Welcome to the NextGen Hospitality Podcast with me, Paul Borg. This podcast is designed for ambitious young professionals eager to jumpstart their careers in hospitality and grow into impactful leadership roles.

Today, I’m joined by Mark Foster. Mark is the Managing Director of Centre Island and has led the company since 2013. He is responsible for the operational performance and development of the group, shaping strategic direction, managing franchise relationships, and ensuring both customer satisfaction and employee engagement remain at the heart of the business.

In this episode, Mark shares how his career in hospitality began almost by accident, choosing a shift in a local restaurant over a paper round, before studying Hospitality Management at the University of Manchester and gaining international experience in Gibraltar that set him on a hotel career path. He reflects on how relationships, networking and taking opportunities have shaped his journey from hotel operations to group leadership.

Mark also discusses what it takes to build and retain high-performing hotel teams, why Centre Island develops so many leaders from within, and how giving people autonomy, trust and consistent support drives long-term success.

Learn more about Centre Island:

https://www.centreisland.co.uk/

Connect with Me:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-borg-crowneplaza/