Episode
#263 - Hospitality Meets Rory Slater - The Story of the Angry Gardener
- Published
- Jul 8, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2940
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.hospitalitymeets.co.uk/
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Summary
The Story of... The Angry Gardener What do luxury hotels, practical jokes, Palm Beach, New York, Beijing, Japan, Hong Kong, a very angry gardener and a 30cm ruler have in common? Yep, this week's guest Rory Slater , Managing Director for COMO Hotels in London. And trust me... Some of these stories are almost too good to be true. Rory's journey started with a love of food, inspired by his mum's Cordon Bleu cooking, before joining the legendary Savoy Group management programme with dreams of becoming a chef. Fast forward a few decades and that journey has taken him across four continents, some of the world's finest luxury hotels, and into leadership roles that have tested not only his skills, but his character. In this episode we chat about: Why becoming a chef wasn't quite what he imagined Life on the legendary Savoy Group management programme Why everyone should spend time working night shifts Hospitality practical jokes, from soufflé pumps to spaghetti drying lines Running luxury events in Palm Beach Launching rooftop bars in New York Building a career across Beijing, Japan and Hong Kong Opening luxury hotels around the world Why choosing the right owners matters just as much as choosing the right company The role mentors have played throughout his career The unforgettable Easter egg hunt that was nearly destroyed by one very determined gardener Standing up for his team, even when it meant challenging someone incredibly powerful Along the way we explore curiosity, leadership, resilience, culture, integrity and why some of life's greatest opportunities arrive wrapped up in uncertainty. Of course, this episode is packed with the sort of stories that make Hospitality Meets... well... Hospitality Meets. There's the night a woman was caught slipping business cards under ho…