Forte thinks again on jobs for hotel general managers

FORTE has admitted that it might have been too hasty in some cases over its controversial decision to axe the general manager role from its hotels two years ago.

The group, which made about 60 of its general managers redundant in 1997, scrapped the role and replaced it with regional general managers in charge of a cluster of up to six properties.

It maintains that the clustering structure continues to work for its Posthouse hotels. Over the past year, however, the group has been quietly restoring the role into its 49 Heritage Hotels.

The latest appointment is Chris Currie, who has been made general manager of the Leeming House hotel in Penrith, Cumbria. Currie has returned after a two-year absence following his redundancy from the same hotel in 1997.

A spokeswoman said that since last year the group had reorganised into three different brands and that Heritage Hotels had "redefined its identity" and direction. But she defended Forte's cluster management approach.

"The concept of cluster management still operates, and it works very well," she said.

But she added that a "handful of properties"had particular needs and that they would benefit from full-time management.

by Christina Golding