#028 - Peter Avis - People, Purpose & Profession

Guest: Peter Avis FIH - Vice Chair, Front of House Craft Guild & Hospitality Leader

Host: Phil Street

In this episode, Phil continues the story of the newly formed Front of House Craft Guild with its Vice Chair, the brilliant Peter Avis FIH.

Peter’s journey is a remarkable example of what a career in hospitality can become. Starting out washing dishes at 17, he went on to spend 15 years with the Virgin Group, lead Galvin at Windows, work on hospitality projects around the world and now heads up hospitality at Chelsea Football Club.

But running through the entire conversation is one constant: people. Peter talks candidly about the leaders who shaped him, why relationships can last far beyond a job title, and his determination to help front-of-house careers receive the professional recognition they deserve.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How being valued as a 17-year-old dishwasher changed the direction of Peter’s life.
• The moment at the Royal Garden Hotel when he decided hospitality was going to become his career.
• Spending 15 years within the Virgin Group and what it taught him about culture.
• Why great mentors remain important no matter how senior you become.
• Taking the leap from Virgin into consultancy, without entirely knowing what consultancy involved!
• Stepping into Galvin at Windows just weeks before the pandemic.
• The influence Chris and Jeff Galvin had on Peter’s approach to leadership.
• How his friendship and working relationship with John Holden developed.
• Why Peter believes front of house has historically been treated as secondary to the kitchen.
• The creation of the Front of House Craft Guild and the change Peter hopes it can help deliver.

Listen now for:

• Why hospitality will always be about human connection.
• The importance of leaving jobs without destroying relationships.
• Why career longevity doesn’t have to mean standing still.
• How mentors can continue challenging you even when you reach senior leadership.
• Why Peter believes front of house should be seen as a genuine profession with extraordinary career potential.
• The power of participating rather than commentating when you want to create change.

Memorable Quotes:

“We can never forget the importance of human interaction. That’s what hospitality always has been and always should be” - Peter Avis

“You can never get to a point in your career where you think, ‘I’ve got it. I know it’” - Peter Avis

“Sometimes we keep going outside the box looking for solutions, and sometimes it’s the person standing in front of you.” - Peter Avis

“The front of house is a profession” - Peter Avis

This episode is for:

• Front-of-house professionals at every stage of their career.
• Hospitality leaders passionate about culture, mentoring and developing people.
• Young people wondering where a career in hospitality could take them.
• Anyone who believes front and back of house are stronger when recognised as one hospitality ecosystem.
• People who want to play an active role in shaping the future of the industry.

Links & Resources:

Phil Street (Host): LinkedIn & Instagram @hospitalitymeets

Peter Avis FIH: LinkedIn - Hospitality leader and Vice Chair of the Front of House Craft Guild

Front of House Craft Guild: LinkedIn - Find out more through the Craft Guild of Chefs.

Craft Guild of Chefs: https://craftguildofchefs.org/

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