As thousands of Brits fill the car boot, whack on the factor 30 and roll up their shorts to make their annual pilgrimage to the English coastline, the Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth Carlton prepares to make its mark on the seaside holiday map.
This month the hotel finally unveils its £1million restoration work, returning the property to its former glory of 1903, when it first opened its doors to the public.
For the last 113 years, the cliff top sea front Carlton hotel has welcomed holidaymakers to its 76-bedroom hotel, complete with sea view and family bedrooms. Sensitively retaining the building’s heritage and charm, fast forward to 2016 and the Carlton now boasts its own AA rosette awarded Frederick’s Restaurant – serving a seasonal modern British menu alongside its unique ‘Afternoon Tea by the Sea’ as well as an impressive health and leisure club with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and spa treatment service to complete the summer staycation experience.
Leading the way for this exciting chapter, new General Manager, Stephen Allison arrives to champion the British seaside town and raise the profile of the Hallmark Hotels brand in Bournemouth. Joining Hallmark Hotels as Bournemouth Cluster Manager, Stephen will be responsible for overseeing the group’s three Bournemouth properties, including Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth West Cliff, Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth East Cliff and Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth Carlton.
Beginning his journey as a pot washer at the age of 15 in Manchester, he trained for four years as a Chef, before moving into Food & Beverage and arriving in Management. His last post was General Manager at Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel & Spa, where he achieved sales and profit growth in the face of fierce competition and challenging economic times.
Stephen returns to Bournemouth and the familiar East Cliff and Carlton properties, where he previously managed both from 2000 to 2002 whilst part of the former Menzies Hotels portfolio. Following the group’s acquisition by Topland in 2015, the hotels were brought under the Hallmark umbrella, which today encompasses 28 properties across the UK.
Stephen comments “This is an exciting time to return to Bournemouth. We need to raise awareness of this seaside town and the Hallmark brand presence we have here. I’m keen to increase people’s perception and our brand’s reputation.
Across the 3 hotels we have 226 bedrooms, 3 restaurants, a brilliant spa, 2 outdoor pools, 2 indoor pools and 175 team members. The exterior refurbishment work to the Carlton is just the start. Hallmark will be continuing to invest in all of its properties and I will be ensuring that our guest service delivery is exceptional and consistent.”
Robert Alley, Group Sales and Marketing Director at Hallmark Hotels “We’re delighted to welcome Stephen to the dynamic Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth team. He will be a great asset to the group and having had a career within the hospitality industry that spans more than 30 years, he brings a refreshing and diverse wealth of knowledge and experience. We’re looking forward to seeing his vision of propelling the three hotels forward in this great seaside resort as it unfolds.”
Stephen comments “Every day is different and every guest is unique. Whether they’re staying with us for business or leisure, our team is committed to making the experience a memorable one. Together we’d like to raise a toast to the next century at the Bournemouth Carlton, to creating many more English seaside memories and building a destination that guests cannot wait to return to.”
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