The Inn Collection Group appoints new chairman

Ian Goulding, co-founder and former CFO of the 26-hotel group QHotels, has been announced as chairman of the nine-site Inn Collection Group which is poised to roll out strategic expansion growth plans. His appointment comes following the acquisition of the majority shareholding in The Inn Collection Group by private equity investor Alchemy Partners earlier this year.

Sean Donkin, managing director of The Inn Collection Group said: “Ian has a wealth of commercial experience and specific experience in hospitality that will be of great value to us at a crucial time as we begin the next phase of our buy and build growth plans.

“Expansion brings with it a number of challenges. Not only is it finding properties that meet our pubs with rooms blueprint of providing quality accommodation, food and beverages in contemporary inn environments, it is ensuring that the business can then accommodate the increased portfolio.

“Having achieved this with great success on several occasions with QHotels we will be drawing on Ian’s wisdom and experience as we progress the continual evolution of The Inn Collection Group.”

Goulding, who also co-founded and was CFO of Paramount hotels for 10 years, said: “What The Inn Collection Group has brought to the industry is really quite unique and their approach excited me.

“For over a decade we have been reading about the number of pubs closures in the UK every week. Yet the The Inns Collection team is making pubs a success which is down to the management team, their processes and their multi-tasking staff who make a successful customer experience their priority. I am looking forward to providing support and guidance to Sean and his team as they go through the growth phase.”

Goulding replaces outgoing chairman Geoff Hodgson who stepped down from the board in June.