Katharine Gourley

Katharine Gourley has a diverse work experience spanning over several industries. Katharine began their career as a Management Trainee at The Savoy Group in 1995, where they gained foundational skills. From there, they worked as an Events & Catering Manager at Huntingdonshire District Council, followed by roles as an Events Sales Manager at the Eden Project and an Events Manager at Guoman & Thistle hotels.

In 2008, Katharine joined Redefine|BDL Hotels as a Human Resources Manager, where they focused on driving employee engagement and business performance. Katharine later took on the role of Area HR Manager/Business Partner, supporting up to 20 hotels and leading the recruitment and resourcing function. Katharine also led the HR Analytics project for the company.

In 2016, Katharine joined London & Regional Properties as a Cluster Director of Human Resources. In this role, they drove the people strategy for two iconic London properties undergoing refurbishment and repositioning.

Most recently, in 2018, Katharine joined Travelodge Hotels Limited as the Head of HR Business Partnering. In this position, they led a team of Business Partners and People Advisors, supporting over 580 hotels and the support office. Their responsibilities included overseeing performance, succession planning, change initiatives, and delivery of key messages. Katharine was then promoted to Director of People Operations in 2022, where they set the strategic direction for attraction, reward, retention, and engagement, with a focus on creating an inclusive workplace and showcasing Travelodge's employer brand.

Katharine Gourley completed the CIPD Advanced Level in Human Resources through distance learning from 2011 to 2013. Katharine also obtained a certificate and diploma in Hospitality Management from the University of West London from 1995 to 1998.