Chief Executive Officer

BHA and ALMR approve merger to create joint hospitality trade body

22-Feb-2018 By Sophie Witts

Members of the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) have voted to approve a merger to create a new trade body, UKHospitality.

YO! Sushi gears up to crack US market with £59m takeover

20-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

YO! Sushi has become the first UK restaurant brand to make a serious play in North America, with the acquisition of the continent’s second biggest sushi brand, Bento Sushi.

Malmaison Hotel du Vin to open in York

20-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Boutique hotel group Malmaison Hotel du Vin is to open a 160-bedroom hotel at Yorkshire House in York after receiving planning permission for its multi-million pound renovation proposal.

Sector leaders pen letter to PM highlighting key issues

19-Dec-2016 By Mark Wingett

More than 20 chief executives and business leaders from the UK’s leading eating and drinking­ out chains have penned a letter to the Prime Minister Theresa May asking her to “consider a reduction in VAT, extending transitional relief on business rates...

AccorHotels launches Jo&Joe brand to appeal to Millennials

27-Sep-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Hotels giant AccorHotels is to launch new brand, Jo&Joe, in a bid to combine the traditional hotel format with the newer, more disruptive hostel and private-rental concepts.

One in 10 diners admit to not paying the bill because of waiting times

13-Sep-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Over one in 10 UK restaurant-goers have admitted to leaving a restaurant, café or bar without paying the bill, either because they didn’t want to wait any more, or couldn’t find a member of staff.

Hotels and restaurants bounce back from Brexit

05-Sep-2016 By Sophie Witts

The UK hospitality sector saw a ‘record rise’ in growth in August following a post-Brexit slump, according to a new report.

Accor completes £1.9bn purchase of FRHI

12-Jul-2016 By Sophie Witts

AccorHotels has finalised its purchase of FRHI Hotels & Resorts - owner of the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel brands - for £1.9bn.

Dirty Martini begins national expansion

09-May-2016 By Sophie Witts

CG Restaurants & Bars is to roll-out its Dirty Martini brand nationwide following the launch of its first £1m Cardiff site.

The Power List: The Boardroom

12-Apr-2016 By Restaurant magazine

Details of the 20 'boardroom bigwigs' chosen for The Power List: Restaurant magazine's 100 most powerful people in the restaurant industry. 

Marriott-Starwood takeover set for mid-2016

11-Apr-2016 By Sophie Witts

Marriott International is set to take over the Starwood hotel chain in mid-2016 after both company’s shareholders voted to approve the merger.

Brexit fears and skills shortages see hospitality growth slump

06-Apr-2016 By Sophie Witts

The UK's hospitality sector has seen a slump in growth during the first three months of 2016, according to a new report.

Accor appoints Group Food & Beverage CEO

07-Sep-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hotel group Accor has appointed Amir Nahai CEO Group Food and Beverage (F&B) as it looks to redefine its F&B objectives and roll out new dining concepts.

Amba Hotels to open second site based on TripAdvisor feedback

04-Sep-2015 By Sophie Witts

Amba Hotels, the glh owned four-star hotel brand, is to open its second London site at Marble Arch in November.

'Cultural transformation' at Accor leads to 68% profit rise

30-Jul-2015 By Emma Eversham

International hotel group Accor's restructuring of its property portfolio and overall 'cultural transformation' of the business helped push up pre-tax profits by 68 per cent to 91m Euros in the first half of the year.

EasyHotel eyes Manchester expansion

05-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

‘Super budget’ hotel operator EasyHotel has announced plans to open a £6m 114-room site in central Manchester.

EasyHotel to expand owned and franchised business

03-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

'Super budget' hotel operator EasyHotel is moving forward with plans to expand both its owned hotel portfolio and its franchise business after seeing sales more than double during the last year. 

Election 2015: Uncertain result could harm hospitality fear CEOs

05-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

An uncertain general election result later this week could damage consumer confidence and result in losses for the hospitality industry, top CEO’s have warned.

Consumer trust is key to building brands, says IHG

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has highlighted building consumer trust as a key challenge for hospitality brands in the year ahead.

Elior acquires Lexington to expand London presence

01-Oct-2014 By Lauren Houghton

Contract catering company Elior has acquired City of London firm Lexington as part of its UK growth strategy. 

Accor reports 'solid' financial performance in 2013

20-Feb-2014 By Carina Perkins

Global hotel group Accor saw profits continue to nudge upwards last year on the back of market improvements and an aggressive cost saving strategy.

Harry Ramsden's drives Welcome Break deal

13-Nov-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Harry Ramsden’s has unveiled plans to open at two motorway service stations with the creation of up to 20 new full and part time jobs.

Orient-Express Hotels rejects 'deeply unattractive' takeover bid by Indian Hotels

09-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Orient-Express Hotels, the owner of Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, has revealed its board has unanimously rejected an unsolicited takeover bid launched by minor shareholder Indian Hotels, declaring it as financially...

Jeremy Goring crowned Independent Hotelier of the Year 2012

17-Oct-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Jeremy Goring, chief executive officer of The Goring hotel, has been named Independent Hotelier of the Year 2012 at the inaugural Independent Hotel Show at Olympia London.

Stoneleigh Park uses portable hotel concept to more than double its size

02-Oct-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Stoneleigh Park is the first exhibition and events venue in the UK to have installed Snoozebox – a new transportable modular accommodation concept which has allowed the hotel to increase the number of its bedrooms from 58 to 138, in just two days.

Turnover of hotel chief executives on the up

25-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Hotel groups are hiring and firing their chief executives at double the rate of 2009, with 12 per cent of companies now being led by someone new, according to a survey by HVS Executive Search.

Spirit announces rise in profits as business transformation continues

19-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Spirit Pub Company has announced it is continuing to transform the business as pre-tax profits for the 28 weeks to 3 March 2012 rose 7 per cent to £20m driven by a strategy for the managed site portion of the business.

Marston's reports subdued 2012 market and expects weakness to continue

14-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Marston's, the pub operator and brewer, has reported a like-for-like sales increase in the 23 weeks to 10 March of 3.5 per cent and has declared its trading performance remains 'resilient' despite weaker conditions since the new year which...

Greene King to buy Capital Pubs for £93m

19-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Greene King this morning announced it has agreed a deal to buy the London-based Capital Pub Company for £93m.

Marriott targets 200 new hotels in 2011

14-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The global hotel chain Marriott International says it plans to add 200 hotels to its portfolio in 2011 as it announces an increase in revenue and profits for its second quarter this year.

Women 1st reveals Shine Awards shortlist

14-Mar-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Women 1st has announced the shortlist for its 2011 Shine Awards, which recognise the success of women in the hospitality industry.

Park Plaza gains full ownership of three London hotels

05-Jan-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The hotel group Park Plaza has acquired full ownership of three London Hotels that it had previously operated under contract.

Llangoed Hall becomes Von Essen's 31st hotel

19-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Von Essen has bought its 31st property, the former Sir Bernard Ashley-owned hotel Llangoed Hall in the Brecon Beacons, Wales

Malmaison owner markets two Edinburgh hotels for £21m

18-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hotel du Vin and Malmaison owner MWB Group has put two of its Edinburgh hotels on the market as part of an ‘evaluation of the group’s corporate strategy and brand identities’