The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald

Ashleigh and Michael Donald
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Welcome to "The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh & Michael Donald". With over 40 years working in the hospitality industry, we’ve had some incredible experiences, and as a husband-and-wife team, we continue to forge a path through business and life. Through this podcast, we would like to share some of these experiences and hope that we can help anyone who is on a similar journey.

  1. Episode 40: Insights from NoVacancy London 2026

    6D AGO

    Episode 40: Insights from NoVacancy London 2026

    In this milestone 40th episode of The Halo Effect, Ashleigh and Michael Donald reflect on NoVacancy’s inaugural London show at ExCeL and unpack what it revealed about the future direction of hospitality. Fresh from two energising days on site, Ashleigh shares first-hand observations from across the keynote stages, panels and conversations that defined the event. From long-term thinking to 2030 and the realities of tech integration, to AI-led discovery, brand differentiation, investor priorities and the enduring importance of people, this episode brings together the themes that surfaced again and again. They explore why RevPAR alone no longer tells the full story, how operators are rethinking profitability and performance metrics, and what hotels need to do now to remain discoverable in an AI-driven search landscape. There is also a strong focus on community, sense of place and storytelling, from bringing locals into hotels to avoiding the “sea of sameness” in brand positioning. Ashleigh also reflects on moderating the “Pivot or preserve?” panel, highlights standout sessions from leaders across design, operations, marketing and investment, and shares why NoVacancy felt both optimistic and practical at a time of continued pressure on the sector. If you could not attend or want a considered review beyond the headlines, this episode captures the conversations that mattered most and the questions hospitality leaders are now grappling with. Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    45 min
  2. Episode 39: Preview of No Vacancy London

    FEB 25

    Episode 39: Preview of No Vacancy London

    Ashleigh and Michael are sharing a quick preview of No Vacancy London, as it opens this morning (25th February 2026) at ExCeL. With 3,000+ attendees and 100+ speakers and exhibitors across two days, they spotlight the themes and some of the sessions likely to shape the year ahead, including AI and hotel discovery, marketing differentiation, tech in practice, data-led market insights, and the independent hotel squeeze. Ashleigh also shares some insights into the panel she is moderating today at 2pm -  Pivot or preserve? The renovation and repositioning dilemma in hospitality If you are at Excel, please don’t hesitate to say hello, and if you are thinking of getting some last-minute tickets, you may be able to secure some last minute tickets here. https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    31 min
  3. Episode 38: The Night Manager Effect

    FEB 18

    Episode 38: The Night Manager Effect

    This episode is inspired by Season 2 of The Night Manager (starring Tom Hiddleston), but this one has fewer silk shirts and less international espionage and a bit more fire alarms at 3 am, overbooked nights, and being the person everyone relies on when the hotel and its guests are at their most vulnerable. Ashleigh and Michael look back on their own time working nights across very different properties, from Dublin city centre to remote resort hotels and five-star London properties. They unpack why the night manager role is often misunderstood and why it is one of the most important positions in any hotel: equal parts leader, problem solver, host, safety officer, and communicator. They talk candidly about what hotels can often get wrong, from under-resourcing and limited training to treating nights as a gap to fill rather than a development opportunity. They also share what the role teaches you fast: operational fluency across every department, decision making under pressure, trust and discretion, and the discipline that protect the day team and the guest experience. Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Book your ticket to NoVacancy London 2026 https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    33 min
  4. Episode 37: People & Performance with Dan Barnes, from Flourish Hospitality

    FEB 11

    Episode 37: People & Performance with Dan Barnes, from Flourish Hospitality

    What does it take to build confident teams, strengthen service culture, and lead with practical clarity in today’s hospitality landscape? In this episode of The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories, Ashleigh and Michael Donald are joined by Dan Barnes, Founder and Managing Director of Flourish Hospitality, for a thoughtful discussion on people, performance, and the leadership behaviours that truly shape guest experience. With more than 25 years of experience across luxury hotels, private members’ clubs, restaurants, and major London pre-openings, Dan shares insights from a career dedicated to learning and development. The conversation explores how onboarding, coaching, and consistent standards drive retention, why early investment in soft skills builds stronger future leaders, and how hospitality can continue to differentiate itself through human connection in an increasingly digital world. From generational engagement and practical training design to the evolving role of technology in learning delivery, this episode offers grounded, operationally relevant perspectives for hospitality leaders, operators, and anyone passionate about building high-performing teams. Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠   flourishhospitality.co.uk Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠, ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠ and @flourish_hospitality LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠, Dan Barnes Book your ticket to NoVacancy London 2026 https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    39 min
  5. Episode 36: For the Love of Hospitality

    FEB 4

    Episode 36: For the Love of Hospitality

    In this episode of The Halo Effect, Ashleigh and Michael Donald explore what Valentine's Day really means in hospitality and why operators may want to move beyond the old predictable formulas. With February now positioned as a full “month of romance”, they unpack how hotels and restaurants can stand out in an increasingly crowded calendar by focusing on experience-led, connection-driven programming rather than generic offers. From rethinking in-room amenities and questioning the real value of the classic bottle of champagne, to the rise of low and no-alcohol preferences, provenance-led British sparkling wine, and more considered welcome moments, this episode looks at romance through a practical and commercial lens. This is an episode about moving beyond the set menu and the single date, and instead designing hospitality experiences that feel personal and genuinely human. Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Book your ticket to NoVacancy London 2026 https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    27 min
  6. Episode 35: Fractional Marketing

    JAN 28

    Episode 35: Fractional Marketing

    Hotel marketing in 2026 is not just campaigns and content. It’s about leadership across brand, revenue operations, and guest experience. In this episode, Ashleigh and Michael unpack what fractional marketing support really means, and why it is becoming a serious advantage for hotels navigating tighter margins, shifting guest behaviour, AI-driven discovery, cookieless marketing, and constant operational pressure. They break down where fractional support delivers the most impact: openings and relaunches, repositioning projects, CRM and guest communications audits (including Revinate), F&B concept launches, awards strategies, and building a consistent service culture that matches the brand promise. Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Book your ticket to NoVacancy London 2026 https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    36 min
  7. Episode 34: Wellness Resets in 2026

    JAN 21

    Episode 34: Wellness Resets in 2026

    January is the month of resets, but guests do not leave their wellness intentions at home when they travel. In this episode, Ashleigh and Michael explore what “supportive wellness” could look like in hospitality, without becoming preachy, restrictive, or trend-led. From the rise of the no and low alcohol movement and supplement culture, to why “environment beats willpower”, they discuss how hotels can reduce friction and make healthier choices feel effortless. They also cover practical, operational realities: VIP amenities that miss the mark, sleep disruption, gym usability, room temperature, and the importance of getting the basics right year-round. Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Book your ticket to NoVacancy London 2026 https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    32 min
  8. Episode 33: New Year Planning and the Pomodoro Technique

    JAN 14

    Episode 33: New Year Planning and the Pomodoro Technique

    In this episode, we take a proper pause after our first week back of the New Year to reflect on what we’re building and how to set your plans up for success, whether you’re running a hotel, leading a team, or growing a business. We talk through why January is the perfect moment to review last year’s results, sense-check your strategy, and update/set your goals for the year. We also share some productivity tips to help make smarter decisions fast, before the year gets away from you. In this episode, we cover: New year planning that sticks ABCs of Hotel Marketing The Pomodoro Technique and how it helps productivity Festive debriefs and Employee review meetings Employer branding and succession planning The Pomodoro Technique and how it helps productivity AI as an assistant Awards and visibility Book your ticket to NoVacancy London 2026 https://www.terrapinn.com/novacancyldn/gohalo-reg Best SME Awards (entries close 22 January 2026, 6pm) https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Us: Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode. We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.

    38 min
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About

Welcome to "The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh & Michael Donald". With over 40 years working in the hospitality industry, we’ve had some incredible experiences, and as a husband-and-wife team, we continue to forge a path through business and life. Through this podcast, we would like to share some of these experiences and hope that we can help anyone who is on a similar journey.

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