Meet the Team
The passionate people behind HPLConsultancy – bringing together academic research and professional culinary expertise to inspire the next generation.
Our Story
HPLConsultancy was born from a shared passion to make a difference. When hospitality researcher Dr Maria Gebbels met executive chef Hrvoje Lončarević, they discovered a common vision: to inspire children to eat healthily AND to see hospitality as an exciting career choice.
What started as a simple idea – combining a healthy eating competition with real-world hospitality experiences – has grown into a comprehensive programme that’s already impacted hundreds of children across English seaside communities.
Our approach is unique: we bring together academic research on childhood nutrition and career development with hands-on, memorable experiences led by industry professionals. The result? Children who are excited about healthy eating and curious about the world of hospitality.
The Team
Combining research expertise with industry experience
Dr Maria Gebbels MIH
Maria is a hospitality researcher with a passion for workforce development and career education. Her award-winning research explores how early intervention can inspire interest in hospitality careers while promoting healthy eating habits. Winner of the CHME 2025 Best Paper Award, Maria brings academic rigour and evidence-based approaches to everything HPLConsultancy does.
Mr Hrvoje Lončarević
Hrvoje is an experienced executive chef who brings the world of hospitality to life for young audiences. With years of experience in professional kitchens, he leads the school assembly presentations and hands-on workshops that are at the heart of the HPLC programmes. His energy and passion for food make every session memorable and inspiring for children and parents alike.
Recognition & Awards
Our work has been recognised nationally and internationally
CHME 2025 Best Paper Award
Dr Maria Gebbels won the Institute of Hospitality-sponsored Best Paper Award at the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME) research conference, hosted by Edge Hotel School, University of Essex.
The winning paper, “Starting them young: facilitating early engagement in healthy eating and hospitality careers”, demonstrates the academic foundation of our work and its contribution to addressing hospitality workforce challenges.
IoH Magazine Feature
Our research on “Fostering an Appetite for Hospitality” was featured in the Institute of Hospitality magazine, highlighting how collaboration between educators, industry professionals, and families can present hospitality as a viable professional career for both girls and boys.
The feature explored how immersive experiences can foster a new generation of hospitality professionals, helping the sector overcome staffing challenges.
Our Approach
Evidence-based, experiential, and impactful
Research-Led
Our programmes are designed based on rigorous academic research into childhood nutrition, career development, and experiential learning. Every activity has a purpose backed by evidence.
Collaborative
We bring together schools, hospitality businesses, families, and researchers. This collaboration creates rich, multi-faceted learning experiences that benefit everyone involved.
Experiential
Children learn best by doing. Our hands-on workshops, hotel tours, and creative competitions create memorable experiences that stick with children long after the event.
Impact-Focused
We measure everything. Through surveys, interviews, and analysis of children's work, we track the impact of our programmes and continuously improve based on what we learn.
Family-Inclusive
Parents and guardians are part of the journey. By involving families in workshops and tours, we extend the impact beyond the classroom and into the home.
Sustainable
We're building something that lasts. Our goal is to create a scalable model that can inspire children across the country, addressing both nutrition and workforce challenges.
Get in Touch
We'd love to hear from you
Let's Talk
Whether you're interested in bringing HPLC to your school, partnering as a hospitality venue, or learning more about our research, we'd love to connect.