Blog. Spotlight on: THE PIG Hotel Group

We are indebted to the countless individuals and organisations who devote their time, energy, and resources to uplift those we support. Today, we shine a spotlight on one such inspirational figure Tom Ross, CEO of THE PIG Hotel Group whose commitment to HA has touched countless lives.

What inspired you to support Hospitality Action?
Hospitality Action is a charity we keep very close to our hearts and is a cause we have been supporting across THE PIGs for many years. Since our first PIG opened in 2011, many of our team members have benefitted from the help and support of Hospitality Action, so it’s important to us to do as much as we can to support this fantastic organisation, and our industry, to make a positive impact.   

Can you tell us about a specific project or event you’ve been involved with?  
I loved getting involved in Hospitality Action’s ‘Back to the Floor’ event last year, where around 80 senior team members across the industry put our aprons back on and served hundreds of guests for a fundraising dinner at the Park Plaza in Westminster, London. It was an incredible night, a real tribute to the hard work our teams carry out every day, and it was made even better by helping to raise over £258,000 – the most successful fundraising event in Hospitality Action’s 187-year history! All of us were very proud to be a part of it.   

Was it easy to set up the £1 on the bill mechanism, what steps did you have to follow ?                                                                                                     We have found it very straightforward to set up a voluntary £1 menu donation across THE PIGs – the key is to make sure everything is clear for both your guests and your teams. I’m sure they all do already, but it’s so important to make sure your Front of House teams know who Hospitality Action are and what they’re all about so every team member can confidently talk about the charity with guests, and what their donation will be going towards. We add a sentence to the top of our restaurant menus at THE PIGs, making it clear that the £1 voluntary donation they’ll see on their bill is helping to raise money for Hospitality Action – and that it is completely optional. We ran the campaign for the month of June and raised £11,485 and we held the campaign again in December and raised a phenomenal £13,296!

What do you think sets Hospitality Action apart from others?
Hospitality Action is a charity that's deeply embedded in our industry and really speaks to the needs of the people in our community. It is run by hospitality people, for hospitality people. We’re passionate about supporting them across THE PIGs, because they put the same amount of care in to looking after hospitality people as we do. Their support services, such as helplines and grants, make Hospitality Action exceptionally equipped to address the specific challenges faced by people, like us, working in the hospitality sector.

What advice would you give to other organisations thinking about supporting Hospitality Action?
Absolutely go for it. Supporting Hospitality Action is a wonderful way to give back to our industry and support our peers – from helping people get back on their feet during tough times and offering financial assistance, to providing mental health support and a host of other services tailored to our industry's unique challenges. By supporting Hospitality Action, you're not only contributing to the welfare of hospitality people, but you’re also helping to strengthen our industry as a whole. It's an investment in our friends and colleagues who make our industry vibrant and successful and, together, we can make a significant difference.

Heartfelt thanks to Tom and the entire team at THE PIG Hotel Group for their dedicated support. If your workplace can do the same, please get in touch.