Joanne Taylor-Stagg - FIH MI

General Manager

Athenaeum Hotel & Residences

A seasoned professional with over twenty-five years’ experience, Joanne’s hospitality career began at the prestigious Carlton Hotel in South Africa. During the 3 year management programme; she was trained in every department, learning the fundamentals of hotel keeping. A job offer brought her to the UK and what was supposed to be a yearlong experience has turned into lifelong love affair with the UK. Her strong creativity, determination and leadership were honed during her 13 year tenure with Marriott that led to ever more senior roles in hotels as far south as Goodwood through to Leeds in the North. Her first General Manager’s role was at the Swindon Marriott. Joanne was determined to be in London for the 2012 Olympics and joined the Crowne Plaza Docklands to achieve that ambition. Much success led her to be promoted to Area General Manager for BDL and then on to become Divisional Director with RBH, responsible for 8 hotels across the country. The regional role highlighted to Joanne, how much she missed leading a team in a hotel. When she was offered the opportunity to reposition the Trafalgar St James from a corporate 4-star to a luxury 5-star boutique hotel, it seemed the perfect challenge. This repositioning included introducing the hotel to a new market and audience, as well as creating a highly successful food and beverage concept with ‘The Rooftop’, named as ‘Best Rooftop Bar’ by the Daily Telegraph in March 2018 and one of GQ Magazine’s ‘Best Places to Spend New Year’ 2017. Joanne is passionate about progressing and nurturing talent in the hospitality industry. She played a pivotal role within the inaugural IHG Academy, helping young and long-term unemployed individuals return to the workplace. She has chaired the St Julian Scholars and during her tenure assisted Dr Hilary Cooke to setup of a mentoring scheme between the Master Innholders Aspiring Leaders and the St Julian Scholars. She has a myriad of interesting stories to tell of her career including meeting her hero Nelson Mandela and why she believes hospitality is a phenomenal industry where no matter what your background, anyone can achieve untold success. Joanne is currently the General Manager of the 5-star boutique Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in Mayfair, London.