“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.

—
🎧 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

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• 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

  —

  🎧 Hosted by Bertran Moreno, Founder of XpertHost, the executive search partner for forward-thinking hospitality brands.
  🌐 Discover more at www.xperthost.xyz