Sunday October 9th, 1.15pm – 3.00pm
Knut Wylde
I was born in northern Germany, in a small village close to the city of Kiel, on the coast of the Baltic See just 100 kilometers south of Denmark. I graduated from High School in 1990 and started studying Hotel & Tourism Management for 2 years.
Well, believe it or not, my career in the hospitality industry actually started in 1983 in a small Italian village called San Geminiano, where I was on holiday with my parents and sister. We were having dinner in a small pizzeria, when I suddenly got up, went to the owner, ask for a pencil and pad and started taking orders and serving food. After that I was the head waiter for every function at our house, equipped with a napkin over my arm and the pencil and pad close at hand. Several part time jobs, placements in restaurants and small hotels were to follow.
After my apprenticeship in Hamburg Germany my career took me to London where I worked at the Grosvenor House Hotel and The Lanesborough Hotel. Then I went overseas and worked in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and the Caribbean. In the Caribbean I got engaged on the beach and decided that it would be best to be in one city with my soon-to-be wife Imina, so decided to return to London to start a job at the legendary Savoy Hotel. We then decided that we needed some sunshine and moved to the Maldives where I worked the One&Only ReethiRah Resort. We were then expecting out first child so decided to swap the palm trees with beauty of Scotland where I operated a high-end private members club on Loch Lomond. Following the birth of our first daughter Kaytana Reethi (4y) our second daughter Mylee Skye (3) was born. We then decided to return to London as I was given the opportunity to re-open the Midland Grand Hotel as the new St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Following this I joined the Dorchester Collection at their Coworth Park Property in Ascot.
In early 2013 I joined Claridge’s and Maybourne Hotel Group as their Hotel Manager of this iconic and historic property before moving to its sister property, The Berkeley, in January of this year as General Manager. Since my arrival at The Berkeley I have not only managed the day to day running of this London Five Star Deluxe Hotel but also been involved in the multi million pound refurbishment project that included the creation of a new entrance as well as the refurbishment of the lobby, the all-day-dining restaurant, the iconic Blue Bar and the redesign of the first floor bedrooms and suites.
Miles Pooley
Miles Pooley is the Chief Executive & Club Secretary of the historic Royal Air Force Club in Mayfair, London. Before joining the Club in 2015, Miles was the General Manager at two central London properties for Marriott International – the flagship Marriott Park Lane from 2006 and the Grand Residence, 47 Park Street from the year 2000. Prior to joining Marriott, Miles was appointed the General Manager at the Oriental Club in 1996 from his position as Assistant Hotel Manager at Gravetye Manor Hotel. Miles started his career at the Connaught Hotel as part of the management training scheme where he remained for 9 years in various management positions.
Miles is a proud supporter of the hospitality industry and this is recognised through his membership of the British Hospitality Association, Fellowship of the Institute of Hospitality, Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, Reunion des Gastronomes and Master Inn Holder. Miles has also been awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City of London.
Sarah Malone
Sarah Malone has led the development of Donald Trump’s multi-million pound golf resort in Aberdeen since its inception. Head-hunted by Trump himself in 2008, she formally joined the organisation as Executive Vice President of Trump International Golf Links, Scotland in August 2009.
From a virgin piece of land to a world-class golf destination, Sarah negotiated the project through master-planning, construction and development of the entire operation.
She created the Trump Scotland brand and launched the highly acclaimed course, clubhouse and hotel, attracting international accolades and five-star status. Reporting directly to Donald J. Trump, Sarah manages his legal, media and political affairs, is a director of his hotel management company in Ireland and chairs the joint international sales committee.
She is currently driving the next stage of his Aberdeen resort including a second course, luxury residential village and further leisure facilities.
Previously Executive Director of the award-winning Gordon Highlanders Museum, Sarah had over ten years’ management experience in the arts and cultural sector in Glasgow, Cambridge and London prior to joining The Trump Organisation. She has served as Vice President of Communications for a global women’s charitable organisation and is a member of the Food, Drink & Agriculture board for the regional economic development organisation, Opportunities North East (ONE).
Sarah is married to a newspaper editor-in-chief and recently became a mother.
