The Principal York hotel appoints Tracy Harrison GM

The Principal York has appointed former Macdonald Hotels and Resorts regional managing director Tracy Harrison as general manager.

She joins the Grade II-listed, 155-bedroom hotel having also worked for five years at Malmaison , where she held the positions of housekeeping manager and deputy general manager at the group's Birmingham hotel, and was subsequently general manager in Reading.

She has also held management roles at Village Urban Resorts and Marriott.

Harrison replaces Richard Mansell, who has moved to manage the group's Met hotel in Leeds.

Harrison said: "I am thrilled to be returning to the city where I grew up, and I am looking forward to working with the hotel team to build on all its amazing recent successes.

David Taylor, chief operating officer of Principal, added: "I'm delighted that Tracy has joined our senior team and am sure that her strong work ethic and experience, combined with her passion and knowledge of the city of York, will be a huge asset to the business."

Formerly known as the Royal York hotel, the Principal York opened on its current site in 1878 and is one of the original hotels for Principal, the urban lifestyle hotel brand created by American private investment firm Starwood Capital and launched last year.

Alongside its York hotel, Principal has a further three hotels: one in Manchester and two in Edinburgh (George Street and Charlotte Square), and will launch its flagship 330-bedroom Principal London on Russell Square in the winter following a £75m restoration. Further openings are planned for Glasgow, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham.

Principal to launch second hotel in Edinburgh with restaurant from Ox and Finch owners >>

Principal to launch hotel in Birmingham in partnership with Hortons' Estate >>

How Starwood's new Principal brand will shake up city centres nationwide >>

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