Bespoke Hotels, the UK’s largest independent hotel group, has bolstered its senior ranks with the introduction of Richard Grove as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Richard (pictured) is an experienced hotelier and previous general manager of The Chester Grosvenor, a luxury five-star hotel that sits proudly within the Bespoke collection itself.
Richard has been with Bespoke Hotels since 2015, however, prior to this, he was a senior general manager for Principal Hayley at Cranage Hall and the 275-bedroom Palace Hotel in Manchester.
It was at these renowned establishments that Richard refined his understanding of providing a first-class service, which played comfortably into the hands of his natural attention to detail.
An impressive hospitality career has also seen him manage Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, Manchester, while recently, he has been combining his position at The Chester Grosvenor with a regional role at Mill Hotel & Spa, Oddfellows Chester and Oddfellows Cheadle - something that will stand him in good stead when being tasked to oversee multiple hotels across the Bespoke collection.
Within his new role, Richard will be responsible for driving the financial performance of the existing hotel portfolio, as well as seeking to secure new management opportunities for the group.
Beyond this, he will also provide leadership to the regional operations, sales and marketing, revenue and distribution, and human resources teams — with a view to upholding quality levels, maintaining standards, growing market share and increasing profitability.
Richard will be leaving The Chester Grosvenor in the capable hands of its newly appointed general manager, Steve Ogden, an equally experienced hotelier who has fronted an impressive roster of luxury UK hotels throughout his career.
Steve will be tasked with overseeing Chester’s only five-star hotel, which has not only forged a reputation for providing a luxury stay within a historic city — but also for its outstanding food and beverage offering, which is spearheaded by the recently refurbished Arkle restaurant and fronted by award-winning chef, Elliot Hill.
CEO Thomas Greenall said, “We are delighted to welcome Richard into his new role as COO and with his impressive knowledge of the industry and proven ability to lead, we have no doubt his new placement will be a real success.
'This is a very promising time for Bespoke Hotels, with the portfolio continuing to grow across the UK and overseas, as well as our existing properties continuing to thrive following the hardships of the pandemic.”
Bespoke Hotels has grown to represent over 120 properties worldwide and stands as the UK's largest independent hotel group. Founded in 2000 by Haydn Fentum and Robin Sheppard, the brand has consistently grown to the point where it now manages over 5,000 hotel rooms, 6,000 employees and £525m of assets.
Thomas continued, “As our name suggests, Bespoke hotels prides itself on providing a ‘bespoke’ service, with a recognition that guests want to be treated like an individual, not a room number. As we continue to showcase this approach across the portfolio, I am confident Richard will be a crucial ingredient for both its longevity and growth.”.
Richard said: “This is a really exciting step in my career and after many years managing luxury hotels across the country, I am looking forward to putting this knowledge to good use by supporting other budding hoteliers within one of the most reputable brands in the industry.
'Bespoke Hotels has been a big part of my recent career and I now intend on throwing myself wholeheartedly into this new challenge — sound in the knowledge that The Chester Grosvenor is under the watchful eye of Steve Ogden as.
'This represents a new chapter for me, and I hope my extensive experience and natural affinity to leading others will prove a useful string to Bespoke’s bow going forwards.”
Speaking of his new position as GM of the Chester Grosvenor, Steve said, “The Chester Grosvenor is a renowned property in the northwest, and I’m delighted to be able to oversee it.
'With the hotel having a long-established reputation for excellence, I’ll be seeking to build on that going forward as we look to maintain the highest of standards, continuing to provide delicious cuisine and superb hospitality for our guests.”