Arora Hotels, the privately owned UK-based hotel operator and hotel Management Company, has appointed Marie Bates as Head of Sales in a newly created role for the group.
Marie has responsibility for the group’s overall sales strategy and implementation and joins Arora from her previous role as Director of Sales and Marketing at Park Inn Heathrow.
With over 15 years’ experience in the travel industry, Marie began her career as Business Development Manager for Zibrant before expanding her knowledge of the luxury hotel market as Assistant Director of Sales at Grosvenor House followed by Director of Sales & Marketing at The Waldorf Hilton. Marie spent three years with Park Plaza Hotels as Director of National Accounts UK & Ireland prior to joining Park Inn, so brings extensive knowledge of both the premium London hotel market and the airport hotel model to the Arora Group.
Reporting to Arora Hotels’ Commercial Director Raj Shah, Marie has responsibility for business development across all market segments to ensure maximum occupancy in, and awareness of, all 120 meeting rooms, 2,900 guest rooms and multiple leisure and dining spaces across the group’s developing hotel portfolio.
Raj Shah comments, “I am delighted to have appointed Marie to the new role as Head of Sales at this point in the group’s strategic development. Marie’s commercial ability and knowledge of the industry – from a high-end leisure, meetings and events and new openings perspective – is a huge advantage to us and I am confident Marie will make a positive impact on our business.”
Marie’s appointment is aligned with the imminent opening of Arora’s largest development to date, the forthcoming InterContinental London – The O2 opening winter 2015 on The Greenwich Peninsula with 453 guestrooms and 4500sqm of event space including the 3,100sqm pillar-free Arora Ballroom, one of the largest single event spaces in Europe.
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