Hotels, Leisure & Travel

These thriving, interconnected sectors are at the heart of the 21st-Century experience economy. psd’s candidate networks, industry expertise, and operational capability are unrivalled.

Few industries can match the speed and dynamism of the hotel sector. As the leading international operators look to build ever-bigger and more diversified offerings, disruptive players are establishing new propositions and brands designed to capture the hearts and spending power of the millennial consumer. Innovation is balanced against tradition in a world defined by value, quality and service.

From five-star luxury to fast and funky, today’s hotel market offers something for every guest. And the range of careers, roles, and opportunities is similarly diverse. With one of the world’s largest specialist hospitality recruitment teams, a vast international network, and decades of experience, psd recruits across senior- and middle-management for the biggest (and smallest) names in hospitality. From operations to HR, sales & marketing to experience design, we find the best, brightest and most attuned candidates for corporate and regional offices and significant single sites.

In the equally fast-moving worlds of leisure and travel, psd‘s service is calibrated to operate across traditional boundaries. We have earned a reputation as skilled and enlightened recruiters – drawing on the international talent pool to pinpoint transferable skill-sets and competencies for large-scale visitor attractions & theme parks, retail destinations, leading airlines and rail operators, online travel companies and specialist holiday and travel businesses, members’ clubs, retirement communities, fractional ownership developments, sports venues, and more.

Recruitment in Hotels, Leisure & Travel

Executive Recruitment for Hotels

In hotels, psd sources senior candidates for all functional and operational positions. Working at corporate and hotel property level we undertake assignments including food & beverage, executive culinary, rooms division, customer contact, procurement & supply chain, asset management, development, construction (including interior design & project management), finance, revenue management, HR, technical services/engineering and General Management. Additionally, we have in-depth knowledge of marketing, sales, digital/e-commerce, technology and change.

Executive Recruitment for the Leisure sector

In the leisure sector, we understand that transferability of skills is a prized attribute. Typical assignments undertaken include board level appointments, regional and multi-site operations and general management. We also specialise in a wide range of commercial disciplines including sales, marketing, digital & e-commerce, business development, and customer contact. Other specialist functions include finance, executive culinary, technology, property, and procurement.

Executive Recruitment for the Travel sector

psd‘s work within the travel industry focuses increasingly on customer experience and marketing, as well as operational roles. Typical opportunities we recruit for include: Country Manager, General Manager, Head of Operations, Head of Customer Experience, IT & Project Manager, Change Manager, Sales & Marketing Director, Digital Marketing Manager, Head of Human Resources, Procurement Head and Finance Director.

Recent assignments include:

  • Hilton – VP Corporate Communications EMEA
  • Generator Hostels – CEO
  • Atlas Hotels – CEO
  • Northern Powerhouse Hotels – COO
  • Ennismore – Finance Director
  • Cheval Residences – Operations Director
  • Hong Kong Golf Club – General Manager
  • Glossy Bay – General Manager
  • Mandarin Oriental – General Manager Bodrum
  • Rocco Forte Hotels – Director of Sales & Marketing
  • Village Hotels – General Manager
  • Clink Hostels – Commercial Director
  • Kerzner/One & Only – Food & Beverage Director
  • Oetker Collection – Talent Development Manager
  • The Savoy – Executive Chef
  • Sandy Lane Hotel – F&B Director
  • Oxford & Cambridge Club – Deputy General Manager
  • EasyHotels-Head of Revenue
  • Elite Hotels – Director of Sales & Marketing
  • All Star Lanes – Finance Director
  • British Airways – Head of Ground Experience

Our clients say

I have had the pleasure to work with psd over the course of the last few months for our property in Athens. I wanted to pass along my compliments as psd worked diligently to assist us with a few critical positions. psd has been supportive, flexible and patient, qualities today that are a miss.

General Manager, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel

It’s always a pleasure working with psd. They understand the brief, produce sensible shortlists and communicate well despite me not always making it easy!

Operations Director, Village Hotel Club

I have worked with psd for a number of years now and because of this psd intuitively knows what I am looking for in a candidate, and will only send me over candidates who either have the right skills or cultural fit. psd is always my first point of contact for recruitment.

Commercial Director, Amaris Hospitality

We were very happy with the service provided, from the quality of the candidates to the understanding of our hotel, the role and our needs.

Director of HR, Sofitel St James

psd were very efficient and professional at all times. The follow up calls were much appreciated, from first interview to the day I accepted the offer. The call that I did not expect and was really impressed by was on my first day, one month after the deal was sealed, to wish me luck and a long and successful career with my new employer. After working with other agencies in the past, I must say that this was the greatest experience and I would not hesitate working with the psd Group in the future.

Front Office Manager, Wilde Aparthotel

The service and support we have received from psd has been superb. The whole process was managed efficiently, effectively and professionally at all times.

Development Manager, Bourne Leisure

Throughout this process I was impressed. psd secured an outstanding CEO for the business who has gone on to deliver impressive results for us.

Chairman, Major Health Venues & Hotels Company

I have worked with psd on a number of occasions over the past ten years and have found the business to be at all times professional and attentive to the needs of me as a candidate and now as a client. The communication channels have worked, the attention to detail is excellent, the frankness and openness is refreshing and there is no hard sell. It has been a pleasure to work with psd, and psd supported me through my interview process for the role I hold and in the past, so I have seen both sides.

Procurement Director, PPHE

Martin Cragg’s work was always high quality. He was quick to build a personal rapport which was really valued. Having been with my previous employer for 25 years I was slightly nervous about the prospect of application and interviews, but Martin moved quickly to share his knowledge and experience which provided a lot of reassurance. Throughout the process Martin maintained regular contact with me and was super supportive in ensuring that I had all the information that I needed to support my decision making around whether this was the right role for me, and then to support the application process.

News & insight

Celtic Manor Resort: Interview with Ian Edwards MI FIH

Ian Edwards on appealing to the staycation market with a strong family offering, opening the Coldra Court Hotel to support the NHS and key workers as well as the Welsh Blood Service throughout the pandemic, and adopting contactless app technology to protect guests whilst streamlining their experience.

The Belfry Hotel & Resort: Interview with Chris Eigelaar

The Belfry Hotel & Resort will be playing host to the much-anticipated Betfred British Masters 2021. Chris Eigelaar tells us about the retraining initiative for team members returning from furlough, the exciting launch of virtual event setups, and the new Discover campaign connecting guests to the local area.

Carton House – a Fairmont managed hotel: Interview with John Keating

John Keating talks to Hayley Bortolotti about supporting people returning from furlough, the newly completed renovation program bringing the beautiful 18th century mansion back to life, and what his biggest learning curve has been over the past 12 months.