Hospitality unplugged: Prioritising Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry

Matt Loughrey brings a wealth of knowledge from a 20-year career within hospitality operations. Now, as Partnerships & Community Manager for The Burnt Chef Project, Matt develops key relationships with hospitality businesses, helping to educate business leaders, and support those in need within the industry, as well as overseeing a global network of 320+ ambassadors. The Burnt Chef Project works to tackle the stigma which exists around mental health within the hospitality industry.

Karen Turton is CEO and Founder of Purple Story and has spent over 25 years in the hospitality and leisure industry challenging conventional thinking about leadership, performance and growth. An operator at heart, Karen has held senior commercial and leadership roles across pubs, hotels and major brands including Turtle Bay and Nando’s, giving her a deep understanding of the real pressures facing hospitality leaders today. She holds an MSc in Business Administration and Leadership Theories, is certified in C-me Colour Profiling and Sparketype, and is a practitioner researcher at the University of Chester, where she is developing the industry’s first Intergenerational Leadership framework as part of her Doctorate in Professional Studies. Through Purple Story’s professionally rebellious approach, Karen blends behavioural science, storytelling and operational excellence to help organisations unlock the full potential of their people and deliver measurable commercial results.