Hi, I’m Cassie Davison

Founder of Kith & Kin Hospitality, business coach to independent hospitality businesses. With 30 years in the industry—including 25 as an independent entrepreneur and operator—I know exactly what it takes to build a thriving, standout hospitality business.

I’m an Ambassador for the British Institute of Innkeeping and a Strategic Advisor to De Montfort University’s Postgraduate & Doctorate Business School. I have also served as a Judge for the Licensee of the Year Awards. I earned my MBA in 2010 and am recognised as an industry spokesperson, with over 25 industry and business awards, including Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year.

My venues have been celebrated for everything from “Most Instagrammable Venue” to “Wish It Was Our Local”, alongside earning 3 AA Rosettes, Which? Good Food Guide Best Newcomer, and Midlands Restaurant of the Year. My work—and the businesses I’ve built—have been featured in national press, from The Guardian to The Times and The Telegraph.

I don’t just know hospitality—I live and breathe it.

I’ve worked with hundreds of independent hospitality business owners, and one thing is clear—they’re exhausted. The industry is shifting fast, and they’re stuck in constant crisis mode, juggling rising costs, fewer customers, and growing demands from all sides. They feel like they’re always chasing after more customers, yet never quite getting ahead.

At the same time, they know that building an incredible team and a thriving culture is non-negotiable. But it’s tougher than ever to engage staff, let alone inspire them to stay.

My Story

I fell in love with hospitality at a young age. As a little girl, I watched my parents in the pub, seeing how friendships were formed and nurtured over shared moments. Later, as a waitress working alongside Michelin-starred chefs, I saw firsthand how precision and attention to detail could transform a meal into an unforgettable experience.

From bustling festivals and grand celebrations to the simple, quiet moments—a takeaway coffee, a solitary pint at the bar—every interaction in hospitality holds meaning. Everyone matters. Every exchange is an opportunity to brighten someone’s day, to create a space where they feel seen, valued, and connected.

Hospitality is so much more than food and drink. We are the heart of belonging, the backdrop to life’s biggest milestones—the happiest celebrations, the deepest losses, and everything in between. It’s a privilege to create these spaces.

It’s easy to call it a cliché, but it’s the truth: hospitality is woven into the fabric of society and community. If we don’t do it, who will?

After 25 years in the trenches, building independent hospitality businesses from the ground up—on a shoestring budget, with limited resources, in a fiercely competitive industry—I know exactly how tough it is.

I know the exhaustion, the loneliness, the sleepless nights where you’re lying awake, turning over problems in your head, feeling like there’s nowhere to turn. I’ve been there.

And I don’t want anyone to have it as hard as I did—doing it all alone.

But here’s the difference—I know how to make it simpler and more rewarding.

That’s why I created Kith & Kin Hospitality & Built to Belong —to bring together a community that lifts each other up, to give hospitality business owners the support, strategy, and guidance they need.

Because you work damn hard—and you deserve the rewards.

Industry Speaker & Hospitality Expert

Cassie Davison is one of the UK’s most trusted voices in independent hospitality. With over 30 years of hands-on experience and a reputation for straight-talking leadership, she is a champion for those who dedicate their lives to this industry. Cassie is the founder of Kith & Kin Hospitality — a movement that gives voice, tools, and community to independent operators who want to thrive without selling out. She is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, an ambassador for the British Institute of Innkeeping, and a strategic advisor to De Montfort University’s postgraduate business school. Cassie also holds an MBA, which underpins her practical expertise with deep strategic insight.

Suggested Speaker Topics / Media Angles

1. Independent, Not Alone
   Why small operators need community more than competition — and how collaboration is the future of hospitality.

2. 99 Problems — and What Actually Works
   The real challenges facing independent hospitality in 2025, and 5 strategic shifts that are working right now.

3. Built to Belong
   How purpose, loyalty, and human connection are reshaping the way we build hospitality brands.

4. The Truth About Leadership
   What no one tells you about running a hospitality business — and how to lead without burning out.

5. More Than Just the Environment
   Why purpose-led hospitality is the real route to sustainability — and integrity matters more than ever.

Short Speaker Bio

Cassie Davison is a multi-award-winning hospitality leader, podcast host, and founder of Kith & Kin Hospitality. With over 30 years of frontline experience running her own venues, she now supports independent operators across the UK with strategy, storytelling, and meaningful growth. Cassie’s honest voice and deep insight have made her a trusted advocate for the sector, speaking up for those who are often unheard. She is also an ambassador for the British Institute of Innkeeping and a strategic advisor to De Montfort University’s postgraduate business school.

Full Professional Bio

Cassie Davison has spent her career building brilliant, independent hospitality businesses — and helping others do the same. After 30+ years in the industry and a shelf full of awards, she’s known not just for what she’s built, but how she’s built it: with purpose, integrity, and a deep belief in the value of independent thinking.

As the founder of Kith & Kin Hospitality, Cassie leads a fast-growing community of operators who want to build businesses they’re proud of — without burning out, selling out, or following the herd. Her podcast, articles, and workshops have become a rallying point for honest, strategic conversation in the industry. Her tone is warm, direct, and solution-focused — she says what others are thinking and makes people feel seen.

In addition to her practical experience, Cassie holds an MBA and serves as a strategic advisor to De Montfort University’s postgraduate business school. She is also an ambassador for the British Institute of Innkeeping, reflecting her commitment to developing the industry from the ground up.

Cassie now speaks and writes about the realities of modern hospitality, the challenges of leadership, and what it truly takes to stand out and thrive in today’s competitive market.

Awards

With 25 years as an independent hospitality entrepreneur and operator, my journey in this industry has been anything but ordinary. I have always been deeply committed to making world-class hospitality an everyday experience.

Every venue I created was designed to be the best in the world for our customers, so it’s no surprise that we built extraordinary brands that our guests loved—and so did the judges. I’ve received over 25 industry and business awards, including Niche Business Woman of the Year, Best Newcomer from the Which? Good Food Guide, and "Wish It Was Our Local" from BBC Olive Magazine.

My experience spans festivals and events, country pubs, fine dining, and city cafés and bars. While the hospitality industry has evolved significantly over the last 30 years, one thing remains constant—it will always be about creating places where people feel they belong.