Content area
Full Text
David Morgan-Hewitt, managing director ofThe Goring in London, loves everything about hotels. In fact, even though he clearly spends most of his day in an actual hotel, his idea of a fun time is to visit other properties, whether in London or when he's vacationing throughout the world.
"I'm never happier than when I'm in the lobby of a hotel. I love watching the staff, I love watching the guests and getting the feel of the place," he tells Luxury Travel Advisor.
Morgan-Hewitt, who last year celebrated his 25th year at The Goring, was also voted "Top General Manager Worldwide" by the readers of Luxury Travel Advisor in 2015. We say it's his passion for the day-to-day dynamics of the business, and for the luxury travel advisor community that clearly made him stand out (see sidebar).
Of note as well is that Morgan-Hewitt's entire hotel career has been spent at The Goring, a luxury property set just a few blocks away from Buckingham Palace, that's been owned and run by the same family since it was opened by Otto Goring in 1910. A member of Relais & Châteaux, it has just 69 rooms and suites; some think the hotel is larger, since it's so widely known for its five-star elegance that is English in every way. Members of the Royal Family visit regularly, including The Queen. In fact, in 2013, The Goring was granted a Royal Warrant of appointment to HM The Queen for Hospitality Services, which Morgan-Hewitt is responsible for maintaining. Those considered for the warrant are companies that have supplied The Queen's household for at least five years; The Goring in fact is the first hotel to be awarded a Royal Warrant by The Queen.
Aside from a consistent business from the royal family, The Goring is where Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge, stayed with her family just prior to her wedding to Prince William. That singular event drew 2.2 billion sets of eyes, via international TV, to the front door of the hotel, which handled the publicity in an intensely understated and discrete manner. But that's how it handles all of its clientele.
"What's lovely about this hotel is that no one bothers anybody," says Morgan-Hewitt. "We have no cult...