About us

Thornbury Castle, Gloucestershire

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7 Hospitality Management

Hospitality with Purpose

United by a deep commitment valued by discerning property owners, our team brings together a wide range of expertise to drive consistent success for our partners. With knowledge honed over generations of experienced innkeepers, we go beyond foundational management to inspire pride within our team and earn respect in the hospitality industry.

We engage actively in community projects and support philanthropic initiatives through our hotels, underscoring our dedication to positive social impact. Through our corporate efforts, we proudly support organisations focused on building stronger, more compassionate communities

Weetwood Hall Estate, Leeds

The Results Speak for Themselves

As a leader in industry excellence, 7H integrates cutting-edge systems with a dedicated and seasoned leadership team to elevate hospitality standards. Our proven track record demonstrates success in revenue growth, profitability, guest satisfaction, and employee loyalty, strengthened by solid partnerships with key industry leaders.

Our Values

Transparency

We believe in open, honest communication at every level of our business. From our partnerships with hotel owners to our interactions with guests and employees, we foster a culture of trust by sharing clear information, making ethical decisions, and being accountable in everything we do.
Ownership

We think and perform like owners. We take full responsibility for our actions, results, and the experiences we create. Our team is empowered to act with initiative, solve problems proactively, and treat every property we manage as if it were our own. This commitment drives excellence and ensures we always go the extra mile.
Driven

Passion and ambition are at the heart of 7 Hospitality Management. We are dedicated to delivering outstanding service, achieving exceptional results, and continuously improving. Our team thrives on challenges, embraces innovation, and is committed to staying ahead in a competitive industry.
Investment in Our People

Our success is built on the strength of our people. We prioritise professional growth, ongoing training, and a supportive workplace culture that encourages development and career progression. By investing in our team, we create a motivated workforce that delivers outstanding hospitality experiences.

Leadership Team

Our team is composed of accomplished professionals with proven senior-level success across some of the country’s top hotel brands and independent properties. As a small, dynamic group of leaders, we pride ourselves on hands-on management and are deeply involved in each business we oversee.

Richard Ellison

Founder & CEO

Throughout the various roles Richard has held within 29 years of hospitality experience they include, Operations Manager at Gleneagles, where he was a senior manager responsible for the delivery of the G8 Summit in 2005, General Manager at various hotels throughout the UK for both globally branded hotels and unbranded properties and a director of one of Scotland’s largest event management companies.

He has been recognised nationally at UK level at the Caterer & Hotelkeeper awards and at the Scottish Hotel awards for his management achievements
Currently Managing Director of 7 Hospitality Management (UK), he has supported investors in the brokerage, feasibility, acquisition, completion and management of the multiple hotels. He has provided both public and private sector with hospitality feasibility studies for hotel developments and lectured on tourism and hospitality at Queen Margaret’s University, Edinburgh.

He is the company’s link with financial intuitions, legal representatives, leading the investment due diligence team and offers a UK directorship service.

Graduating from Strathclyde University (UK), Cornell (USA) and Lausanne (Switzerland) with a MBA in Hospitality & Tourism leadership, he also holds a Higher Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from Cornell University (USA)

Specialises in: Hotel Operations, hotel commercial improvement, Hospitality Real Estate acquisitions, feasibilities
Martin MacPhail

Managing Director

With a distinguished career in hospitality leadership, Martin brings a wealth of expertise in people management, operational excellence, and strategic growth to his role as Managing Director at 7H. A graduate in Human Resources Management (CIPD), Martin is deeply passionate about developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of excellence within the industry.

Throughout his career, Martin has held senior leadership roles across globally branded hotels and independent properties, driving commercial success, enhancing guest experiences, and implementing effective people strategies. His dedication to talent development and organisational culture has earned him industry recognition, including the prestigious People Manager of the Year accolade.

As Managing Director, Martin leads the company’s strategic direction, supporting hotel owners and investors with operational management, business transformation, and commercial improvement. His expertise spans workforce development, leadership coaching, and optimising hospitality operations to deliver sustainable growth. He also plays a key role in guiding investment decisions, working closely with financial institutions and stakeholders to ensure long-term profitability.

With a strong belief in the power of people, Martin is committed to shaping the future of hospitality by building dynamic teams, delivering exceptional service, and driving continuous improvement across the sector.
Gary Hume

Head of Property

Gary oversees all property related areas such as Health & Safety, Maintenance and Compliance, Leisure facilities, Information Technology and Brand Standards.

Gary is also responsible for all Capital Expenditure projects from conception to installation. Gary is the company’s key contact supporting in operational and development project management in new build and /or hotel refurbishments, currently working on a multi-million pound refurbishment in Windermere
Gary has worked in both hospitality, retail and leisure industries.

IOSH qualification
James Salmond

Head of Finance
Arun Manoharan

Head of Operations

With over 20 years of industry experience, Arun has had the opportunity to work with the leading hospitality chains in the world Hilton Worldwide, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Accor Hotels. He has managed the operations for Independent hotel groups like Comcrest Hotels, London Hotel group and recently MGM Muthu Hotels where he was responsible for 13 hotels in the UK.

Arun was involved in the opening of Best Western Plus hotels in Croydon and Wembley and was involved in the rebranding process of the Crystal Palace Hotel into Best Western London Crystal Palace hotel and Regency Hotel into the Doubletree by Hilton London Kensington.

Arun was successfully part of acquisitions and mergers within London Hotel Group and MGM Muthu hotels.

He graduated from Bangalore University with a Bachelor’s in Hotel Management and hasa post graduate degree in hotel and business management from IHMES International Hotel school, Isle of Man.
Conner Hutchison

Head of Brand and Marketing

Conner boasts an extensive background in the Marketing industry, with a career spanning over 15 years, dating back to her initial role in radio promotions. Renowned for her innate creativity, Conner possesses a distinct vision when it comes to our brand strategies. She is the driving force behind conceiving, defining, and overseeing the execution of global marketing and digital campaigns.

Dedicated to ensuring optimal channel engagement, Conner oversees both central and local teams, lending her expertise to content posting and copywriting, while rigorously ensuring that all project content aligns seamlessly with brand guidelines prior to distribution. Her role also encompasses the development and execution of marketing plans in collaboration with local teams, all with the overarching aim of elevating brand visibility and driving sales.

What sets Conner apart is her multifaceted skill set, which includes the ability to handle all graphic design tasks for our properties. She specialises in the entire brand creation process, seamlessly transitioning from design conceptualisation to implementation.

In addition to her impressive career in marketing, Conner’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to successfully operate her own events venue. This experience allowed her to further hone her expertise in Branding, Marketing, and Sales.

Conner’s journey is underpinned by her commitment to education, as evidenced by her graduation from the British Ballet Organisation, where she earned a degree in teaching.
Lynnel Farrow

Group Commercial Director
Sarah Osborne

Head of Human Resources

Sarah is responsible for driving the overall HR function and delivering a successful people strategy across all areas of the business in line with achieving strategic business goals.

CIPD accredited via MOL and graduating with a MA in International Business with Spanish from the University of Dundee. Sarah specialises in TUPE, Change Management, Employment Law and Employment Relations.

Sarah is dedicated to ensuring the company’s HR Strategy is focussed towards the success of 7 Hospitality Management’s mission of delivering a return on investment for our owners through people