Chewton Glen appoints new general manager from luxury Tanzanian resort

Chewton Glen has appointed the former general manager of a luxury resort in Tanzania as its new general manager.

Andrew Cook (left) is to join the five-red-AA-star, 72-bedroom hotel in New Milton, Hampshire, next month, having recently left the Diamonds La Gemma Dell ‘Est and Diamonds Star of The East luxury resorts in Zanzibar after four years.

Also joining the 350 strong team at Chewton Glen is Adam Dyke, who will take over as operations director in mid-July, replacing Ed Fitzpatrick, who has moved to the hotel’s sister property Lygon Arms in Broadway, Worcestershire, as deputy general manager. Dyke is the former general manager at the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa in Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire.

Cook’s extensive hospitality career includes experience with the Orient-Express Group (now Belmond) from 1998-2013 on the Orient-Express-British Pullman, and in South Africa at the Westcliff and Mount Nelson hotels. He has also worked at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Resort, Manama; Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort in Ayrshire; and the Royal Abjar hotel in Dubai.

A St Julian Scholar, Dyke will be responsible for all operational departments at Chewton Glen. He originally trained as a chef, before moving on to manage fine dining restaurants and hotels including the Pittodrie House in Aberdeenshire; Wynyard Hall Hotel in the Tees Valley and Yorebridge House in Bainbridge North Yorkshire.

Andrew Stembridge, executive director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, the operator of Chewton Glen, said that Cook’s appointment came at “a significant time” for the hotel, which "has set the standard for excellence in the country house hotel industry in the UK for more than five decades".

“Andrew’s wealth of experience in luxury worldwide resorts will undoubtedly complement that of the existing team and will enable him to continue to enhance and develop the standards and service we offer to our guests and ensure that Chewton Glen continues to set the standard for country house hotels throughout the world.”

Cook added: “I am delighted and honoured to be taking over as general manager of such an iconic property as Chewton Glen and I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Stembridge concluded: “These two appointments will strengthen the management of Chewton Glen allowing more time for us to focus on new acquisitions or management contracts to add to the Iconic Luxury Hotels portfolio.”

In addition to Chewton Glen and Lygon Arms, Iconic Luxury Hotels - which is owned by property investment company L+R headed by brothers Ian and Richard Livingstone â€" also owns Cliveden House in Taplow, Berkshire, and manages 11 Cadogan Gardens in London.

Mark Bevan to swap GM roles at Chewton Glen for Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa

New head chef appointment at Chewton Glen

A touch of class: What makes Chewton Glen the top Hoteliers’ Hotel?

Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).