Dublin-based aparthotel operator, Staycity has announced the appointment of Simon Walford MRICS as Development Director UK.
Walford is the first of several senior appointments that will be made to strengthen the company's development team across Europe and play a pivotal part in achieving the growth strategy that will take it to 15,000 apartments by 2022. He will report to Group Development Director Barry Hickey.
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 & estates, former Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin owner MWB, and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers.
“I'll be working with landlords, developers and investors to acquire suitable premises in a number of UK cities,” commented Walford. “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 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 including Manchester (182 apartments), London Covent Garden (106) and Liverpool (202) as well as two in France – Lyon (144) and Marseille (108). Staycity now has over 3,000 apartments across eight major European cities.
Last week Staycity Aparthotels was highly commended in the Serviced Apartment Business of the Year Award category of the annual industry awards, organised by the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP). This year the awards attracted a record number of entries from operators, agents and suppliers