David Carruthers

Founder → Future of Hospitality | Regenerative Pioneer | Podcast | Mentor → Founders & CEOs as Ex-Multi-site CEO & Grp Founder | THRIVE Program → Build The Business / Career & Life You Want | Anti-Corruption Advocate

United Kingdom

About

Loving hospitality but exhausted by what it's becoming? Surviving when you know you should be thriving? Watching your best people leave while the world changes faster than your business can adapt? You got into this industry because you love what it can be. I help you love hospitality again WHO I AM I've walked in your shoes CEO. Founder. Investor. Freehold property owner and business operator. Chair of a business chamber and of a tourism association. Eco-centre board member Founder of Australia's first farm-to-fork restaurant. Wrote Australia's first Destination community-centric tourism strategy. A pioneer of regenerative hospitality before it had a name As Chair of the business chamber, I led a 9,000-strong community campaign against state-captured corruption - protecting Melbourne's premier beachside destination from a secretive government land giveaway. It resulted in a parliamentary inquiry and Victorian Ombudsman investigation. Later, it cost me everything I'd built THE MOUNTAIN Hospitality leaders have done 16 rounds in a boxing ring - now it feels normal The world is changing faster than most businesses are adapting. Record company closures. Industry consolidation. AI threatening our customers' jobs. Economic pressure killing already thin margins. Employees wanting purpose, not just pay The leaders who thrive won't be the ones working harder inside the current model. They'll be the ones who choose a different summit and climb toward it - with their people alongside them on a journey worth taking The mountain summit doesn't shift. The strategy does Regenerative hospitality starts with a leader who chooses to thrive - so their team can, so their guests feel it - and make a difference. There will be ravines and avalanches ahead. We navigate them by adapting, evolving, and transforming the journey - not the destination MY PROGRAMS → THRIVE Group Program - For individual single-site Founders, GMs, Head Chefs, Team Managers, ready to thrive, not survive → THRIVE In-House Cohort - Customised for organisations with 12+ GMs/Managers. Your leaders & teams thrive. Your guests feel it. Your results benefit → One-to-One Mentoring - For CEOs, Founders and Investors. Customised → Future of Hospitality Tribe - Like-minded, passionate hospitality people → Speaker: Book me! THE RESULT → You fall back in love with what you do → Your people do too → Your guests feel it → Your business thrives → Life becomes balanced → The community and nature benefit, too READY TO THRIVE? DM me here or email me [email protected]

Experience

  • Future of Hospitality™ (United Kingdom)
    • Strategic Adviser to Founders & CEOs
      Dec 2016 - Present · 9 yrs 7 mos

      I've walked in the shoes of the founders and CEOs I work with. I'm here to help you build better businesses. Let's talk through the challenges you're facing and how I can help you navigate them, for success, balance, and to thrive in business and (importantly) life. DM me or email me at [email protected]

    • Thrive GROWTH Group Program™
      Jan 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

      For Hospitality Leaders who want to grow their career or business, boost their wellbeing, get a better balance, and make a difference. Perfect for small business founders, GMs, head chefs and team managers who want a better future of hospitality than they have now.

    • Thrive REGENERATE™
      Jan 2026 - Present · 6 mos

  • Centre for Sustainability Leadership - Fellowship Leadership Program at Centre for Sustainability Leadership
    Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 · 1 yr

    My take-out, go-forward project from the Centre for Sustainability Leadership programs was "to create the most sustainable cafe/restaurant group in the world". I discovered and fell in love with Schumacher College during my CSL year which led to me completing my MA in regenerative economics and creating my Future of Hospitality initiative which is probablymy delivery of the CSL go-forward project.

  • Founder & CEO, Victorian Pub Properties at My Multi-site Group
    Dec 2001 - Sep 2014 · 12 yrs 10 mos

    12-year multi-site group founder. Launched Australia's first 'farm-to-fork' sustainable restaurant in 2009. Ran almost 3,000 arts, music & film events across my venues over 12 years. Burnt out during a real-life Sopranos meets House of Cards mini-series.

  • Board Member at Port Phillip EcoCentre Inc.
    Jan 2011 - Dec 2011 · 1 yr

    Invited to be a board member and initiated strategic review. An Eco-centre seminar in April 2009 inspired me to create 'Slow Down', Australia's first paddock-to-plate restaurant.

  • President at St Kilda Tourism Association
    Jul 2009 - Jun 2011 · 2 yrs

    Invited to become involved in the creation process of a new tourism association for St Kilda by Council economic development officers and business peers. Then asked to become president by my peers. Developed what might now be described as a regenerative tourism strategy which was signed off by a full meeting of the City of Port Phillip Council and supported by state government tourism agencies.