• In September 2009, Frank Croston successfully participated in a panel discussion at the 9th Annual European Hotel Finance and Investment Summit, where he discussed strategy for sustainability in an economic downturn with a number of other hotel industry specialists. In addition, Frank hosted the first Webinar organised by Bench Events on 3rd November 2009, where he discussed the prospects for recovery of the hotel industry with Paul Slattery, Co-Founder and Director of Otus & Co. To view this insightful webinar, please click on the following link to Bench Events and select Webinar A: http://www.benchevents.com/Webinar/Access?id=1254835578

• Hamilton were proud sponsors of the 13th International Hotel Investment Forum held in Berlin, 8-10 March 2010. Our exhibition at the conference provided us with a fantastic opportunity to reengage with former clients and also to introduce ourselves to potential new clients. Frank Croston successfully moderated a lively plenary session where he discussed demand, pricing and revenue management in a challenging environment with Paul Brown, President of Global Brands and Commercial Services, Hilton Worldwide and Matthew Crummack, Senior Vice President, Expedia Partner Services Group. In addition, Frank moderated a second session, 'Asset Management in a Downturn', with the following industry professionals on his panel: Richard Eaton-Hart, Gengate Europe Ltd; Shane Harris, Moorfield Group Limited; Mark Hennebry, QCrest; Nick Skea-Strachan; Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.
  
  Following this session, Frank was interviewed by the Estates Gazette, where he urged the hotel industry to become more involved with asset managers in order to make the market more attractive to investors. If you would like to listen to this interview in full, please use the podcast player below:
  
  

  

  
  
  
  

Our business continues to grow and we are increasing our team to support this development. We are delighted to announce that Kristian Overbeek joined the Hamilton team in October 2009 and as of December 2009, we are pleased to introduce our new Director - Operations, Peter Manby.

• Kristian has recently joined the Hamilton team and was previously involved in CitizenM and Spaces, both highly innovative start-ups where he gained experience in hotel acquisition and business development. 
• Kristian started studying hotel management at Hotelschool The Hague with a BSc in Hotel Administration and continued with a Professional Development Course at Cornell University in Ithaca, USA. 
• During his time in The Hague he was awarded with the distinction of 'Best Hotelier' for a hotel project in Copenhagen, and after obtaining his degree he followed a 12-month Corporate Traineeship at Hyatt International at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai.
• After Dubai Kristian returned to obtain his MSc diploma in International Business with a focus on Strategy & Innovation at the University of Maastricht.


Click here to email Kristian

• Peter Manby is our Director responsible for the growth and development of our hotel management business. Peter brings a wealth of senior operational experience to the team and his efforts are focused on driving significant incremental revenues and profits across our growing portfolio of managed hotels. We are happy to manage assets on a franchise basis, or under appropriate consortia arrangements.
• Prior to his appointment by Hamilton, Peter was engaged by a number of lenders and hotel owners/investors seeking improved operating results and debt coverage/returns.
• Peter was previously CEO of Crown Golf, the largest owner operator of golf clubs in the UK, with thirty three clubs. During this period he introduced significant strategic change to the business, leading to increased levels and retention of members, whilst also unlocking significant investment opportunities.
• Immediately prior to this, Peter was Operations Director for De Vere Hotels and a member of the PLC executive committee. In this role he contributed to the strategic direction of the company and led the operational delivery for twenty De Vere branded hotels, including those under management contract.
• Earlier in his career, Peter worked for Hilton in two roles, firstly as Director of Revenue Management for the UK, where he led the pricing and revenue management function. He was then promoted to Regional Vice President Operations, where he was responsible for twenty two hotels, including the nine hundred bedroom hotel at Gatwick airport. During this period a number of hotels were sold and leased back, giving Peter valuable experience on the expectations and aspirations of hotel owners and investors.
• From 1995 to 1999, Peter was the Operations Director for the Marriott Hotels managed by Whitbread under the Marriott and Courtyard brands. This gave him great practical experience of managing effectively in a multi brand franchise environment.
• Peter's early career was with Forte Hotels where he held a number of General and Regional management positions within Forte Heritage, Forte Grand and Le Meridien.
• Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, formerly the HCIMA.
  
  
Click here to email Peter