Gareth Banner of the Ned named Hotelier of the Year 2024

Gareth Banner, group managing director of the Ned in the City of London, has been named Hotelier of the Year 2024.

He was praised by the judges for his strong leadership and steady hand running one of the most complex hotel and members’ club operations in the UK.

The Ned launched in 2017 as a £200m redevelopment of a Grade I listed former City bank and was one of the most anticipated openings of the year.

Since the Ned’s high-profile launch, Banner has built the venue into a successful, multi-faceted business that will generate £100m gross revenue this year, with occupancy at over 80%.

In his role, Banner oversees an army of 900 team members who staff the Ned’s 10 restaurants, 17 bars, 250 bedrooms, pool, spa, late-night lounge and barbershop.

The London opening has been so successful that the brand has expanded overseas, with the Ned NoMad in New York and the Ned Doha launching in 2022. A fourth Ned is due to launch in Washington DC and others are slated to open in the Cotswolds and across Europe and North America.

Banner was presented with his award at a celebratory lunch today at Gleneagles in Perthshire by Greg Harvey from Taylors of Harrogate, the award’s sponsor, and The Caterer editor James Stagg.

The judging panel, made up of industry experts and former Hotelier of the Year winners, praised Banner as “a modern hotelier” who juggled multiple roles.

Gordon Campbell Grey, 2002 Hotelier of the Year, said: “There are so many wonderful and outstanding hoteliers, but few can claim to oversee such an amazing array of complex operations as the Ned.  

“Gareth has done so with aplomb and dedication thus contributing hugely to its current success at so many levels.”

Sally Beck, 2019 Hotelier of the Year, said: “His energy is infectious, and he works hard to lift people up and find solutions for the greater good of the whole. He is an inspiration and a thoroughly good bloke!”

Some 20 former Hoteliers of the Year, including Jonathan Raggett (2009), Patrick Elsmie (2004), Peter Lederer (1997) and Harry Murray (1986) attended the celebratory lunch, hosted by the 2023 winner Conor O’Leary, managing director at Gleneagles hotel.

A full interview with Banner on his Hotelier of the Year win will be published later this week.