Park Regis Birmingham has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of five managers as the city centre hotel builds on its first two years of success.
General Manager Mark Payne said it represented the start of an exciting new chapter for the deluxe four-star hotel, located at Five Ways.
Laura Orrell joins the hotel as Director of Sales from Q Hotels, where she spent seven years working across a wealth of different properties throughout the country, including Chesford Grange and The Oxford Belfry. Through her extensive experience working in conference and events, Laura’s expertise and knowledge of the market lends very well to Park Regis’ latest development.
“With the creation of the 16th floor as a new conference space, there’s huge potential for growth of the meeting and events market,” she said. “Park Regis is an amazing hotel, so I hope my experience in the industry will help to drive this market and bring forward new corporate customers.”
She will work alongside Ryan Doyle, who has been appointed as Sales Manager. He began his career at Jury’s Inn, whilst studying for a hospitality and business management degree at University College Birmingham, graduating with first class honours. Ryan relocated to the USA, forming part of an opening team at the largest JW Marriott Hotel before moving back to the UK, working for Macdonald Hotels, where he spent three years as an Operations Manager and more recently a National Account Executive.
“Park Regis has unique meeting spaces in the city centre and it’s a very different kind of hotel – there’s nothing like it in Birmingham, which makes working here to develop sales such an exciting prospect,” he added.
Alex Smith joins Park Regis as Conference and Events Sales Manager, a newly-created role that will see her helping to coordinate events taking place at the hotel. She joins from the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, where she was an event planner.
Sarah Wilson has been appointed Reservations Manager and joins from Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. She has 11 years’ experience in the hotel sector, working front of house and in meetings and events. She is tasked with working closely with the meetings and events team to ensure the smooth running of the bookings systems from arrival to departure.
The final new member of staff to join the hotel’s senior team is Darren Rowe, who has been appointed as Executive Head Chef. Darren has 30 years’ experience as a chef, working in two rosette restaurants in Sketchley Grange Hotel, Hinckley, and the Priest House, Castle Donington. He’s also worked at the Langham Hilton and the Chelsea Hotel, Knightsbridge. Latterly he was head chef at the Crowne Plaza, Birmingham, where he worked for 15 years.
Mark Payne said: “It’s exciting to have the new team on board as it feels like a new chapter for Park Regis Birmingham. We’re undergoing a number of changes at the hotel and the development of the new conference space will firmly place us among the leading meetings venues in the city. The new team wants to prove itself as a tour de force in the hotel sector in the city and I’m confident we will deliver.”