In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell sit down with Gary King, owner of Collins King & Associates, to explore what hospitality recruitment looks like after decades of disruption, change and survival. Gary shares his journey from chef to recruiter, his early work with football clubs including Tottenham and Arsenal, and how those experiences shaped his ability to recognise talent and understand hospitality from the inside.
The conversation moves through the realities of building and sustaining a recruitment business through multiple downturns, including the financial crash, Brexit, the pandemic and the challenges currently facing hospitality operators. Gary reflects on resilience, optimism and why hard work, relationships and real industry knowledge still matter.
Timothy, Joe and Gary also unpack how recruitment has changed over the years, from print advertising and fax machines to LinkedIn and AI. While technology has transformed the speed and tools of recruitment, the discussion makes a strong case that human judgement, cultural understanding and long-term relationships still sit at the heart of finding the right people.
This is a practical and reflective episode about careers, change, optimism and the enduring value of hospitality people who really know the industry.
Key takeaways
1. Hospitality recruitment is built on relationships
2. Technology helps, but strong networks and real industry knowledge still drive the best hiring decisions.
3. Resilience matters more than ever
4. Gary’s story shows that recruitment and hospitality both go through hard cycles, but determined people find ways through them.
5. AI will change recruitment, not replace it completely
6. Tools evolve, but judgement, nuance and understanding people remain human strengths.
7. Specialist recruiters still have a place
8. At senior and difficult-to-fill levels, expertise, trust and deep market knowledge still carry real value.
9. Culture fit needs careful handling
10. It is less about vague “fit” and more about understanding team dynamics, personalities and how people will work together.
11. Hospitality keeps moving
12. The industry has taken repeated hits, but its adaptability and people-first nature continue to make recovery possible.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
• Arsenal
• Tottenham Hotspur
• Smart Group
• Angela Hartnett
• Blue Arrow
• Reid
• Reed Catering Recruitment
• Evolve Hospitality
• Collins, King and Associates
• Kevin Campbell Foundation
• Springboard
• Everton