Staycity appoints UK development director

07 December 2016 by Katherine Price

Dublin-based aparthotel operator Staycity has announced the appointment of Simon Walford as development director UK.

Walford is the first of several senior appointments that will strengthen the company's development team across Europe and play a pivotal part in the company's growth strategy. Staycity aims to hit 15,000 apartments by 2022; it currently has more than 3,000 apartments across eight European cities.

Walford joins the group from a similar position with German budget hotel company Motel One. He has also worked with Jurys Inn as head of development and estates, former Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin owner MWB, and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers. He will report to group development director Barry Hickey.

Staycity is keen to acquire leasehold properties in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Glasgow, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, York, Birmingham and Leeds. Over the next 12 months the company will open three new premises in the UK in Manchester (182 apartments), London Covent Garden (106) and Liverpool (202).

The company has nearly 1,400 short-term apartment and aparthotel lettings in central city locations across the UK and Ireland including Dublin (179 apartments), Edinburgh (146), Manchester (84), Liverpool (56), Birmingham Arcadian Centre (79), Birmingham Newhall Square (170), London Heathrow (269), London Greenwich (166), and York (197).

Walford said: "I'll be working with landlords, developers and investors to acquire suitable premises in a number of UK cities. I'm very much looking forward to being part of the rapid growth and development of what has become one of the leading aparthotel brands."

Staycity Aparthotels to continue European expansion despite Brexit >>

StayCity Heathrow sold for £32.4m >>

Patrick Dempsey joins Staycity as a non-executive director >>