Today’s news in brief – 18/1/24
The Hari Belgravia, a London hotel under the Harilela Hotels umbrella, has appointed Francesco Sardelli as its new general manager, succeeding Andrew Coney, who is retiring after a decade in the role. Sardelli, with over 30 years of hospitality experience, was previously the general manager at The St James Hotel and Club and The Kensington Hotel. His extensive career includes working in renowned London hotels like Grosvenor House, Brown’s, The Stafford, and Baglioni. Sardelli, set to assume his role in March 2024, expressed enthusiasm for contributing to The Hari’s reputation for charisma and style, while Aron Harilela, the CEO of Harilela Hotels, expressed confidence in Sardelli’s ability to continue the hotel’s positive trajectory.
Agilysys’ 2023 UK Hospitality Impact Study reveals insights into UK travellers’ behaviour amid the cost-of-living crisis. Only 27% rebooked the same hotel in the last year, with 85% making changes to their holiday plans due to economic constraints. Factors influencing rebooking include reducing wait times (64%), tailoring experiences (62%), a strong loyalty program (62%), flexibility in managing stays (61%), and pleasant surprises (58%). The study also indicates a decline in leisure spending (44%), fewer holidays (38%), shorter breaks (18%), and a preference for staycations (16%). Matthew Prosser from Agilysys emphasises the need for a seamless guest experience combining technology and personal service.
Savills is marketing three hotels from Daish’s Group portfolio: Barrowfield Hotel in Newquay, County Hotel in Kendal, and Daish’s Blackpool. Available individually or as a portfolio, the properties offer diverse features like coastal settings, en-suite bedrooms, restaurants, and entertainment facilities. The guide prices range from £1.8m to £2.8m. George Brown, managing director of Daish’s, expresses sadness at parting with these assets but signals a continuous expansion of the Daish’s portfolio, seeking properties that better fit customer preferences.
Switch Hospitality Management Ltd has appointed Ehatshum Chowdhury as the general manager of aparthotel Birmingham Snowhill, which recently opened its doors. With over 10 years of hospitality experience, Chowdhury previously managed Premier Inn sites in Cheshire and served as the general manager for Aparthotel by Roomzzz in York. The aparthotel, formerly known as the Royal Angus Hotel, offers various accommodation options and aims to become an industry-leading asset with a focus on modern design and exceptional service. John Angus, managing director of Switch Hospitality, sees Chowdhury’s expertise as crucial in delivering exceptional guest experiences and maximising returns for the asset owners.
