Grand Heritage in Jamaican tie-up
UK-based hotel consortium Grand Heritage Hotels International is launching a working partnership with Jamaican-based Elegant Resorts International on 12 November.
The companies will share knowledge and expertise, as well as exhibition, advertising and marketing costs.
Tim Hadcock-Mackay, chairman of Grand Heritage, said the partnership would serve as a catalyst for change and growth within the company.
He plans to create more international links with European and US hotel groups next year and would like his to become the first hotel consortium to float on the stock market, in three to five years' time. He is even considering changing its name.
The partnership with Elegant will bring its membership to 134.
Hadcock-Mackay, who described the deal as a "coalition of like minds", said: "It enables us to double our capability."
Elegant, founded in 1981 by chairman Heinz Simonitsch, has 13 hotels in the Caribbean and one in Austria.
Hadcock-Mackay, who has become chairman after being joint managing director of operations at Grand Heritage since 1992, will focus on developing the company in his new role.
David Owen, former joint managing director of finance, today became chief executive.
On 12 November Stuart Harrison, who runs the Profitable Hotel Company, joins as strategic alliance director.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 1-7 November 2001
