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Stephen Carter OBE

Hospitality consultant and Chairman at Effective Hospitality Management

  • What was your favourite subject at school?

Geography and Geology, I enjoyed the field trips best of all, particularly as many took place with an overnight in places like the Lake District and we were able to take advantage of some of the pubs nearby the hostels to imbibe in a little under aging drinking. Our Geography master “Loony Lawford “ went to bed early and we were able to sneek out to have a little fun.

  • What was your first job?

My first job was a morning paper round in industrial West Yorkshire where I grew up. It was in the days before the Clean Air Act had really got a grip on the nation. Therefore on many winter mornings I had to deliver the newspapers through the Smog ( an intense air pollution of fog,  industrial and domestic coal fumes, vehicle exhausts etc) Sometimes the smog would be so bad the air was an acrid yellow that was really difficult to see through.  I had a  lint mask to cover my nose and mouth and could only use the mask two days before it had to be thrown away as it was blackened by all the pollution that I would otherwise have been breathing in.

  • Which is your favourite restaurant /hotel?

Craig Millar @ 16 West End  St Monans. Quite local to where I live now, great food, particularly fish and great views over the harbour, the Firth of Forth and the North Sea.

The best hotel I have ever stayed in was The Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, an absolutely amazing resort

  • How do you inspire your team

Lead from the front and create an atmosphere of Trust and Verify after ensuring everyone is trained correctly and empowered to complete their role whilst feeling fully supported. Also create an atmosphere of creative fun in which all team members feel valued.

  • Which person in hospitality have you most admired / inspired you?

Two of my early bosses who were total opposite characters to each other but both taught me how hospitality had to be authentic and genuinely delivered with passion. John Furlong of the Gosforth Park and Old Course Hotels and Peter Crawford the father of Guy Crawford the recently retired CEO of Jumeirah Hotels Of my contemporaries I admire Peter Lederer who has provided inspiring leadership not only for his time at Gleneagles over the decades but also for his leadership of the Scottish Hotel Scene and the Scottish tourism industry and a beacon to all  of leadership through selfless service in life as a whole.

  • How do you manage your stress levels ?

Walking by myself and sometimes with my West Highland Terrier. We are very fortunate to live on the Fife Coastal Path Route so plenty of walking opportunities. I am also Chairman of the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust so I do know the best places to visit locally and relax

  • Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook

I do not really post on social media but do follow Facebook and LinkedIn and occasionally make a comment on posts.

  • If you had not gone into hospitality, where do you
    think you would be now?

Probably a geologist but I always wanted to go into hotels from the age of ten when I wanted to be a chef. However I suddenly realised Chefs had to work quite hard so I changed to being a General Manager but learnt subsequently if you want to get anywhere hard work comes into it somewhere on the line

  • What did you do on your last days off?

Went walking in Fife followed by dinner with friends, an evening at Craig Millar’s restaurant in St Monans concluding with a dram to finish the day off.

  • What do you do to relax, to support your wellbeing?

I love classical music and one of the best roles I had was to be a director and vice chairman of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra which I continue to support regularly so if I am not attending a concert then I will be in the snug at home listening to music surrounded by sound.