Ned Barker
Owner/CEO
Palm Springs CA
A Bit About Me
Ned Barker is a hotel industry veteran and principal of Grill Ventures International. He was VP F&B for IHG prior to forming Grill Ventures in 2005. Specializing in F&B solutions for hotels and hotel companies, Grill Ventures has assisted a broad spectrum of hotel brands and independents in everything from market studies to concept development to operations assessments. GVI’s work has ranged from concept development to operations/marketing review & analysis, to special one-off project assignments for hotel brands and companies.
Ned is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He served on Atlanta’s Samaritan House Board of Directors (now Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency) for eight years, and on Global Soap Project’s Board (now part of Clean the World) for seven years. He relocated to Palm Springs in 2016.
Ned has been a frequent contributor to industry publications, and he’s appeared on CNN in his role as F&B media spokesperson for the AH&LA F&B Committee. Ned was a presenter at the Culinary Institute of America’s 2019 Worlds of Flavor Conference, and has conducted numerous workshops and webinars regarding food waste reduction.
Working with the AH&LA F&B and Sustainability Committees, and with World Wildlife Fund, Ned assisted with the development of the Hotel Kitchen program (www.HotelKitchen.org). He has also partnered with sustainability expert/author Steve Schein, PhD, to promote food waste prevention practices through workshops. Recent work includes several projects within the Senior Living segment of the F&B industry.
Extended Family
Additional Activities
Baristo Neighborhood
I feel lucky to live in Palm Springs, and Palm Springs is lucky to have 52 (and growing!) designated neighborhoods. I’ve lived in the Baristo Neighborhood for more than a year now, and I’m helping to reboot the Neighborhood Organization that contributed so much to this historic area. For more info see: BaristoPS.com.
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