Ireland: Dublin-based operator Staycity has announced the appointment of Simon Walford as development director UK.
The company says Walford is the first of several senior appointments that will strengthen its development team across Europe and play a pivotal part in achieving the growth strategy that will take it to 15,000 apartments by 2022. He will report to group development director Barry Hickey.
Walford joins the group from German budget hotel company Motel One. He has also worked with Jurys Inn as head of development and estates, former Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin owner MWB, and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers.
“I’ll be working with landlords, developers and investors to acquire suitable premises in a number of UK cities,” said Walford. “I’m very much looking forward to being part of the rapid growth and development of what has become one of the leading aparthotel brands.”
Staycity Aparthotels says it is keen to acquire leasehold properties in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Glasgow, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, York, Birmingham and Leeds.
Over the next 12 months the company will open three new premises in the UK including Manchester (182 apartments), London Covent Garden (106) and Liverpool (202) as well as two in France – Lyon (144) and Marseille (108). Staycity now has over 3,000 apartments across eight major European cities.
www.staycity.com</p
