Senior AA inspector Garry Baldwin to join New Forest Hotels

Senior hotel and restaurant inspector at the AA Garry Baldwin is leaving the guide book organisation to return to an operational role in hotels.

Baldwin will take up the position of group head of operations at New Forest Hotels, which owns four hotels, a restaurant with rooms and one pub, on Monday.

He will leave the AA following 10 years with the company, during which time he worked his way up from key account manager to his current position, via a stint as a training executive.

A graduate of hotel and catering management from the University of Surrey, Baldwin's previous operational hotel experience included working for Cunard; Bovey Castle on Dartmoor, Devon; Danesfield House, Marlow, Buckinghamshire; and Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, Surrey.

Baldwin said that he had worked with some great operators throughout the UK during his time at the AA and was very proud of developing the AA college rosette scheme in partnership with People 1st. "Developing future talent is close to my heart, it's a great industry full of so much career potential and far more rewarding that it can be given credit for."

He added: "I'm looking forward to my new chapter. I'm joining New Forest Hotels at a great time with exciting projects in the pipeline. I have the opportunity to work with a great team where we can make our guest experience even better."

Michaela Lisle, managing director of New Forest Hotels said that the company is "thrilled" with Baldwin's appointment. "This year we are celebrating our 30-year anniversary and attracting someone of his calibre at this stage of our journey is a great endorsement of our strategy and ambition.

"Garry's appointment brings unrivalled industry knowledge and experience, underpinning our next phase of investment in our hotels, pubs and restaurants, the team's development and support, and, more importantly, our guests' experience."

The New Forest Hotels protfolio includes Bartley Lodge, near Lyndhurst; Beaulieu hotel, near Beaulieu; Forest Lodge, Lyndhurst; Moorhill House, Burley; Burley Manor, Burley; and the Drift Inn, near Lyndhurst.

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