Navigating Highs and Lows of Hospitality

My career in hospitality, like many was an accident—starting at 14 and never leaving! I was a pub server after school, a hospital kitchen cleaner during college, and mixing milkshakes alongside uni. Fast forward to hosting & management roles with Living Ventures and then 12 years at The Alchemist, moving through management, into operations and landing in the world of People,  Development & Training.

I’m now a Coach, with Catalyst by Sixty Eight People , talking about all thing’s leadership, specifically in hospitality, whenever I get the chance!

I’m Jenny Oh, and I’m currently the General Manager of Hotel Gotham in Manchester. I have 28 years of experience in hospitality and am originally from Seoul, South Korea. I started my journey in the UK working as a waitress with very limited English and gradually worked my way through the industry, learning every aspect of the business and growing into leadership roles that have shaped who I am today.

Having experienced the full spectrum of what hospitality demands from long, unpredictable shifts to the intense pressure of peak seasons. I’m deeply passionate about creating working environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow. I know how easy it is to push through burnout without realising it until it’s too late.

I’m looking forward to joining the panel to share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way and to hear from others navigating these same challenges.

After working for Apple in the UK and US for 14 years, Dan fell in love with the world of hospitality and started his first business in 2017.  Since then, he has been involved in multiple F&B ventures, had a lead role in a national tech start-up and has accidentally found himself with a side hustle in the world of music promotion.

Dan currently works full-time at GM Business Growth Hub, Greater Manchester’s business support organisation, where he advises businesses in the Hospitality, Sport and Tourism sectors. He works with a team of advisors to provide fully funded support for businesses across the city-region.

Working in the hospitality industry for 15 years, firstly in London and then Manchester, Richard is now Head of Commercial Partnerships for Marketing Manchester. Richard oversees the visitor economy partnership and the Manchester Invest Partnership, working with companies across the sectors.

Managing the partnership on behalf of Manchester for both MIPIM and UKREiiF he has attended MIPIM for 8 years running and UKREiiF since it’s first year. Richard makes sure Manchester takes a strong delegation to both events to represent the region, it’s key strengths and investible projects.

With a passion for fostering inclusive, supportive, and high-performing workplace cultures, I have built a dynamic career in People Operations and HR leadership. As the Director of People Operations at Treehouse Hotels, I lead with a people-first approach, ensuring that employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. My experience spans industries, from hospitality to retail, including key roles such as Head of People at Escape to Freight Island and Group HR Manager at San Carlo Restaurant Group. A dedicated Mental Health First Aider, LGBTQ+ Inclusion Champion, and Coaching & Mentoring Professional, I am committed to creating environments where people feel safe, heard, and inspired. With expertise in employee engagement, well-being, and strategic HR, I continuously drive initiatives that enhance workplace culture and operational excellence.

Founder of So Let’s Talk a profit for purpose that works on the mental, physical and financial health of hospitality professionals. Reaching over 50,000 hospitality professionals through our work in the past 5 years. We’re on a mission to 86 The Silence!