HOSPITALITY RESET 2026

For Hospitality Business Leaders
Who Want To Thrive In 2026

I guide experienced 'hospitality' business leaders from stuck and stressed to succeeding and striving

It's tough out there, and has been for a few years. Record levels of company closures and record leadership burnout aren't going to disappear anytime soon. Don't become a statistic in a report.

I work with leaders, from CEOs and founders individually, to GMs, exec & head chefs and other team leaders in group cohorts.

I work with operators, suppliers, service providers, consultants, coaches, educators and industry folk. If you're committed to making a positive difference, you've got me in your corner.

I've walked in your shoes, as a multi-site group CEO scaling $0 → 250m and as a multi-site founder opening Australia's first 'farm-to-fork' sustainable restaurant and becoming a multi-millionaire within 5 of 12 years, not that money was ever my core driver.

These days, I help leaders navigate the complexity, evolve strategies, build culture and wellbeing, and put joy back into the journey towards sustainable success, balance and thriving.

David Carruthers

Founder, Future of Hospitality

I also talk about how we can inspire a thriving Future of Hospitality, as if people, places and planet matter. In early 2026, I'm migrating 10,000+ subscribers from LinkedIn newsletters to Substack, launching a podcast and a community for like-minded leaders

You're In The Right Place If...

You're a business leader, accountable for bottom-line performance and a team of human beings who you want to lead with humanity. You also want to make a difference in the world around you.

Hospitality Ecosystem

What do I mean by hospitality ecosystem? Well, in the US, 'hospitality' is defined as 'rooms and stays', whereas in the UK and Australia, it also includes restaurants, pubs, cafes, events etc.

By ecosystem, I also include the suppliers, service providers, educators, trainers, coaches, consultants and industry bodies. It's a complex living system.

Roles & Responsibilities

I work personally with CEOs and founders across the hospitality ecosystem, on business strategy and organisational structure to deliver challenging business goals that really shift the needle.

I also work inhouse with leader cohorts, and in open-access groups for individual leaders and managers, to enhance leadership effectiveness and life balance.

Challenges Being Faced

The challenges hospitality leaders are facing now are unprecedented. The terrain is different, but most leaders are still using their old map to navigate the landscape, and that map is just out-of-date.

Leaders must adapt, evolve and transform just to survive, never mind thrive. Cash flow and profitability, life balance and wellbeing, need a new map to succeed.

Unprecedented Challenges

Stop beating yourself up. You are a capable leader. The world has changed. You now need to respond to these changes.

Business Growth

We've witnessed record levels of company closures in the last few years. Some of the best known operators have fallen victim too. The official reason is almost always 'lack of cashflow', but that's the symptom. The cause is not adapting their strategy to a terrain that's not just changed, but it's been turned upside down. I show leaders how to adapt and evolve their strategy so they respond to the changing environment and remain relevant.

Leadership Effectiveness

Hospitality remains human-centric - despite the best efforts of global capital investment funds and Silicon Valley Big Tech Bros! While this is still the case, success in our ecosystem comes from people serving people. That means, culture, people-strategy, employee retention, employee wellness and wellbeing, human development, career development, kindness, empathy and EQ generally are critical skills for success.

Life Balance & Wellbeing

In 2024, 94% of CEOs experienced burnout, 56% of leaders burnt out, and 43% of companies saw 50% of their leadership teams burn out. That's chaos. For the human beings involved as well as the companies. I burnt out a decade ago. It cost me millions and almost my life. I show leaders how to put wellness and wellbeing - our own and our people's - firmly on the agenda. It's 2026, not 1826. You just need to choose it.

Purpose & Making a Difference

What do you and your business stand for? Just making a profit, or something bigger than that? Profit is a measure of your success. It helps your business survive. if you want to inspire your employees, your customers, your suppliers, and your community, being clear about your purpose and the difference you make becomes your competitive advantage, and is good for people, place, planet and your profit.

BIO: David Carruthers

G'day, I'm David...

I love 'hospitality'. I've spent 40+ years involved in our wonderful ecosystem. I've enjoyed a corporate career working in large multi-site groups, followed by 12 years as a founder, building my own group, and enjoyed the support of my peers as chair of two industry associations.

I'm an innovator, entrepreneur, strategist and systems thinker, with earned wellbeing wisdom. A unique mix!

As a founder I launched Australia's first 'farm-to-fork' restaurant, Slow Down! 180+ farmers & producers delivering through the front door and talking to diners.

As the chair of St Kilda tourism association, I led the development of a regenerative tourism strategy before it was a thing, and before 'over-tourism' was a talked-about problem.

As a business chamber chair, I led a campaign that stopped billions in corrupt development, resulting in a parliamentary inquiry and serious reprisals that cost me millions an almost my life.

Since 2016, I've been helping CEOs and founders get sustainable success and thrive in business and life. Maybe I can help you, too.

The Hospitality Ecosystem

I believe this ecosystem has the power to make the world a better place.
Leaders who are thriving, not just surviving, will make their difference.
I make my difference by helping those leaders thrive.

PUBS

RESTAURANTS

CAFES

HOTELS

RESORTS

CRUISE SHIPS

ECOTOURISM

AGRITOURISM

DEEP & SLOW TRAVEL

VISITOR ATTRACTIONS

WELLNESS CENTRES

DESTINATIONS

SUPPLIERS

B2B SERVICES

CONSULTANTS

industry associations

educational & training

municipal governments

My Big Promise

If you're a hospitality leader who wants to make a difference, you'll get me in your corner, helping you achieve sustainable success, and truly thrive.

Strategic
Clarity

I'll help you get absolute strategic clarity around your current situation and what you want to accomplish and achieve over the next 3 → 12 months

Leadership with Humanity

I'll help you be the best version of you, focusing on strategic leadership, emotional intelligence, values and engaging your team for success

Life Balance & Wellbeing

I'll help you (and your team) get greater balance in life, focusing on your health & wellbeing, so you have more energy to enjoy living life at a deeper level

Regenerative
Approaches

I'll help you develop an approach to building your business as if people, places and planet matter, which creates competitive advantage

My Transformation Process

I work with leaders who want a different future outcome than the one they're currently experiencing.
I'm your Sherpa, guiding you to the summit, helping you lighten your load along the journey.

Clarity →

First, we get strategic clarity in both your current situation and where you want to get to within 3 → 12 months' time, in your business, career and life.

Focus →

Next, we identify strategic options to reach your desired outcomes and evaluate the possibilities to choose one strategy. Importantly, we also cut out all the noise.

Traction

Finally, we go on the journey of transformation. Making decisions. Taking action. Changing habits. Tweaking strategies. Growing throughout.

Let's Deal with the easy questions here

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Who do you work with?

I work with founders, CEOs & execs, Investors: PE firms, family offices:
New for 2026, I'm adding in-house group mentoring programs for GM & management cohorts

Question 2: What services do you offer?

I offer mentoring and strategic advisory services, designed to help businesses and brands perform better, faster.

Question 3: How do I find out more information?

Check out this website, or my LinkedIn profile. When you're ready, simply DM me on LinkedIn and let's chat.

Question 4: What's the investment to work with you DC?

I have different programs for different-sized businesses and leadership development budgets. Let's work out what you want to achieve and the level of return you'll get working with me, and I'll recommend the best program for you.

Question 5: Do I have to care about people, place and planet?

You're on the dark side. I'd like to bring you into the light, where you can make your difference. If you only want to maximise profit, and aren't interested in your people, places and planet, there are people who will take your money

TESTIMONIALS

What clients say...

"provided strategic advice"

"If you're looking for a strategic partner to help navigate your future in the hospitality industry, speak to David"

Greg M.- C-Suite

"helped save my business"

"I found his wealth of leadership, strategy and wellbeing experience priceless. He helped me survive..."

Eva M. - Founder

"feeling 100% inspired"

"I've just done David's group program & have gained SO much! Feeling motivated & focused on what's important to me."

Amanda P. - Manager

Future of Hospitality Substack Newsletter

Future of Hospitality is my legacy project. It's a tribe of industry leaders who care about what the future holds and are also interested in how our broader industry ecosystem can evolve as if people, places and planet actually matter. Subscribe and join the tribe and the journey.aragraph Font

Let's Chat About
You Working With Me

Let's have a chat about the challenges you're currently facing and what you'd really like to achieve and accomplish. If we both feel like we'd like to work together, then I'll explain how we can do that and get you moving within 7 days. There are different options for different-sized businesses and levels of intensity. DM me inside LinkedIn.

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