Rob Paterson resigns as Best Western GB chief executive

Rob Paterson is leaving his role as chief executive of the Best Western GB hotel consortium after three years.

Tim Rumney, chairman of the group, which represents almost 300 independently owned hotels, and managing director of the Best Western Plus Pinewood on Wilmslow hotel in Cheshire, will take over the role later this month as interim chief executive for at least six months.

During the peak of the pandemic, some of the group’s hotels were converted into hospitals, as well as housing keyworkers and vulnerable groups. The group was also the subject of a Channel 4 docu-series A Great British Hotel Chain last year.

Rumney said: “It has been a pleasure working alongside Rob since 2018, where his commercial acumen and hospitality expertise has truly benefitted our brand portfolio. At a time where hospitality businesses are still suffering, I am proud to be stepping in as interim CEO for the brand, to continue the great work Rob and his team have been doing throughout the pandemic, to best support our hotels.

“We have exciting opportunities ahead of us to refocus the organisation for our members as we emerge from the pandemic and move into the recovery mode as a more effective commercial business whilst retaining our ‘by hotelier for hotelier’ ethos.”