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Press Release - 5 New Stars for Crowne Plaza
The management team is now in place at Manchester’s newest hotel, putting it on track for this week’s opening.
Five members of staff join Bob Fairweather, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre, with more than 40 year’s experience in the hospitality sector between them.
Robin Ford, 26, has been appointed operations manager, taking him into his eighth year with the InterContinental Hotels Group. Prior to joining the Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre, he spent time as rooms division manager for the Crowne Plaza Dublin – Northwood and the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport. Robin has also held senior positions within InterContinental Hotels Group, Australia and the flagship Crowne Plaza London –The City.
Financial controller, Umar Farooq, is responsible for the overall financial performance of the hotel. Umar, 30, joins the Crowne Plaza from the Manchester Airport Marriot Hotel where he held the position of finance manager for 18 months. Umar also has five year’s experience from Runnymede Hotel and Spa in Surrey where he worked as assistant financial controller and two years as management accountant at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa in Surrey.
Hayley Peck, 24, joins the team as revenue manager. Prior to this, she spent three years at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester, where she held the position of reservations manager. She also spent three years in the group sales team for the Malmaison Hotel, Manchester.
Anthony Wilkinson, human resources manager, joins the Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre from the Hilton Hotel Corporation where he spent two years as assistant human resources manager and nine months as acting human resources director. Anthony, 30, has held training roles at a variety of companies including MyTravel Airways, Excel Airways and Fly Globespan Airways.
Alan Davies, 47, has been brought in as chief engineer and joins the hotel from Manchester’s Lowry where he was responsible for a £1.5m engineering budget. Prior to that, Alan spent three years as property manager at the Marriot Hotel Manchester Airport and two years as a maintenance assistant engineer at the Marriot Liverpool South.
Bob Fairweather said: “I am absolutely delighted with the appointment of my management team who wholeheartedly share my passion for hospitality and commitment to customer service.
“With the team on board and the building work almost complete, we now look forward to welcoming our first customers.”
Aimed at the increasing number of corporate and leisure travellers coming to the city, the ten-floor hotel on Shudehill boasts 228 contemporary bedrooms. Those looking for a little extra luxury and exclusive lounge access can head up to the top floor where they will find 24 Club bedrooms and a Plaza Suite.
The hotel will also contain a destination restaurant serving fresh, locally sourced food. Businesses, meanwhile, will be able to make use of nine conference rooms, one of which will accommodate up to 300 delegates in theatre-style seating and 200 for banqueting.
The Crowne Plaza Manchester City Centre is operated by Liverpool-based hotel developer Centre Island and can be found on the web at www.cpmanchester.com.