UK: Locke, SACO’s new aparthotel brand has announced the leadership team for its first property, Leman Locke.
Ashley Ely will lead a team of 35 as general manager of Leman Locke, joining from The Zetter Hotel in central London, where he was also GM. Ely has previously worked as hotel director at Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, and in a similar role at Gravetye Manor. He will be responsible for all aspects of the Leman Locke property, including guest and employee satisfaction. He will lead and manage the Leman Locke team, which is made up of an assistant manager, front-desk and housekeeping teams.
Samantha Sheridan joins SACO as commercial manager to support Locke across the UK and beyond, with her primary focus being the launch of Leman Locke in October this year. She has extensive experience in opening hotels across the UK in the boutique and lifestyle sector, and and has worked for Yotel and the The Laslett. Most recently she was with citizenM for more than five years, leading its introduction into the UK market.
Locke is currently recruiting for other posts for Leman Locke and across the wider Locke operation.
Eric Jafari, managing director for SACO Property Group, said: “Hospitality concepts such as ours are only as good as its people. Identifying and attracting individuals that understand the vision for what we are seeking to accomplish is never an easy task. I am excited that these two individuals have chosen to join the Locke / SACO family to help create a unique experience – one that we believe doesn’t currently exist. Both Ashley and Samantha have a wealth of experience which we believe will be instrumental in the run-up to the launch of Leman Locke in October and in positioning the Locke brand for the future. I see Ashley and Sam as an integral part of helping forge the Locke team – identifying like-minded passionate and hard-working individuals.”
Ashley Ely said: “Locke is a really exciting new aparthotel concept and a fantastic opportunity for me to do something completely different in Central London, allowing me to put over 10 years of experience towards this refreshing new project.”
Samantha Sheridan said: “Leman Locke will mark the start of an ambitious new concept for the aparthotel industry, with exciting opportunities to be a part of this young, dynamic and growing challenge; a very compelling prospect for me.”
Leman Locke will open on London’s Leman Street in Aldgate in October 2016, with further properties due to be rolled out across the UK and Europe from 2017 onwards. Consisting of 168 apartments, divided into 105 studios and 63 one-bedroom suites, Leman Locke will also feature two meeting rooms, a gym, two bars, all day dining and large amounts of indoor / outdoor lounge area, with ultrafast Wi-Fi throughout.
www.livinglocke.com </p
