Ex-Golden Tulip director resurfaces

Former Golden Tulip UK and Ireland director Len Louis has re-emerged as chief executive of a new hotel consortium due to launch on 2 April. Louis, who was made redundant from Golden Tulip in December, has joined with ex-Best Western finance chief Peter Hinge and a third unnamed director to launch The properties under the brand name Classic British Hotels. Louis claimed that, unlike other similar groupings, the new consortium would let members retain their own independence - a major sticking point among some hoteliers who have become disenchanted with the heavy branding of some consortia. "We had to create a very powerful hallmark specifically for quality three- and four-star hotels that would be the umbrella we could use without suffocating them with a brand," he said. "With other brandings, hoteliers have to have the badge, the logos and answer the telephone in a certain way - we don't ask for any of that." In the first year, the partnershp is aiming to recruit 30 hotels, rising to 50 in year two and 120 by 2006.