The Royal College of Physicians today announces the appointment of Jo Stafford as the new Group General Manager for catering and venue operations at its London and Liverpool venues: RCP London Events and Spaces at the Spine.
With over 15 years of diverse experience in the hospitality industry, Jo brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to the Company of Cooks team based at the Royal College of Physicians venues, having worked in boutique hotels in Dublin to large chains in Scotland. She has also managed high-profile events for the military in Southeast England and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her leadership and passion for exceptional service, alongside a focus on sustainability and innovation, position her perfectly to lead RCP London Events and its sister venue, Spaces at the Spine in Liverpool.
In her new role, Jo oversees event services operations, focusing on financial success, workforce development and maintaining a cutting-edge, sustainable event offering. Commenting on her appointment, Jo said: “As I embark on this exciting journey at RCP London Events, my primary focus is to drive innovation in our culinary offerings while upholding the highest standards of service excellence.
“What sets us apart is the unique blend of tradition and modernity – hosting events in RCP’s historic 506-year-old surroundings is a privilege, while Spaces at the Spine in Liverpool represents the future, standing proudly amid new and upcoming businesses.
“We are fortunate to have an exceptional team with incredible potential, poised to evolve into the future leaders and ambassadors of our business. As the hospitality industry broadens its scope beyond food and beverage, embracing sustainability and global impact, I am deeply honoured to lead this charge. It is a privilege to work with such an inspiring and dedicated team and I am eager to collaborate with them to shape a brighter, more responsible future for our industry.”
Jo’s appointment marks an exciting chapter for both RCP’s venues as they continue to grow in both reputation and reach. RCP London Events recently scooped gold in the ‘Best Venue (up to 500 attendees theatre style)’ category of the Conference & Events Awards 2024. The award celebrates those involved in the events industry including conference and exhibition organisers, charity event teams, PR and marketing agencies and venues.
Spaces at The Spine won ‘Business Events Venue of the Year’ at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards earlier this year and it is currently shortlisted in the miaList Awards 2024 for the category ‘Best Venue over 300’. Both venues also achieved Greengage ECOsmart at Gold level, an industry standard accreditation for hotels and venues that have taken significant steps to fully embrace environmental sustainability.
Her vision aligns with RCP’s mission of staying current and forward-thinking while maintaining the esteemed traditions that make the venues such unique and special places to host events.
