Every year, on my last day in the office, I sit alone at my desk and reflect on the past 365 days. The wins. The misses. The lessons. And what lies ahead.
Here are a few things I learned this year:
Integrity is non-negotiable.
In 2025, I dealt with former employees and business partners who acted against business ethics and the contracts they signed with our company. I didn’t waiver. If anything, it reinforced my moral compass and personal values. Integrity will always come first, for me and for this company.
The back runs the front.
Soho Hospitality has always excelled at the customer experience. This year, we deliberately shifted focus to what sits behind it – systems, processes, controls, and data. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. Once fully implemented in 2026, these initiatives are expected to unlock 5–20% incremental profitability across our restaurants. Data is the new currency.
A full marketing reset.
We rebuilt our marketing organization from the ground up. It was complex, technology is evolving rapidly and talent is hard to find, but the foundation is now firmly in place. We’re building a world-class marketing engine that will rival the best in the country. Marketing is where the money is.
Restructuring was non-negotiable.
We overhauled our experience transformation consulting business and delivered our highest revenues since inception 15 years ago. We also entered Europe and secured five projects with a hospitality group in London. A meaningful milestone. Yes, we’re going global.
This wasn’t our easiest year. Not everything went to plan. But it was the year I truly pivoted as an owner and CEO – strengthening the areas where we were weakest. The early results are showing, and the lessons have been invaluable.
I’m grateful for the journey, the learnings, and the people around me and I’m genuinely excited about 2026.
Thank you to our global clients across our experience transformation and digital marketing businesses, we truly appreciate your trust.
Thank you to the many guests who visit our restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, your loyalty means everything to us.
And most importantly, thank you to our 300+ team members who move this company forward every single day. I’m indebted to you.
See you in 2026.
Rohit Sachdev – CEO, Soho Hospitality
