New leaders strive for the best

Whether it’s team building, the guest experience or new-build and re-opening projects, talented experts look forward to the challenge

It’s been a busy summer at our hotels and some new and familiar faces have taken up some exciting roles, leading teams both in the capital and across the UK.

Samantha Rieu is now general manager at 11 Cadogan Gardens and The Chelsea Townhouse, Iconic Luxury Hotels’ luxury boutique townhouse properties which are the only two Relais & Châteaux hotels in London.

Most recently she was hotel manager of The Beaumont Hotel in London and prior to that held the same role at DUKES London. Previous properties also include The Fairmont Boston, The Savoy, and Mandarin Oriental London.

Rieu is passionate about five-star personalised service, developing others and giving back to the hospitality industry and actively participates in associations like Hospitality Action, Room to Reward, Reunion des Gastronomes, and Be Inclusive Hospitality.

As a mother of three, she strives to balance a successful career with family life and aims to change industry perceptions through her role as joint secretary on the IOH London committee promoting diversity, inclusion and community partnerships.

Half French and half German, Samantha graduated from the Lycée Hotelier of Strasbourg, and was awarded the accolade of ‘General Manager of the Future’ in 2019 by the Master Innholders and ranked among the top 50 female hoteliers in 2023. After finishing her Cornell University General Manager Programme, via the Master Innholders scholarship, she is set to become a St Julian scholar at the end of 2024.

Kate Bowen has been appointed director of rooms at The Chancery Rosewood in London, joining from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, where she was director of operations. An impressive career to date includes a role of director of guest experience at The Dorchester Hotel.

The Chancery Rosewood has also appointed Jessica Tapfar as hotel manager. She previously served as hotel director at The Ned City of London and was instrumental in overseeing the hotel’s daily operations and ensuring its profitability. Her career also includes roles as director of operations at both The Waldorf Astoria in New York and the Waldorf Astoria in the Netherlands.

Other recent appointments at The Chancery Rosewood include Jake Leslie as director of food and beverage, Massimiliano Ziano joining as director of culinary, and Martin Molloy’s arrival as director of engineering. Most recently, he led the engineering team at Bulgari Hotel, London.

Prior to joining The Chancery Rosewood, Leslie was director of food & beverage at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, overseeing an operation exceeding $400 million, of bars, fine dining and casual restaurants, with partners including Nobu, Gordon Ramsay and Giada De Laurentiis. Before that he held the position of director of restaurants at The Bellagio Hotel & Casino, where he managed 20 dining outlets, three of which being recipients of one and two Michelin stars.

Ingrid Moreni has arrived at The Other House South Kensington as general manager, succeeding Christian Kaberg. Previous experience includes roles at MontcalmEast – An Autograph Hotel, The Kensington Hotel, Doyle Collection and The Mandrake Hotel. The Other House South Kensington caters for any length of stay, combining apartment-style living with hotel service. The Other House Covent Garden is set to open next year.

Alex Drown has been appointed director of sales at The Newman in London ahead of its opening next spring. He’s an expert in the luxury and lifestyle hotel and previous roles include Claridge’s, Mayfair; The Curtain, Shoreditch, Nobu London Portman Square and Gansevoort Meatpacking, New York City.

The Newman is the first hotel from international management company Kinsfolk & Co. Sitting on its namesake Newman Street in Fitzrovia, the contemporary hotel will have 81 rooms and suites, European brasserie, cocktail bar, and wellness floor.

Jamie McDonald has been appointed general manager at Forest Pines Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in Brigg, North Lincolnshire. His key focus will be on training and developing teams, enhancing the already impressive guest experience, and establishing Forest Pines as a top choice for both leisure and corporate audiences.

For the past 20 years, he’s held general manager roles specialising in golfing properties, most recently at The Telford Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, which like Forest Pines is part of The QHotels Collection. Known as the ‘people person’ amongst colleagues and responsible for growing developing and motivating teams, McDonald has also been involved with higher-level HR projects across The QHotels Collection, developing a ‘future leaders’ programme.

McDonald aims to elevate Forest Pines to a prominent position on the map. While the resort thrives locally, there is a huge opportunity to enhance its national profile, in particular targeting markets such as Sheffield, Leeds, and the North East.

Donovan Sumner has rejoined Hotel Co 51, in the role of regional director of operations, UK, overseeing a portfolio of 17 Marriott International-branded hotels, including 15 Moxy hotels. He returns to Hotel Co 51 from Cycas Hospitality, where he spent two years as vice president of operations, and takes over from Wayne Androliakos, following his appointment as CEO in June.

Anthony Killip has been appointed hotel manager at No.1 York by boutique hotel group GuestHouse Hotels, overseeing 38 guest rooms, including three suites. Most recently he was head of hospitality at Hooton Pagnell Hall in South Yorkshire. GuestHouse Hotels will open its fourth property in October in Brighton, following those in York, Bath and Margate.

Chris Thompson will lead the team as general manager at Hotel Gotham Newcastle when it opens this autumn. He was previously operations manager of the Apartment Group and has held past roles at Malmaison and Hotel du Vin.

Industry veteran Edward Adshead has made the most of a fascinating first six months at Wooton House in Surrey and it’s now been formally announced that he will head up the team there as general manager. Hiring new talent and forming partnerships with food and wine specialists in the Surrey Hills have been among several projects overseen by Adshead at the 16th century estate operated by RBH.

Someone else enjoying a role at a very special venue is Mohamed Serag, now general manager at New Langley Castle, the 14th century medieval castle in Hexham owned by Dr Stuart Madnick. The castle has 28 luxury bedrooms and a villa and is often booked for exclusive use for weddings.

Serag is used to looking after guests who seek the best. He managed the hospitality elements of the International Solidarity Conference in the palace of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, involving 35 kings and presidents, as well as 3000 delegates. His work with hotel groups includes 11 years with the Four Seasons group, in both the Middle East and Europe, as well as the Fairmont and InterContinental Hotel groups. In the UK past roles include with Low Wood Bay hotel in the Lake District.

Sophie Perry will operate as hotel director at The Pig group’s newest property in the Cotswolds, opening early in September. For the past three years Perry has been deputy general manager at The Pig at Combe.

The Pig in the Cotswolds previously known as Barnsley House, dates back to the 17th century and sits in beautiful gardens arts and crafts style gardens created by renowned garden designer, Rosemary Verey. It has a small spa in the grounds and some delightful spacious bedrooms.

In Ireland Lynn McLaughlin has been announced as general manager of Conrad Dublin, having previously led the Gibson Hotel through an extensive refurbishment. Prior to that she oversaw the opening of the first new-build Clayton Hotel and past senior roles including acting head of sales & marketing at Dalata Hotel Group.