Europe's first Park Regis hotel appoints Robin Ford as GM
The first Park Regis hotel in Europe, which is due to open in Birmingham in March, has appointed Robin Ford as general manager.
Ford's arrival at the 253-bedroom hotel marks a return to the city where he was born and bred. For the past five years he has held general manager roles with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts in Manchester, Preston and most recently at the Hill Valley Golf & Spa Resort in Whitchurch, Shropshire.
Earlier in his career, Ford worked for InterContinental Hotels Group, including a three-year stint in Australia.
Aimed at the four-star market, the Park Regis is being launched in the UK by the Australian-based StayWell Hospitality Group. It is located in the former Auchinleck House office block on Broad Street, which is nearing the completion of a £50m renovation.
Ford said he was excited to be involved in something new in what will be the fifth opening of his career. "There are lots of hotels in Birmingham and our challenge is to create something different that will make us stand out," he said.
"It's about us generating results through people, putting pride and passion in and offering genuine hospitality. This is an iconic project to be involved with and I can't wait to get back to my roots in the city centre, back to where I started."
In his new role Ford will be responsible for the overall leadership of the hotel and the management of a 150-strong workforce, including a senior management team of 15. He will also play an instrumental role in the expansion of the Park Regis brand into Europe.
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