ROCCO FORTE HOTELS APPOINTS RICHARD COOKE AS CLUSTER MANAGING DIRECTOR, UNITED KINGDOM
Rocco Forte Hotels announces the appointment of Richard Cooke as Cluster Managing Director, United Kingdom. |
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ROCCO FORTE HOTELS APPOINTS RICHARD COOKE AS CLUSTER MANAGING DIRECTOR, UNITED KINGDOM
Rocco Forte Hotels announces the appointment of Richard Cooke as Cluster Managing Director, United Kingdom. |
Category: Europe - United Kingdom - Careers
- Appointments
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2023-03-21
Formerly General Manager of The Balmoral Hotel, the first hotel under the Rocco Forte Hotels flag, Richard will now take leadership responsibility for both The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, and Brown’s Hotel in London.
Richard joined the Rocco Forte family in 2016 as General Manager of The Balmoral and brings over three decades of experience in hospitality management across a variety of five-star properties in Canada, USA, South East Asia and China.
He has been pivotal in the success of The Balmoral Hotel in recent years. 2022 was a particularly memorable year for Richard as the hotel achieved 'AA Hotel of the Year for Scotland’ and celebrated a milestone anniversary of 120 years.
In addition, under Richard’s leadership, the hotel has continued to retain its position as the only hotel in Scotland to receive the world-renowned accolade of Forbes Five Stars for the third year running.
Richard previously worked as Area General Manager of the Shangri-La Hotels in Toronto and Vancouver, having opened the Shangri-La Toronto. Prior to this, he spent ten years in various management positions with Shangri-La Hotels including General Manager of Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Manager of the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore and Hotel Manager of Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai, and three years in Hong Kong as corporate Food and Beverage.
Richard started his hospitality career in the UK before moving to New Zealand and the Regent Hotel in Auckland. He subsequently moved to the U.S where he held the position of Executive Assistant Manager at The Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan and The Ritz Carlton in San Francisco before moving to Rosewood Hotels and Resorts in Dallas as Director of Food and Beverage.
“Richard Cooke is one of our most experienced senior managers. He was instrumental in the success of the Balmoral and I am delighted he will now be overseeing both our UK properties,” said Sir Rocco Forte, Founder and Chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels.
On his new appointment, Richard Cooke commented: “I am pleased to be appointed Cluster Managing Director for Rocco Forte Hotels’ UK properties. We celebrated two extraordinary milestones for each of the hotels last year: 185 years of Brown’s Hotel and 120 years of The Balmoral, so I am honoured to have the opportunity to now lead two of the world's greatest hotels through the next chapters of their already rich history and ensure that their legacy continues.”
About Brown’s Hotel
Brown’s Hotel is quintessentially British with a hint of the unexpected. London’s first hotel boasts 115 authentically designed rooms and suites designed by Olga Polizzi. Each pays tribute to the hotel’s illustrious heritage and world-renowned charm. The Kipling Suite, the jewel in Brown’s crown of suites, honours Rudyard Kipling who famously wrote ‘The Jungle Book’ at the hotel. Home to some of London’s finest dining experiences, Brown’s signature Donovan Bar takes inspiration from its namesake, iconic 1960’s photographer Terence Donovan; Charlie’s, the restaurant, serves contemporary British fare with European influences; and The Drawing Room, where Queen Victoria was believed to have taken tea, honours the quintessentially British custom of serving traditional afternoon tea.
Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel (roccofortehotels.com)
About The Balmoral
Many hotels claim to have landmarks on their doorstep, few can say their doorstep is a landmark. The Balmoral is a grand railway hotel located at Edinburgh’s most prestigious address, No 1 Princes Street. The Balmoral began life as a grand railway hotel in 1902 and offers 187 contemporary rooms and opulent suites. Excellent cuisine is guaranteed in Number One restaurant as well as the hotel’s all-day dining venue Brasserie Prince. Afternoon Tea is served in Palm Court and the hotel boasts a collection of over 500 single malt whiskies at SCOTCH.
The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel (roccofortehotels.com)
About Rocco Forte Hotels
Established by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is a collection of 14 individual hotels and resorts. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas.
Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de la Ville, Hotel de Russie and Rocco Forte House, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte Private Villas and Villa Igiea, Sicily; Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown’s Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotel Amigo, Brussels and Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg. Future openings: The Carlton Milan in 2024 (roccofortehotels.com)
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