Gavin Riley

A results-driven leader with over 30 years of experience in operations management, systems integration, and technology-driven transformation. Recognized for delivering sustained profit growth, streamlining processes, and leading complex projects that enhance efficiency, customer experience, and compliance.

At Center Parcs UK & Ireland, I led the integration of technology across multiple divisions, optimizing operations, driving revenue growth, and improving guest satisfaction. My expertise in digital solutions, process automation, and data-driven decision-making has been instrumental in enhancing business performance while maintaining high health and safety standards.

As the Managing Owner of Xlr8Consultancy, I now help businesses unlock their full potential by identifying opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. I specialize in implementing practical, technology-driven solutions that optimize workflows, enhance operational resilience, and drive long-term success.

Key Strengths

✅ Strategic Leadership – Driving operational excellence and long-term business growth

✅ Technology & Systems Integration – Implementing digital solutions for efficiency and scalability

✅ Process Optimization – Enhancing workflows to maximize productivity and sustainability

✅ Stakeholder Engagement – Collaborating with cross-functional teams for business success

✅ Financial & Performance Management – Delivering revenue growth through data-driven decision-making

Business Owner xlr8consultancy · 

Nov 2024 to Present 

Helping businesses and operators to improve operational & financial performance through best use of technology, digital solutions and streamlining processes. We work with you to establish opportunities to both improve the bottom line and the customer experience.Helping businesses and operators to improve operational & financial performance through best use of technology, digital solutions and streamlining processes. We work with you to establish opportunities to both improve the bottom line and the customer experience.

Center Parcs UK & Ireland

Operations Systems Manager

Nov 2022 to Nov 2024 

• Overseeing the operations divisions systems and technology strategy for Center Parcs UK and Ireland
• This Includes, F&B, retail, Housekeeping, Leisure and Health and Safety systems.
• These combined systems generate circa £400m in annual revenue, ensure H&S compliance and support continuous improvement in service standards. Examples below:
• Food & Beverage - EPOS, Stock Management and Allergen portals, Order and Pay and QA standards Apps, new Restaurant reservations system currently in build phase;
• Health and Safety - Digital Temperature Monitoring and work management compliance system;
• Retail - EPOS systems;
• Housekeeping - Quality Assurance App;
• Leisure – H&S Compliance App, Occupancy management system.
• During my time in this role I have implemented new digital solutions and integrated systems to transform the operational effectiveness and the digital journey for the head office team, front end users and guests. These deliver multi million £ revenue growth, improve guest satisfaction scores and reduction in compensation.
• Introduced 3rd party Insight reporting to provide industry data comparisons for pricing.
• Conducted process reviews to replace silo'd systems and ways of working, embracing both systemic changes and new technologies to optimize performance and reduce the environmental impact.
• Improved cross functional relationships between Operations and IT to create proactive ways of working and reduce equipment downtime.
• Systems business lead for wider business steering groups

Center Parcs UK & Ireland

Operations Programme Manager

Jan 2020 to Oct 2022 

• Joined head office as program manager following my return from Ireland.
• Key achievements in this role are as follows:
• Development of digital solution to replace 'Social Distance monitors' on our villages during COVID
• Sourced and implemented an online ordering system for Food & Beverage division
• Implementation of new Food & Beverage EPOS system, this new cloud based solution was delivered during operational trading across 60 outlets over our UK and Ireland sites;
• Fostered new collaborative ways of working with suppliers, implementing 'test and learn' trails in order to deliver improved end state solutions;
• Development of new strategy for our seasonal Food & Beverage offering;
• Identified new Restaurant reservations solution for future implementation;
• Development of quality assurance application for our housekeeping division;

Center Parcs Ireland

Food, Beverage & Retail Line Manager

Apr 2017 to Jan 2020 

Responsible for the project management, set up, recruitment and opening of the F&B and Retail divisions at Center Parcs Longford Forest.

Creation of 2 new F&B concepts, 10 F&B outlets and 2 retail outlets, transitioning from launch through to BAU.

Recruitment, training and development of a team of over 250 staff

Center Parcs UK

Food, Beverage and Retail Line Manager

Sep 2007 to Apr 2017

Responsible for multifacted operation with revenue streams from retail, entertainment and food & beverage outlets.

These are a mixture of both Center Parcs owned, franchise and concession operations with a combined revenue of circa £30m pa and a team of over 400.

APMQ Agile change management - Jan 2025

TQUK Digital Marketing Lvl 2 - Jan 2025

Various internal training courses -1998-2024

1 Olevel, 10 GCSEs, 3 Alevels - 1986--1990