Starboard Hotels, one of the UK’s fastest growing independen hotel owner, operators and developers of franchised hotels, has announced the appointment of Graham Lewis as its first Commercial Director.
Graham will oversee commercial activities across Starboard’s portfolio of 20 hotels which includes properties under IHG, Accor, Days Inn, and Best Western brands in addition to independent hotels in Windermere and Teignmouth. He will also head up the commercial team for the Hampton by Hilton hotel currently under construction by Starboard at London Park Royal, and a further new build hotel at Camborne, Cambridge West.
Welcoming Graham to Starboard, founder and Managing Director Paul Callingham said: “We are thrilled to appoint Graham as Commercial Director of Starboard. He brings a wealth of financial and commercial experience to the business and his knowledge will be a huge asset to us. Graham will make an important contribution as part of the senior management team and joins our business at a very exciting time as Starboard continues to grow through acquisition and our new build projects in London and Cambridge.”
Based at Starboard’s head office in Beaconsfield, Graham joins the company after 22 years within the hospitality sector, 14 of those leading revenue management including overseas roles with IHG in Revenue Performance across Asia, Middle East and Africa and as Commercial Director for South East Asia and Korea.
Commenting on his appointment, Graham said: “I am really delighted to have joined Star-board Hotel’s management and senior leadership team where I will be building and de-veloping the commercial function. This is an exciting and dynamic company and I have followed the growth of the business with great interest. I am very impressed with Star-board’s approach to developing people, particularly through the SHAPE project and the strong, family culture that exists in the business. I am relishing the new challenge of driv-ing the commercial arm of the business as Starboard Hotel’s continue to expand.”