversity, and community that led her to launch Inspiring Women in Hospitality.
What began as a podcast has grown into a global platform — one that highlights the lived experiences of women in hospitality through open, honest conversations. By sharing over a hundred interviews across all career levels and backgrounds, Naureen has created not just a safe space, but a powerful movement.
In our conversation, we explore:
Her multicultural upbringing and early love for hospitality
The motivation behind Inspiring Women in Hospitality and its evolution
How visibility, mentorship, and community can reshape leadership and support career and personal growth
Practical advice for emerging talent and the next generation of female leaders
Her bold vision for a more balanced, inclusive industry
Naureen’s work is thoughtful, authentic, and purpose-driven — and her leadership is an example of how one person can ignite real change. Whether you're a student, operator, executive, or entrepreneur, this episode will leave you energised and inspired.
🔗 Connect with Naureen on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/naureen-ahmed-28253a35
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🎧 Hosted by Bertran Moreno, Founder of XpertHost
🌐 Discover more at www.xperthost.xyz
🚀 Join us for an engaging conversation with Mariano Faz, CEO at Ace Hospitality Management, one of the fastest growing white label hotel management companies in Portugal. In this episode of the XpertHost Leadership Series, Mariano opens up about his early career, the challenges he faced, and how his passion for innovative food and beverage concepts has shaped his approach to managing some of Portugal’s most exciting hotel projects.
🔹 What you'll learn:
✔️ How a strong foundation in finance can evolve into leadership roles in hospitality
✔️ Real-life strategies for driving innovation in F&B and elevating guest experiences
✔️ Practical career advice for aspiring leaders in hospitality
✔️ Insights into the hotel market in Portugal and Asset Management practices
📌 About our guest:
Mariano Faz is a hospitality professional with extensive experience in hotel operations and hotel asset management. Currently, he is the CEO of Ace Hospitality Management (AHM), one of the fastest-growing companies in Portugal, managing all hotels within the Mercan portfolio. He is also an active Board Member of HAMA-Europe and serving as the Education Chair.
Before joining AHM, he was the Vice President of Asset Management at The First Group in Dubai, Mariano managed a diverse hospitality portfolio overseeing a total asset volume of more than 1.4 billion USD.Mariano’s hospitality career began as Development Manager at Barceló Hotels & Resorts, negotiating numerous hotel management and lease agreements across Europe. His expertise further expanded as Senior Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in Barcelona and the MENA region, leading strategic advisory assignments and high-profile transactions.Mariano holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from the International University of Catalonia and a Master in Finance from EADA, Barcelona. He is a Certified Hotel Asset Manager (CHAM) and a regular speaker at major hospitality conferences.
📢 Watch now to hear Mariano’s inspiring story and gain valuable insights on leadership and innovation in luxury hospitality!
🔗 Connect with Mariano Faz: https://pt.linkedin.com/in/marianofaz
📩 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us at www.xperthost.xyz for more leadership insights and career opportunities.
In this inaugural episode of the XpertHost Leadership Series, we sit down with Eugenio Pirri, an award-winning C-Suite leader and culture champion, to explore the power of workplace culture in hospitality.
With years of experience driving people strategy at some of the world's most prestigious hotel brands, Eugenio shares his expert insights on:
✅ The key to building a high-performance hospitality team
✅ Why culture is the backbone of business success
✅ Leadership lessons from the luxury hospitality industry
✅ How future hospitality leaders can develop their careers
If you're an aspiring or current hospitality leader looking to elevate your impact, this episode is packed with practical takeaways and industry wisdom you won't want to miss!
🔗 Connect with Eugenio Pirri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epirri17/
📩 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us at www.xperthost.xyz for more leadership insights and career opportunities.