Suzanne Baker, Property and Commercial Director of Stonegate Pub Company, has been listed in the Women to Watch & Advocates for Change in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure (HTL) Index 2020 produced by WiHTL, in partnership with The MBS Group.
This index highlights an incredible line up of talented female role models with vastly broad experiences and achievements.
Nominations for the Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel & Leisure Index 2020 are sought after women who stand out from their peer groups and excel in the following areas: leadership, commercial impact, entrepreneurialism and innovation, wider contribution to the sector and wider contribution to society.
Baker, who, in addition to her role as Property and Commercial Director at Stonegate, currently sits on the UK Hospitality Council Board and is a non-exec director for Cask Marque, began her career in hospitality as a teenager when she took a Saturday job as a hotel waitress.
Her foray into pubs and bars then started when she joined JD Wetherspoon, a growing company at the time – Suzanne’s first day coincided with the opening of their 30th pub.
She joined the board of JD Wetherspoon when she was just 33 years old. Her bar to boardroom career then took her to Laurel Pub Company, as Commercial Director, before the company morphed and grew into is what is now Stonegate Pub Company.
Baker said of her nomination, “I’ve always been in love with tourism and hospitality and still get tremendous satisfaction from my work decades later. It is a true privilege to be included in this index.
“As a people business, seeing customers have a fantastic time in our venues gives me an unbeatable buzz. To know, support and mentor teams to deliver amazing experiences, adding pleasure and enjoyment to those that visit us makes me really proud.
“Once again, the hospitality industry is being told to bear the brunt of further regulations in the Government’s response to COVID-19. Our industry has never had to respond to this level of change in one year, it is paramount that we plan for survival, but our strategies aim for long term success.”