Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based Chairman operating in the Leisure space. If you think a Chairman is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Micky Arison
Chairman of the Board Carnival Corporation & plc of Carnival Cruise Line
Micky Arison grew up in the cruise business and spent the better part of two decades learning it from the ground up before being appointed chairman in 1990. Mr. Arison began in the sales department at Carnival Cruise Lines and worked his way up becoming reservations manager in 1974. He became vice president of passenger traffic in 1976, and just three years later, Mr. Arison was named president. In 1987, Carnival went public, raising $400 million for future expansion, and by early 1989, Mr. Arison engineered the acquisition of the venerable Holland America Line. The purchase also included Windstar Cruises and Westours (now Holland America Princess Tours), a leading Alaska tour operator, giving Carnival entrée to the premium segment of the cruise industry. Over the next several years, Carnival Corporation acquired brands in various other markets including ultra-luxury Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line, as well as contemporary European operator Costa Cruises, the region’s number one cruise line. In April 2003, Mr. Arison spearheaded the transaction combining Carnival Corporation’s six cruise operators with the brands of P&O Princess Cruises, creating a truly global cruise operator with the leading cruise brands in both North America and Europe.
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About : Carnival Cruise Line offers an online platform that enables travelers to plan and book cruise tours from a range of packages.
Sir Robin Miller
Non Executive Chairman of Immotion Group plc
Robin has extensive PLC experience spanning many years, particularly in the media sector. He was formerly Chief Executive (1985-1998 and 2001-2003) and Chairman (1998-2001) of Emap plc, a leading international media group in consumer and trade publishing, commercial radio, music TV channels and events. Robin is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Edge VCT and social video company Brave Bison. Additionally he holds the role of Non-Executive Director of Premier Sports Holdings Plc, Gemini Network Media Ltd, Crash Media Group Ltd, Digital Group Ltd, Gruppo Media Ltd, Bikesportnews.com and a Trustee of the Golf Foundation.
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About Digitalbox: Immotion combine award-winning content & multi-directional motion platforms to deliver immersive VR solutions for high-traffic destinations.
Richard Prosser
Chairman of Rhubarb
Richard has spent the vast majority of his Executive career in the global leisure, travel and tourism industry. He was on the Boards of the FTSE listed companies; First Choice Holidays Plc. and TUI Travel Plc. for 14 years. At TUI, he was CEO of the highly profitable Specialist Division, which comprised a portfolio of 35 premium travel companies in diverse international sectors, ranging from luxury bespoke and experiential holidays, to complex and adventurous ’round-the-world’ expeditions in customised private jets. Over the past six years Richard has Chaired several successful high quality, private equity backed businesses including Audley Travel, CarTrawler and Tusker. Richard has always been passionate about different styles of food and loves working with companies who have a strong culture, centred around delivering world class customer service in a creative environment.
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About Audley Travel, Rhubarb, Tusker: Rhubarb is a food company that creates and delivers culinary services.
Shiraz Boghani
Chairman of The Splendid Hotels Group
As the Chairman for the Splendid Hospitality Group, Shiraz Boghani was awarded with the Hotelier of the Year honor from the 2016 Asian Business Awards. Shiraz Boghani manages, and owns 19 of the United Kingdom’s trading hotels, and has spent thirty years within the hospitality industry. He has been qualified as a Chartered Accountant, is considered a dynamic entrepreneur, and the hotel sector is his passion. During the 1900’s, he was one of the hoteliers first to announce hotels with limited service brands. Shiraz Boghani has recently launched an exciting project for the Hilton London Bankside. Vibrant Bankside will house this stylish London project. His additional flagship hotels include The Grand Hotel & Spa, York, the Conrad London St James, and the Holiday Inn London. His more recent acquisitions are the Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel, and the New Ellington in Leeds. Shiraz Boghani gives a lot of support to a charity registered in the United Kingdom called the Aga Khan Foundation, and the global network of Aga Khan Development.
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About : The Splendid Hotels Group acquires, develops, and manages a network of hotels in the United Kingdom.
Raphael Zier
Co Founder and Executive Chairman of PerfectStay
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About PerfectStay: PerfectStay is a Paris-based B2B tour operator that offers a tailor-made travel sales offer for major brands.
David Adams
Non-Executive Director & Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of Elegant Hotels Group PLC
David is currently Chairman of Conviviality Retail plc, Ecovision Ltd, Park Cameras Ltd and Walk the Walk (a breast cancer charity). He is also the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Hornby plc, a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Fevertree Drinks plc and Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee at Elegant Hotels Group plc. David was Finance Director and Deputy Chief Executive of House of Fraser plc until 2006, then Executive Chairman of Jessops plc, becoming Non-Executive Chairman in 2009. In addition, he has held several Executive and Non-Executive roles in 30 years in retailing, including ten years as a plc Finance Director. He brings extensive and relevant experience in financial and general management roles, including ten years as plc Finance Director, and has held 4 other plc Audit Chair roles over the last 5 years.
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About : Elegant Hotels offers a unique collection of five luxury hotels beautifully situated along stunning beaches.
