Member Article

Mercure Darlington King's Hotel Appoints New General Manager

A NORTH East hotel has announced the appointment of a new general manager following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

The Mercure Darlington King?s Hotel, at Priestgate, Darlington, has appointed Dale Needham, who boasts around 25 years? experience of the hospitality industry, to head up its growing team of staff.

Dale joins the hotel as Newcastle-based owner the Cairn Group unveils the results of an £8m refurbishment, which has transformed the former King?s Head hotel into a stylish and contemporary venue for local residents and visitors to the area alike.

Prior to his appointment at the Mercure Darlington King?s Hotel Dale was general manager at the Campanile Bradford Hotel, Ramada Leeds North, Ramada Encore York and the Holiday Inn Express at Stoke-on-Trent.

This was all after successfully completing a graduate management training programme with Stakis Hotels and spending 12 years in various roles at the former Queen?s Moat Houses hotel group.

?I am looking forward to bringing all my experience to bear in making the King?s an asset to local residents as well as a superb base for corporate and leisure visitors,? he said.

Along with an increase in its capacity from 26 to 86 en-suite bedrooms, each with a 36 inch, wall-mounted television, the hotel, which was damaged by fire in 2008, houses a ground floor café bar serving light meals and drinks and a first floor à la carte restaurant with adjoining cocktail bar.

The hotel?s original ballroom, which can accommodate up to 200 people for weddings, parties and conferences, has also been fully restored and there are two smaller function rooms for meetings or more intimate social occasions. ?

?Darlingtonhas not had anything like this before,? said Dale. ?It has been renovated to a very high specification and will be a wonderful venue for anyone who wants to meet friends for cocktails, celebrate a special occasion, conduct a business meeting or enjoy fine dining.?

The Cairn Group owns 21 hotels across the UK from as far afield as Aberdeen to London and is one of the country?s biggest family-owned leisure organisations employing in excess of 1500 people.

For further information the Mercure Darlington King?s Hotel, or to make a reservation, call 01325 380222 or visit www.mercure.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Cairn Hotel Group .