Blog. Spotlight on: Lorraine Jarvie.
September 23, 2026 | Author Giuliana Vittiglio
For Lorraine Jarvie, General Manager, Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, supporting Hospitality Action (HA) is about more than fundraising, it’s about looking after the people behind the hospitality industry.
In this Q&A, we find out what inspired Lorraine’s support, why industry-specific wellbeing services such as our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) matter, and what Walk for Wellbeing Bath 2026 has in store!
What inspired you to support HA and why does it resonate with you?
Many years ago, when I was a young student working in hospitality in Glasgow, I lost three colleagues due to addiction and poor mental health. These were all people who were hard working and great at their jobs, always going the extra mile for guests, but not looking out for themselves. If these people had been aware of HA they may still have been with us today.
Why do you think programmes like EAP are so important for supporting workplace wellbeing?
Sadly, although things are improving, the hospitality industry still has a high proportion of employees on minimum wage. These people are often working long hours struggling to provide for themselves and their families. This can lead to all sorts of mental health, financial and legal problems and often people don’t know where to turn. To have support that understands our industry and the challenges it presents, really makes a difference to employees and gives them the confidence to seek assistance from a trusted source.
How did you first hear about Walk for Wellbeing and what encouraged you to host the walk?
I first heard about Walk for Wellbeing through Simon Numphud, MD of AA Media, who also heads up HA’s South West Board. I thought it was a great way of getting hospitality workers in the area to connect and get to know each other while also raising funds for HA. It made sense to host the walk as everyone knows of the iconic Royal Crescent, and it seems the ideal spot to start and finish the day.
How has The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa raised funds over the years?
From the first year we took part, we added £1 to all our bills for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is our busiest service, so it gave us the greatest opportunity to get donations. In addition, we have done raffles to win an overnight stay or afternoon tea. This year we are hosting our raffle online to reach an even wider audience.
What would you say to anyone thinking of supporting HA?
It has been very rewarding for everyone here to see how doing our little bit can make such a positive impact on colleagues across our industry who find themselves in need of help. Knowing that our support can contribute to the vital work Hospitality Action does, and ultimately make a real difference to someone’s life, is something we are all very proud of.
I would say to anyone thinking about supporting HA: get involved in any way you can. Whether you choose to fundraise, take part in an event, donate or simply help raise awareness, every contribution can make a difference and is really worthwhile.
From adding a donation to afternoon tea bills to hosting raffles and bringing colleagues together for Walk for Wellbeing, Lorraine and everyone at Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa have made a fantastic difference to our work and we can’t thank them enough.
To enter the Royal Crescent raffle, click here.
And to sign up for Walk for Wellbeing 2026, click here.
