Case studies

Award winning Boutique hotel - Drakes of Brighton 

I was part of the team that dealt with the acquisition, planning and refurbishment of a tired hostel and developed it into one of the finest boutique hotel and restaurants in England, Drakes of Brighton (click here for website).

Over the six years of trading I have assisted in the selection of the management team that are still in post and dealt with the directors every step of the way where support was required.
I have set up many financial systems and controls and advised the management team on many operational issues over the years.

What the owners say:

"Gerard's background knowledge and expertise in the hotel establishment has been invaluable in developing, organizing and overseeing the operational side of the business.....We would highly recommend, without hesitation, Gerard to anyone in the hotel industry wishing to use his services as consultant. His organizational, management, knowledge and professional qualities have been, and continue to be, of the highest standard. We are proud to have his website linked to Drakes of Brighton......”.

Andrew and Gayle Shearer, Drakes of Brighton

Belgrave Hotel, 80 bedroom 3* Brighton City Centre Corporate Hotel

Click here for website

I carried out the role of General Manager for one year, created a full audit/action plan of operational issues and important management decisions/priorities and presented this to the managing director. I then went onto to succeed in carrying out all the action points as follows:

• Assessed the operating standards, monitored customer feedback and carried out corrective training for all the operational standards and procedures.
• Reviewed all the personnel, carried out performance reviews and set action plans for the future. Set up proper staff records with all the relevant legal statuary requirements.
• Improved communication and carried out regular department meetings and with proper structure, accountability and follow up.
• Carried out a complete purchasing audit and used all the resources available to save the company considerable money.
• Re-established all the conference and events business and created a proper structure of administration in the office and operational standards for the team.
• Reviewed all the financial performance to date and carried out detailed management reports together with structured action plans.
• Worked closely with the revenue manager and sales director to develop the sales performance.

Granville Hotel Brighton, privately owned group with three small hotels and a restaurant  

www.granvillehotel.co.uk

After meeting with directors and conducting a business review I carried out the following:

• Reviewed the profitability of the food and beverage operations and recruited a professional stock taker to assist on the trading performance results.
  
  
• Consolidated the purchasing requirements for all three hotels and selected a purchasing consortium, which eventually went onto to save the directors over £20k per year and save a lot of administration and visits to cash & carry wholesalers etc.
  
  
• Created an e-commerce strategy for the hotels, assisted the directors in selecting a marketing company to create accounts with all the .com companies and set up all the administration required to increase a base level of business.

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