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 is a regular industry speaker and a recognised spokesperson for the hospitality sector, offering expert insight into the challenges of hospitality entrepreneurship. With a deep understanding of the industry, she delivers intelligent, thought-provoking perspectives that cut through the noise and offer real, actionable solutions.

Speaking Topics Include:

• The 7 Mistakes Hospitality Businesses Make When Times Are Tough – and what to do instead.

• The Changing Face of Hospitality in the 21st Century – from technology and social culture to competition, regulation, rising costs, and shifting expectations of both teams and customers.

• From Gen X to Gen Z: How the Workforce is Changing – and how the industry is keeping up.

• How Independent Hospitality Businesses Can Use the Power of Brand to Stand Out – and thrive in a competitive market.

• Creating Superfans in Hospitality – turning customers into loyal advocates.

• Simplifying Hospitality – making every decision easier by cutting through complexity.

• Building a Business on a Shoestring – what marketing really works to grow a hospitality business.

Cassie brings an unparalleled depth of experience to her talks, combining over 25 years as an award-winning hospitality entrepreneur with an MBA and a strategic advisory role at De Montfort University’s Postgraduate & Doctorate Business School. Her entrepreneurial, rebellious, and strategic approach challenges the status quo and breaks through the churned-out, cookie-cutter advice often given to hospitality businesses.

With a strong sense of empathy for fellow operators, Cassie understands the realities of working in this complex industry. She is passionate about making hospitality easier for others by sharing her insights and challenging the common narratives that hold businesses back.

A highly experienced speaker and podcast host, Cassie is a fantastic addition to any panel, podcast, interview, or keynote event—bringing energy, depth, and a fresh perspective to every conversation.

For speaking inquiries, get in touch

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.