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Valor Hospitality Europe has promoted Sarah Turner to the role of Operations Director, strengthening its senior leadership team as the company continues to expand its UK hotel portfolio.
To her new role, Sarah brings more than a decade of experience at Valor, having joined the business in May 2013 as Operations Manager at Crowne Plaza Harrogate. She later moved to DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds in 2017, before progressing into general management.
Over the past decade, Sarah has managed a range of hotels in Valor’s portfolio, more recently as Senior General Manager at Crowne Plaza Leeds. This role also included support for five hotels across Yorkshire and Southampton, where Sarah has overseen operations, commercial performance, refurbishment projects and hotel repositioning.
Sarah becomes one of three Operations Directors, with responsibility for 13 hotels across the Midlands and South. Her remit will focus on operational excellence, people development, commercial leadership and supporting General Managers to deliver strong guest experiences and engaged workplace cultures.
Throughout her career, Sarah has developed an authentic, people-centred leadership style, strengthened by her inclusion in Valor’s Future Leaders programme in 2017. Through the programme, she gained commercial and strategic insight across key central functions, providing the experience and development that helped shape her transition to senior leadership.
Sarah commented: “For me, leadership has always started with people. If you get the foundations right, supporting, developing and genuinely caring about your teams, performance follows naturally. I’m a big believer in spending time with teams, understanding the value they bring and creating an environment where people feel connected, supported and able to be their best.”
Originally from Canada and now residing near York, Sarah is a keen runner, cyclist and wild swimmer, and is also actively involved in Valor’s Healthy Habits initiatives, which champion wellbeing and resilience across teams.
Sarah added: “Wellbeing is a huge part of my work. Hospitality is fast-paced and demanding, and it’s important we encourage balance, have fun and look after ourselves and each other. Valor genuinely lives its values around people and engagement; it’s not just something we talk about, and I’m proud to be part of a business that truly puts culture at the heart of what it does.”
Brian McCarthy, Valor Hospitality’s UK President, commented: “I am delighted for Sarah – an opportunity that is thoroughly deserved. She has been with Valor for many years, and has consistently done an amazing job. Now, as she joins our group leadership team, Sarah will be a key player – driving performance, developing our team, and shaping our culture. This is wonderful news that makes us all very happy.”
Sarah’s promotion follows the recent growth of Valor’s UK portfolio, which has increased from 17 hotels in 2021 to 40 hotels in 2026. Recent additions include Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport, Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport, Holiday Inn Express Trafford City and Hampton by Hilton Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
In her new role, Sarah will work closely with the wider operations and central teams, embedding herself across the portfolio and continuing Valor’s focus on people, performance and culture as the business enters its next phase of growth.
