Amaris expands management team for ambitious growth strategy

Hotel investment and management group Amaris Hospitality has announced three appointments to its management team as part of its strategy to significantly grow its portfolio.

With appointments including Barry Patton as finance director, Paul Harnedy as head of asset management and Kris Legg as head of property, the group is targeting 20 new hotels.

Patton previously spent 10 years as finance director for Intel in Ireland; while before joining Amaris, Harnedy most recently held the position of regional vice president of operations at Interstate Hotels and Resorts, leading its largest owner portfolio, consisting of 19 Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels throughout the UK.

Legg joins from Kew Green Hotels where he was director of property, managing the portfolio through a growth period that included the completion of construction at the Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport and the full refurbishment of around 20 hotels.

Currently Amaris' strategy focuses on investing in established hotels trading under international brands in key strategic locations. Last year LRC Group acquired the remainder of Lone Star's Amaris Hospitality group and added seven Hilton-branded hotels to the portfolio from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

More recently the group took over the management of 18 Accor hotels across the UK and launched a significant investment programme for the refurbishment of key properties.

Peter Stack, managing director of Amaris Hospitality, said: "We continue to attract the best talent in our sector which is evidenced by the calibre of the highly experienced management team we now have in place, who are key to further enhancing our track record of operational excellence and meeting our ambitious business growth objectives in the future."

Established in 2015, Amaris Hospitality employs more than 2,500 people across 30 hotels, which trade under brands including Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Mercure and Ibis Styles.

Photo: From L-R finance director Barry Patton, chief executive Peter Stack, head of asset management Paul Harnedy and head of property Kris Legg

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