Macdonald Burlington Appoints New General Manager

EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 17, 2011 -

Macdonald Burlington on New Street in Birmingham has appointed
38 year-old Derek McDonagh as General Manager.

His appointment to the 115-bedroom href="www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/burlington/">hotel in
Birmingham that boasts one of the largest conference facilities
in the city reflects the hotel’s determination to firmly position
itself as the number one choice for corporate, conference and
leisure visitors to the UK’s second largest city. 

Dublin born McDonagh, who assumes responsibility for over 80
staff and conferencing space for up to 500 delegates (Horton Room),
said of his appointment: “The Macdonald Burlington Hotel is a
hidden gem that over the years has established an extremely good
reputation for service. 

“I wanted to get back into the 4-star hotel market. 
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts leads the way in its delivery of
guest hospitality including a commitment to serve fresh and locally
sourced food. It also has a fantastic career structure in place for
management and staff, so when the opportunity to take the helm at
the Macdonald Burlington arose I jumped at the chance.

“My priority is to raise the profile of the Macdonald Burlington
and firmly establish the hotel as the leading hotel in
Birmingham.  With one of the largest conference facilities in
the city and mindful of the fact Birmingham is home to both the
International Convention Centre (ICC) and NEC, the staff will be
working hard to regain market share by appealing to discerning
visitors, including in the corporate business tourism sector.”

McDonagh’s appointment comes at a time the href="www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/burlington/business/">business
hotel in Birmingham is investing over £1million in the
refurbishment of its comfortable and spacious bedrooms.  The
beautifully appointed Victorian building, dating back to 1871,
originally opened as the Midland Hotel.  Located just two
minutes’ walk from the main New Street railway station and in the
heart of the city shopping district and offering business
travellers href="www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/burlington/business/meeting-rooms/">
meeting rooms in Birmingham, the Macdonald Burlington Hotel is
an ideal choice for busy executives and leisure guests alike.

McDonagh assumes his new role with Macdonald Hotels after 14
years with Jurys Inn - the past 9 in the West Midlands.  In
1999 at the age of 26, he became the youngest general manager ever
to be appointed by Jurys.

The family man and keen distance runner (he competes in the
annual Birmingham half-marathon) started his career in hospitality
in Dublin at the age of 15 where he washed glasses within the
city’s Green Isle Hotel.  It is also where he met Clara, his
future wife.  Having found his calling in hospitality, the
former Gaelic football player would go on to undertake a 4-year
course in Hospitality Management in Dublin with placements in
Germany (Bochum) and Galway. 

Since 2005, McDonagh has sat on the executive of MARCHE, the
Midlands Association for Restaurants, Catering, Hotel and
Entertainment venues.

About Macdonald Hotels & Resorts:

First established in 1990 by Donald Macdonald and colleagues
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts operates over 40 hotels across the
UK and ten resorts throughout the UK and Spain. Macdonald Hotels
employs over 4,400 staff and operates in excess of 4,500 hotel
rooms. Its focus is on developing its strong portfolio of four and
five star hotels, with each offering its own character and
individuality underpinned with the quality and attention to detail
expected of the Macdonald brand. In particular, the company prides
itself on the seasonality and provenance of its food within the
hotels, from breakfast through to dinner, as well as its wide range
of specially selected wines. As testament to the excellent level
of  service the Group provides, it has on numerous occasions
won several prestigious accolades, most notably the AA Hotel Group
of the Year 2007-08 and the National Customer Service Awards for
Leisure and Tourism.

PR Contact:
Lucy Wheeler
Senior Account Executive
Forsyth House
93 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3ES
Scotland
United Kingdom
+44(0)131-243-2552
href="www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk">www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

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