GHO strengthens management structure

Due to the company’s continued expansion, Great Hotels Organisation has implemented three major management changes.

Richard Barnes has been promoted to Managing Director – Hotel Representation. His new position sees him taking full control of GHO’s representation brands Great Hotels of the World and Special Hotels of the World, as well as the new GDS-connectivity-only product Luxotels.

Richard has been with the company since its inception, and has been directly involved in virtually all areas of development. He was responsible for the streamlined account management department, giving each hotel a dedicated manager. He expanded the sales and marketing services that are provided for all members, and launched the company’s highly successful Meeting Forums and other sales platforms.

He says: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity at what is a very exciting time for GHO. We have a tremendous history of growth in terms of brand status, our member hotels, the services we provide and most importantly the bookings we generate for our members. The challenge that lies ahead for GHO is to continue to increase the service, the value and the bookings that we deliver to our members which will further advance our position in the luxury hotel marketplace. We are lucky enough to have a very talented team at GHO, and we are all excited about the future.”

Meanwhile, the company has further strengthened its Sales and Marketing team with the appointment of Sales & Marketing Manager Ursula Gray.

With a background that includes eight years at Protea Hotels, Africa’s largest hotel group, Ursula brings a wealth of experience to her new position. Skilled in sales and marketing, she has gathered particular experience in the field of representing hotel groups, and as Marketing and Special Projects Manager for the Protea group was responsible for its highly successful customer loyalty programmes and e-marketing campaigns.

Ursula recently joined Great Hotels Organisation, overseeing a portfolio of 65 hotels, co-ordinating worldwide sales blitzes, and designing and developing databases. As Sales and Marketing Manager her new role will focus specifically on MICE and leisure sales marketing, database development and management, e-marketing and third party or affiliated partnership marketing programmes and promotions, with the aim of developing additional distribution channels and tools to drive bookings to member hotels.

Says Ursula: “I'm delighted by my recent appointment as Sales and Marketing Manager at Great Hotels Organisation. The portfolio I have been charged with is a challenging role, with immense scope to create new distribution channels to drive additional reservations to our hotels.

“I am especially excited by the opportunity given to me to develop an international sales team for the MICE and luxury leisure markets and look forward to seeing an increase in leads and room nights to all member properties.”

If members would like to talk to Ursula about any of the programmes mentioned in this article, please contact her on +44 (0)20 7380 8566 or ugray@ghorg.com.

This month has also seen Albane Mahaut promoted to Account Director, to further strengthen the account management services offered to members. Albane joined Great Hotels over three years ago, and has been a key figure in the development of account management.

One of her projects will be to implement a new members area to the www.ghotw.com website. This will feature news on developments and activities taking place at GHO, including all events, sales platforms, technology solutions, and training opportunities, ensuring that members have convenient access to information concerning all elements of their membership.

Albane's promotion is testament to the relationship she has built up with hotel members over the years. She says: "I look forward to turning membership and communications of Great Hotels into an even more sleek and efficient operation."