Hand Picked announces new GMs at Woodlands Park and Norton House

Hand Picked Hotels has appointed two new general managers: Peter Dornom at Norton House Hotel & Spa in Ingliston near Edinburgh and Richard Storey at Woodlands Park hotel in Cobham, Surrey.

Storey has replaced Jeff Ward at Woodlands Park, who has moved to the same position at Hand Picked Hotels' Rhinefield House in the New Forest, while Dornom has taken on the general manager role at Norton House from Ronnie MacKay, who has left Hand Picked.

Dornom moved to the 83-bedroom, four red-AA-star Norton House after 23 years with Marriott and Whitbread, most recently following 15 years as general manager of the Edinburgh Marriott hotel.

After beginning his career with a traineeship at Selsdon Park hotel in South Croydon, Surrey, he took on management roles in operations at the Copthorne Hotel Birmingham; the Goodwood Park hotel in Chichester, West Sussex; and the Tewkesbury Park hotel, Gloucestershire, before his first general manager role at the Stone House hotel in Stone, Staffordshire.

Storey joined the four-AA-star, 57-bedroom Woodlands Park after nine years with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), most recently as general manager of the Crowne Plaza Marlow in Buckingham, and prior to that at the Holiday Inn London Chessington. Prior to IHG, Richard spent 13 years with Hilton.

Both general managers report to Hand Picked Hotels' operations director, Douglas Waddell, who said: "Both Peter and Richard bring exceptional industry and market knowledge to their operations, and this, combined with their steadfast commitment to customer service and strong people development skills, position them as ideal leaders within our business."

Dornom said: "Norton House Hotel & Spa is a very special place with extensive facilities and a fine reputation for all occasions, and I look forward to working with my new team to create many more special moments for our guests to enjoy in the future."

Storey added: "It's a fantastic time for me to be joining the group and I am delighted to bring my brand experience and local knowledge to the fore to continue the hotel's successful path to date."

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