Ex-Thistle director Douglas Waddell takes on new role at Hand Picked Hotels

Hand Picked Hotels has recruited Douglas Waddell as operations manager.

The ex-Thistle Hotels director replaces Gregor Ritchie, who left earlier this year to form Hilwood Hotels with former Hand Picked finance director Arvinder Walia.

He will be responsible for the company’s 14 hotels in the UK and Jersey and will report directly to chief executive Julia Hands.

“With investment being put into the business this year, I believe there is a real opportunity to maximise the collection’s potential,” he said.

Waddell, a former Caterer Acorn award winner, joined Thistle in 2003 as general manager of provincial hotels and was latterly promoted to area general manager London in charge of several properties with over 4,000 bedrooms in total.

Previous to this he was operations manager at health & fitness chain Esporta.

Hand Picked grabs prize >>

By Chris Druce

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