In the coming weeks, Hotel Designs will be profiling the 50 finalists in the HD Brit List 2017 – this week, we continue with five more of the top 25 hoteliers…
OLIVER HEYWOOD – FLAT CAP HOTELS
With a family history steeped in hospitality, Oliver (alongside his brother Dominic) was in prime position to make his mark in the industry. And since 2015’s launch of The Vicarage Freehouse & Rooms, the north western-based and brilliantly-named Flat Cap Hotels hasn’t looked back.
The brand’s concept built around unique hotel accommodation, food-led experiences in stunning locales has proven to be a winner, thanks to the vision of Oliver and his team. With plans to expand quickly by 2019, we have a feeling Oliver and Flat Cap Hotels will be a force to be reckoned with for a while yet.
CHRIS HURST – HAMBLETON HALL
Chris Hurst has been general manager at Hambleton Hall since 2003, and under his guidance, this Rutland gem has continued to be named amongst the finest hotels in the 
UK. Bought originally by Tim and Stefa Hart in 1979, the couple are still involved with the hotel and its interior design and are still at the heart of everything the hotel stands for.
Chris’ longevity at the property is shared with several other members of the senior staff, something that has contributed to the success of the hotel for nearly 40 years.
OLIVIA IMMESI – ACE HOTEL SHOREDITCH
The Ace concept was born in a hip neighbourhood of Seattle, soon spread to New York and Los Angeles, and the grittiness of east London has been the perfect location for it here in London.
Olivia, having served in the commercial side for another of the city’s coolest properties (The Hoxton), has been general manager at the capital’s next up-and-coming, trendy hangout for only a few months, managing to maintain the brand’s concept, ensure excellent service standards but without overplaying the ‘boutique clichés’.
PJ KENNY – THE HOXTON HOLBORN
Few names in the hospitality industry strike up the ‘visual imagery’ of The Hoxton – it has been one of the big success stories in the boutique sector of the last decade. The 
roaring success of the Shoreditch property led to the opening of a Holborn property, of which PJ Kenny has been manager since 2016.
He has more than a decade of experience as hotel manager across brands such as Jurys Inn and Hilton Worldwide and brings his skills of people management and guiding new-builds through the early years to this most exciting of boutique hotel projects.
JAN-PAUL KROESE – BELMOND LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is synonymous with luxury hospitality and some might have argued that following Philip Newman-Hall’s departure, Jan-Paul had big shoes to fill. That Le Manoir continues to be held in such sway internationally for its culinary and hospitality excellence, shows just how well Jan-Paul has settled in.
Jan-Paul’s international experience over 25 years across four continents coupled with his approach to staff management, sustainable practice and technology in hospitality has seen this already-world-class establishment maintain its lofty position as one of the world’s best.
