Interview with Jonathan Worsley - The Bench & FHS | Shaping Hospitality Development through Investment Events

We’re kicking off Season 6 in the vibrant streets of London, where Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench, met with Fritz to explore the past, the present and the future of hospitality and its exciting global development. With FHS World in Dubai just around the corner, Jonathan shared his insights on the Middle East’s remarkable transformation over the past two decades and highlighted various success factors for the sector, including the...

We’re kicking off Season 6 in the vibrant streets of London, where Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench, met with Fritz to explore the past, the present and the future of hospitality and its exciting global development. With FHS World in Dubai just around the corner, Jonathan shared his insights on the Middle East’s remarkable transformation over the past two decades and highlighted various success factors for the sector, including the vital role of women. Guess what: Nothing works without…? Women, correct! 😉

Jonathan explained why involving the topic of sustainability in his events is crucial, what impact new technologies like AI have in the field and he shared how hospitality investment conferences have evolved over the last 25 years. And if anybody knows, it’s him! As co-founder of the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Jonathan was largely involved in establishing successful hospitality events across the globe.

As a member of the board, he serves as a trusted advisor to, among others, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Freshontable and Envi Lodges. Luckily, Fritz has, for once, done his homework and asks Jonathan to spill the beans about some of his highlight moments, like an epic charity bike ride from Amsterdam to Berlin, skiing in Iran and unforgettable mishaps at award shows.

Jonathan’s journey is nothing short of inspiring and this episode is packed with personal insights.

Tune in and enjoy the show!

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Jonathan Worsley began his career at Forte and Holiday Inns before moving into hotel advisory roles at PKF and CBRE. In 1997, he co-founded IHIF Berlin, followed by The Bench, which started as a daily benchmarking company for the hotel industry and in 2008 merging with STR to create STR Global.

Welcome to the infamous SMACK podcast! We are introducing key decision-makers and some of the most knowledgeable experts in the industry on a personal note. We are broadcasting to our community of hospitality & tourism professionals in every corner of the world. The choice of guests, which we invite to the show, is largely based on whether they bring an exciting perspective or topic to the microphone that we haven’t heard on the show yet and...