Cynera Rodricks - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 2

2 min

Brandshatch Place Hotel and Spa appoints Matthew Selch as GM

🏨 Hand Picked Hotels appointed Matthew Selch as general manager of Brandshatch Place Hotel and Spa in Kent. With 10+ years of leadership experience, including roles at Village Hotels and De Vere Hotels, Selch will enhance the hotel’s bespoke events and private hire offerings. The hotel collaborates with local venues like Mount Vineyard and London Golf Club. Hand Picked Hotels runs 21 hotels across the UK and Channel Islands, aiming to strengthen their presence in the Kent event market.

2 min

Radisson and Manchester City unveil Medlock branding

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group and Manchester City are launching The Medlock, a 401-room hotel located on the Etihad Campus, Manchester, opening bookings from October 2026. This site will feature a penthouse, brasserie, wine bar, fitness studio, and Pitch View meeting rooms. Operated by Valor Hospitality, it will serve visitors to nearby stadiums and arenas. Inspired by Manchester's industrial heritage, it aims to be a flagship property for business, leisure, and events.

2 min

Mad Swans secures £10m funding for two leisure sites

🎵 Mad Swans, a Longshot venture founded by Joel Cadbury and Oliver Vigors, secured a £10m loan from OakNorth to develop leisure sites in Mendips and South Downs. These sites will feature repurposed 12-hole golf courses, padel and pickleball courts, driving ranges, eco-cabins, and dining facilities. This marks their third deal with OakNorth, following previous collaborations on Beaverbrook and Bel and the Dragon. The project transforms underperforming golf clubs into wellness venues, enhancing the UK’s leisure landscape.

1 min

Kimpton Hotels appoints Garreth Walsh as area general manager

📈 Garreth Walsh, appointed as area general manager for Kimpton Hotels in central England, will lead Kimpton Fitzroy London and support Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and Manchester Deansgate Hotel. Walsh, with IHG since October 2019, brings a 15-year experience from The Doyle Collection, managing The Marylebone and Kensington Hotels. His hospitality career started at Jurys Doyle Hotel Group, where he held management roles, including deputy GM at Jurys Inn Islington.

1 min

Travelodge completes upgrade of Manchester Central Riverside site

🏨 Travelodge completed a refit of its Manchester Central Riverside hotel on 12 January 2026. Part of a UK-wide investment, the redesign includes a revamped reception with leather seating and LED lighting. Rooms feature a navy and neutral palette, king-size beds, USB points, blackout curtains, and low-energy lighting. Complimentary hand and body wash is provided. Wi-Fi is free for 30 minutes, with 24-hour access costing £3. The investment is yielding commercial benefits.

2 min

Aimbridge appoints Latin America and all-inclusive divisions president

📈 Aimbridge Hospitality appoints Alex Fiz as president of its Latin America and all-inclusive divisions starting March 2, 2026. He replaces Leandro Castillo, who retires on February 28, 2026, but will stay in an advisory role. Fiz, with 34 years at Marriott, will focus on international growth, capitalizing on leisure segments in the Caribbean and Latin America. Aimbridge emphasizes disciplined execution for expanding its portfolio in these regions.

1 min

Meininger Hotels secures first Dublin site

🏨 Meininger Hotels plans to open a 232-room property in Dublin's Liberties district, next to Vicar Street and the National College of Art and Design, by April 2028. The 8,163-square-metre building will offer 811 beds to address Dublin's accommodation undersupply, where hotel occupancy rates exceed 80%. This is part of Meininger's growth strategy, aiming for 50 locations from their current 36. Other projects are underway in Barcelona, Madrid, and Tel Aviv.

Wales unveils £8m hospitality rates relief but hotels ‘left out to dry’

💸 The Welsh government announced an £8 million support package for about 4,400 hospitality businesses. In 2026/27, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, and live music venues will receive a 15% rate relief, capped at £110,000 per business. Unlike a three-year English scheme, this relief is for one year and classified as a subsidy. Hotels, guest houses, and caravan parks are excluded despite facing steep rate increases in 2026. Colliers criticizes this approach for its complexity and limited benefit.

1 min

Whitbread opens flagship Hub by Premier Inn at Old Bailey

🏨 Whitbread opened the Hub by Premier Inn in London Farringdon (Old Bailey), transforming the Grade II listed former Snow Hill Police Station, originally from the 1870s, into a 212-bedroom hotel. The development features a new eight-storey extension and cultural atrium. Goldsmiths-trained artists Hilary Yip and Leily Mojdehi created 16 metal-printed artworks displayed in the hotel. Jonathan Langdon emphasized the project’s significance in revitalizing historic buildings, while Tom Sleigh highlighted heritage innovation.

1 min

Swinton Estate appoints Ramune Aleks as new GM

🏨 Ramune Aleks becomes general manager of Swinton Estate, effective February 2026. Aleks transitions from The Grand, York, where she spent nearly three years as director of Food and Beverage. Her 18-year UK hospitality career includes roles at Leeds, Harrogate, and Oulton Hall. Aleks will manage Swinton Park Hotel, Swinton Country Club, and holiday cottages. She expressed gratitude to The Grand Hotel and anticipation for her new role at Swinton Estate on LinkedIn.

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