The Collection
Honorary Member Profiles
We are honoured to welcome five esteemed leaders in the world of luxury hospitality and professional butler training as Honorary Trainers of the Master Butler Collection.
Each individual brings a lifetime of dedication, global influence, and an unwavering commitment to service excellence.
These members represent the very spirit of our Collection — timeless excellence, forward-thinking mentorship, and global collaboration. Their appointment reaffirms our commitment to uniting the finest minds in hospitality for generations to come.
Master Butler Collection Honorary Members
Meet Our Honorary Members & The Companies They Represent
R.L. Fernando Garcia
Head of Talent Development, Organisational Development, and DEI Strategy
Robin Stuart
Mr. Robin Stuart, who joins the Master Butler Collection as Master Trainer and Former Chairman, bringing with him over 35 years of dedicated excellence in private service and hospitality leadership.
He is the Founder of Exceeding Expectations, a world-class consultancy renowned for advancing the craft of household service. His acclaimed programme, The Butler Role — officially endorsed by The Institute of Hospitality — has become a benchmark for excellence in service training worldwide. His influence spans elite destinations such as Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Sugar Beach St. Lucia, Hilton Rose Hall Jamaica, and private estates throughout China, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore.
Steven Ferry
Through Steven’s acclaimed publications, including The British Butlers’ Bible and Hotel Butlers, The Great Service Differentiators, Steven has redefined what excellence in service looks like. He blends classical training with emotional intelligence and delivers a service philosophy built on trust, humility, and quiet precision.
More than a trainer, Steven Ferry is a philosopher of refined service. His legacy lives in every moment where a guest feels valued without needing to ask.
Alistair Forrest
Alistair Forrest is a highly experienced luxury hospitality leader with over 25 years of international expertise, recognised for his operational leadership and commitment to developing high-performing teams. His career spans some of the Caribbean’s most respected resorts, including Blue Waters and Carlisle Bay in Antigua, Nisbet Plantation in Nevis, and Cobblers Cove in Barbados, alongside senior roles in the Seychelles, the Maldives, and Scotland. Throughout his journey, he has consistently delivered elevated service standards while maintaining strong commercial and operational discipline.
Aubrey Ada
Aubrey is a transformative hospitality leader, recognised for redefining luxury service in the Philippines through a people-first, mindset-driven approach.
As the first Filipina Hotel Manager of the dual-branded Fairmont and Raffles Makati, she cultivated a culture where every colleague embraced the discipline, pride, and presence of a professional butler, elevating service beyond traditional roles and into a shared standard of excellence.
Antony Paton
Antony is a distinguished luxury hospitality leader, recognised for his expertise in royal service and high-end resort operations. As former Palace Manager to HM King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan, he delivered service at the highest level with precision, discretion, and cultural intelligence. His experience reflects a deep understanding of both formal protocol and the personal nuances required when serving at the pinnacle of private and state environments.
Sean Davoren
Sean is a revered figure in luxury service, with over 40 years of dedication to the craft of modern butlering including the position of Director of Butlers at The Dorchester.
Sean’s experiences include positions at Claridge’s, The Lanesborough and The Savoy. He has served European royalty in private households and created elite service training for Etihad Airways’ Residence butlers.
A mentor to many and a guardian of British service traditions, Sean has elevated British service by uniting classic values with refined contemporary practices and continues to lead with humility, passion, and a deep belief in the power of thoughtful hospitality.
Kurt Campbell
With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, including 32 years as Senior Butler at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Kurt exemplifies the highest standards of service, discretion, and professionalism.
His expertise across butler service, fine dining, and wine, combined with his commitment to mentoring others through his long-standing role with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, reflects both operational excellence and leadership.
Vincent Vermeulen
Vincent Vermeulen is a celebrated figure in European hospitality, known for his visionary approach to butler training and refined guest experiences.
Vincent trains professionals across private households, hotels, and high-end service venues. His signature philosophy, Guestology 2.0, brings psychology, presence, and emotional intelligence into the heart of guest relations.
Jeremy Cheah
Jeremy is a highly regarded private service professional, currently operating as a Household Manager for an ultra high net worth individual, following his tenure as Head Butler at Raffles Hotel Singapore. He is recognised for setting a modern benchmark in butlering through refined personalisation, emotional intelligence, and a disciplined approach to service that prioritises purpose over performance. His leadership style is centred on transformation, guiding individuals and teams to deliver at their highest level with authenticity and consistency.
Charles MacPherson
Charles is a globally recognised authority in luxury private service. With over 35 years of experience, he has played a pivotal role in shaping modern household management and butler training, working with royalty, luxury hotels, and UHNW families worldwide. His approach combines structured professionalism with a deep understanding of refined, intuitive service, setting a benchmark across the industry.
As a published author, speaker, and educator, Charles has redefined how classical etiquette is applied within contemporary service environments.
R.L. Fernando Garcia
R.L. Fernando Garcia, DBA, is a dynamic leader in hospitality and human capital development, recognised for his journey from Butler Ambassador at Pan Pacific Manila to a strategic force in people and culture. Now serving as Head of Talent Development, Organizational Development, and DEI Strategy at Brittany Hotels and Leisure Inc., he has been named among the Top 100 Talent Leaders of 2024 and is a LinkedIn Top Voice in hospitality and HR.
RL’s work is defined by his ability to build high performing cultures rooted in trust, loyalty, and purpose.
Gizem Yagiz Sarici
Gizem Yagiz Sarici is an accomplished luxury hospitality leader whose career reflects consistent excellence in butlering and rooms division leadership. From her early foundation in Istanbul to her current role as Director of Rooms at Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain, she has built a strong reputation across leading brands including Four Seasons, Fairmont, and Raffles. Her experience spans key international destinations such as Istanbul, Doha, and Makati, where she has led pre-opening projects and delivered Forbes Five Star standards through exceptional butler service.
Sonu Shivdasani OBE
Sonu is a visionary leader in luxury hospitality, recognised for pioneering sustainable, experience led resort concepts and redefining service through sincerity, intuition, and emotional connection.
As the founder of Soneva and co founder of Six Senses, he introduced the ‘Friday’ Butler concept and the philosophy of barefoot luxury, shaping a global movement that blends environmental responsibility with refined, personalised guest experiences, while his wider work through the Soneva Foundation and global recognition, including an OBE, reflects a lasting impact that extends far beyond hospitality.
Kutay Aksoy
Kutay Aksoy is a distinguished leader in modern butler operations, whose career reflects over a decade of unwavering dedication to the art of service within Raffles Istanbul and now Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Rising from Receptionist to Director of Butler Operations, his journey is defined by discipline, consistency, and an exceptional understanding of the luxury guest experience. He embodies the evolution of the contemporary butler, seamlessly blending operational precision with refined leadership, and stands as a compelling testament to what true commitment to the craft can achieve.
Prakash Murugesan
Prakash is a distinguished figure in luxury hospitality, whose career spans over two decades of unwavering dedication to the art of butler service.
Trained under the esteemed mentorship of Robert Watson, he has evolved into a respected leader known for his precision, consistency, and deep understanding of guest experience at the highest level. His journey, most notably shaped through nearly 14 years at Raffles Dubai and his leadership as Head Butler at Raffles The Palm Dubai, reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence and the disciplined craft of service..
Josephine Ive
As the first female butler in the United Kingdom, Josephine served dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, and British High Court Judges, breaking tradition with distinction.
Josephine is also a qualified chef, author, and respected trainer whose work is shaped by empathy, excellence, and cultural intelligence. Her publications remain essential reading for service professionals worldwide.
These members represent the very spirit of our Collection; timeless excellence, forward-thinking mentorship, and global collaboration. Their appointment reaffirms our commitment to uniting the finest minds in hospitality for generations to come.