Gary Beckwith is a pioneer of UK tourism. After leaving school at 16 with no qualifications, he took his first job on the Thames working alongside his father which sparked a lifelong passion for working on the water and building a business on the UK’s most famous river. He was inducted into the British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame with his wife Rita in 2019. 

With the help of his family, Gary grew City Cruises over five decades from one small pleasure craft to London’s largest sightseeing operator and the UK’s largest tour boat company, with a fleet of 40 vessels, over four million annual passengers, and a turnover of over 25 million pounds. 

There have been many triumphs and tragedies that have shaped Gary’s life – whether it’s bouncing back from disaster, innovating his way out of financial trouble, welcoming the Queen aboard to christen their flagship vessel, or bringing his family along for the ride. Gary can speak frankly about the many challenges he’s faced throughout his career and the lessons and processes that have allowed his business to not only survive but thrive on the Thames.  

He is the author of How to Make a Million in Business which offers his lessons to the next generation of entrepreneurs from his 50 years in the industry. Whether it’s knowing when to take risks and when to step back or finding ways to cope when your business becomes an overnight success, Gary can share valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and seasons business owners on the reality of growing your business and bringing your dreams to life.