Louis back to launch consortium
Former Golden Tulip UK and Ireland director Len Louis has re-emerged in the industry as chief executive of a hotel consortium due to be launched next month.
Louis, who parted company acrimoniously with Best Western last year only to join Golden Tulip and be made redundant in December (Caterer, 11 January, page 4), has joined up with ex-Best Western finance chief Peter Hinge and a third unnamed director.
They will launch the Hotel Partnership on 2 April. The consortium is aimed at independent three- and four-star hotels.
Louis claimed it would let its members retain their independence, a major sticking point among some hoteliers who have become disenchanted with the heavy branding of some consortia (Caterer, 16 November 2000, page 18).
"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 consortium aims to recruit 30 hotels, rising to 50 in year two and 120 by 2006.
