From NHS to Hospitality Sales Star: How Empathy, Data & Tidr Are Changing the Game | Catherine Allan
Welcome back to the Tech on Toast Podcast, where we serve up fresh conversations with the sharpest minds in hospitality and tech.
In this episode, Chris sits down with the brilliant Catherine Ann, Head of Sales at Beds & Bars – and former NHS children’s nurse – to explore how empathy, agility and tech have shaped her unique approach to driving results in hospitality.
From revamping bookings with +180% growth to cutting system admin time by 87%, Catherine’s story proves that real connection beats pushy sales tactics every time. Whether you’re an operator overwhelmed by too many platforms or a tech company looking to genuinely support venues, this one’s packed with sharp insights and big laughs.
We also hear how Catherine’s new venture, Tidr, is on a mission to reduce reactive labour and boost ROI by helping operators manage their third-party platforms more efficiently. Want to join the pilot programme? Grab a free trial here 👉 tidr.co.uk/techontoast
Catherine’s journey from NHS nurse to sales powerhouse
Why empathy is the secret sales superpower
What most people get wrong about booking platforms
How Beds & Bars doubled auto-confirmed bookings
The truth about tech adoption (and how to actually roll it out)
What “Data Detangle Day” revealed about internal comms
Why operators must update their listings or risk wasting time
Launching Tidr to tackle reactive sales chaos, Tidr aims to improve efficiency and increase ROI to third party private hire listing platforms
Catherine’s dream venue (yes, Jessie J is involved)
And why caring might just be the ultimate KPI
👉 Try Tidr for free: tidr.co.uk/techontoast
👉 Book a Lightspeed demo: lightspeed.co.uk/techontoast
💬 Like what you hear? Don’t forget to follow, rate and share this episode with your team.
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else you get your audio fix.
#TechOnToast #HospitalitySales #EmpathyInTech #HospitalityInnovation #TIDR #HospitalityTech #DataStrategy #SalesLeadership #HospitalityOperators
🧠 What we cover in this episode:🔗 Useful links:
