Laurence Geller CBE

Laurence Geller CBE is one of the world’s most influential figures in hospitality, real estate and socially driven leadership. His early life, shaped by post-war London and a turbulent family environment, forged resilience and self-reliance. After beginning work in Switzerland as a teenager and returning to London as a chef at The Connaught by age 16, Laurence rose rapidly through the hotel industry. By 23 he was a senior executive at Grand Metropolitan, later holding key roles at Holiday Inn and Hyatt. He quickly became e a pioneer in international hotel asset management. As Founder and CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts (1996–2012), Laurence built the world’s leading public luxury hotel portfolio and steered it through crises such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2008 recession. Under his strategic restructuring, the company’s value more than doubled. In 2015, he founded Loveday & Co, the UK’s first luxury dementia care provider. Loveday & Co delivered award-winning, person-centred care that transforms quality of life through exceptional hospitality and clinical excellence.