Name: David Morgan-Hewitt
Title: General Manager
Company, city: The Goring; London, England
Number of employees: 170 (approximately 2.5 staff per guestroom)
Recent project: The Goring’s complete refurbishment
First job: While at university I worked a summer job as a barman in a charming hotel in Norfolk, U.K.
Little-known fact about you: I serve as honorary catering advisor to the British Army, evaluating catering quality for troops at bases across the U.K.
About Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Quality and service always win the day.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Cherish your guests, anticipate their needs and deliver consistently.
Yardstick of success: Success is measured by the number of guests who return. At present 63 percent of our guests are returning, and we continually focus on increasing that number. Public feedback sites like TripAdvisor have placed us among London’s top hotels for some time. Ultimately, happy and returning guests are the greatest reward.
David Morgan-Hewitt as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My silk dressing gown — so nobody need walk in on me naked!
How do you spend your time on board? I switch off, stretch out and catch up on films I’ve missed because of a busy schedule.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? In London it’s the Goring Dining Room; for special ventures farther afield I love The Fat Duck in Bray.
What is your favorite destination in the world? My cottage in the country. Abroad, I particularly enjoy the service and setting at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
About The Goring
The Goring is a London icon. Share the property’s fascinating history.
Otto Goring opened the hotel in 1910. Passed down through four generations, the hotel remains family-run under Jeremy Goring, Otto’s great-grandson, and is the last family-owned luxury hotel in London. The Goring was a pioneer in guest comfort — among the first hotels to feature central heating and private bathrooms in every room. It is the only London hotel that is a member of Relais & Châteaux and the first to receive a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty The Queen. These distinctions reflect the hotel’s attentive service, distinctive character and the family’s long-standing commitment to quality. Each generation has acted as a careful custodian, offering comfort, excellent food and a warm welcome.
What does your Belgravia location offer travelers?
Located adjacent to Buckingham Palace, The Goring is ideally placed for both business and leisure. Business travelers are well connected to London’s commercial districts, The City and Docklands. Our 24-hour business centre and four private event spaces cater to high-level meetings, while the team provides discretion, professionalism and meticulous attention to detail.
For leisure guests, the Royal Parks are on the doorstep and many of London’s top attractions — the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the London Eye — are easily accessible. Shoppers are close to Knightsbridge and Mayfair, while the nearby West End and Theatreland offer plentiful entertainment. Our concierge team, led by Big John, tailors itineraries to individual tastes so guests can experience the best of London.
Tell us about your guestrooms and future plans.
The Goring entered a new era by collaborating with leading British interior designers — David Linley, Tim Gosling and Nina Campbell — to blend quality pieces from different periods and create a harmonious, timeless aesthetic.
Each guestroom is individually decorated and highlights exceptional British craftsmanship in a classic style that integrates modern technology. Our suites provide true indulgence: quintessentially English, rich in old-world charm, with marble fireplaces and fine antiques.
The crown jewel is the two-bedroom Royal Suite, commissioned by Jeremy Goring to mark the hotel’s centenary. Designed by former fashion designer and interiors specialist Russell Sage, the suite evokes the feel of a London apartment. Stretching along the length of the hotel with a balcony overlooking The Goring Gardens, the suite showcases meticulous finishes — from specialist paint to handwoven Gainsborough silks — and contains royal artifacts, including a life-size portrait of Queen Victoria in the master bath shower protected by aircraft glass. The suite also features a stocked decanter bar, personalized robes and slippers, fresh fruit and flowers, bespoke stationery and handmade chocolates.
Underneath our five-star exterior there is a strong streak of charm and lightheartedness. Classic British eccentricity appears in small details, from an “Ooh!” light setting in bedrooms to fluffy sheep footstools. This combination—enduring style, uncompromising quality and attentive personal service, all delivered with a playful wink—defines The Goring today and into the future.