Hotel Owner November 2018 | Page 11

MONTH IN REVIEW GO ONLINE www.hotelowner.co.uk PEOPLE MOVES Jennifer Fox steps down as CEO of Millennium Hotels Jennifer Fox has “mutually agreed” to step down from her position as group CEO and director of Millennium and Copthorne Hotels (M&C). Fox began working for the company just three months ago when she was appointed on 19 June, replacing Aloysius Lee, who had resigned in January. Tan Kian Seng, the current group chief of staff and former interim group CEO prior to Fox’s appointment, returned to the position as interim CEO on 28 September 2018. She has over 30 years’ experience in the hotel industry, with previous roles including president of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The hotel did not give a reason for Fox’s departure in the statement it made to the London Stock Exchange. HOTEL COLLECTIONS Park House, Hotel & Spa in Sussex joins Pride of Britain Hotels Pride of Britain Hotels has announced that Park House, Hotel and Spa, a multi-award-winning country house hotel in Sussex, is to join its collection of independently- owned luxury UK hotels. Set in 10-acres in the West Sussex village of Bepton, Park House was first opened to guests by Ioné and Michael O’Brien in the late 1940s, the hotel has been family-run for four generations and features 21-bedrooms, a spa and November 2018 1 fine-dining restaurant, two grass tennis courts, a six-hole, 18-tee golf course and a croquet lawn. The 21 individually-designed bedrooms are spread between the main house and three adjacent cottages – South Down, Baytree and Polo. Little Oaks, a six-bedroom luxury house a mile down the road, is also available for exclusive use and guests have access to all of the hotel’s facilities. Set apart from the main hotel, the spa at Park House holds a five-bubble rating from the Good Spa Guide. Facilities include a 15-metre indoor swimming pool with marble entry shower, outdoor heated pool with sun terrace (May to September), jacuzzi, saunas and steam rooms, gym and fitness studio, four treatment rooms and a treatment menu offering restorative facials, scalp massages and manicures. Mark Yates, general manager, said: “We are delighted that Park House has been accepted into Pride of Britain Hotels’ prestigious hotel collection, as it has been an ambition of our owner for a number of years now.” Peter Hancock, chief executive, Pride of Britain Hotels, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Park House into the collection, bringing us even closer to our self-imposed limit of 50 hotels. It is a genuine example of a family-owned property that is loved by its many discerning guests.” Our vision for 82 West India Dock Road will breathe new life into a neglected site that has been derelict for many years Donal Mulryan, founder, Rockwell 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 EXPANSIONS Marriott announces expansion of its homesharing pilot Marriott International has expanded its homesharing pilot to include Paris, Rome and Lisbon, in addition to London. The news comes after a five- month pilot initiated earlier this year in collaboration with Hostmaker, a London-based home rental sharing management company. The group said travelers can now choose from more than 340 properties across four European markets, with the ability to earn and redeem points across Marriott’s loyalty platform, including Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). Adam Malamut, chief customer experience officer at Marriott International, said: “Following the positive customer feedback from our pilot in London, we are excited to extend Tribute Portfolio Homes to new markets together with Hostmaker. “We are always innovating to meet the evolving needs of travelers, and expanding into home sharing is an opportunity to deepen relationships with our most loyal guests by delivering new experiences designed to reflect how they travel.” Marriott has also extended its collaboration with Hostmaker, which currently operates in the listed European cities, to identify and curate a portfolio of homes that complements the “quality, aesthetic and service values of Marriott”. During the initial pilot Marriott found guests stayed more than twice the typical hotel length of stay and that guests sought units with multiple bedrooms and were appreciative of features such as full kitchens and in- unit laundry. www.hotelowner.co.uk 11