New chair for Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association

Alexandra Penn has been appointed chair of the Exeter and Heart of Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association.

Penn has been head of sales at the University of Exeter's Event Exeter business since 2014 and was previously commercial director at Warwick Corporate Events and sales and marketing director at Newton Abbot Racecourse.

Mark Godfrey, managing director of Deer Park Country House hotel in Honiton; Derek Phillips; John Wheeler, head of the hospitality faculty at Exeter College; and Jemma Mitchell, owner of Rendezvous Wine Bar in Exeter retain their positions as honorary treasurer, honorary secretary, chair of training and chair of marketing, respectively.

Penn said: "I am keen to build on the success of the association, working with existing members, identifying new ones, and to help leverage new partnerships to support the growing market here in the county."

Phillips, who has been on the board since the 1970s, added: "We recently reported that members are investing millions into the facilities we offer so this is a pivotal time for the association as it continues to promote both Devon as a region and the individual members as destinations in their own right."

The association encompasses more than 50 hotels and restaurants in Devon.

Pictured: (from left to right) Nicholas Carn, Derek Phillips, Alexandra Penn, John Wheeler and Jemma Mitchell.

New leadership team at association for Devon hotels >>

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