Dublin-based aparthotel operator Staycity has appointed Simon Walford as development director UK.
Staycity said he will be the first of several senior appointments that will be made to strengthen the company’s development team across Europe, as part of a strategy to grow to 15,000 apartments by 2022.
He will report to group development director Barry Hickey.
Walford joins the group from a similar position with German budget hotel company Motel One.
He has also worked with Jurys Inn as head of development & estates, former Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin owner MWB, and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers.
“I’ll be working with landlords, developers and investors to acquire suitable premises in a
number of UK cities,” said Walford. “I’m very much looking forward to being part of the rapid growth and development of what has become one of the leading aparthotel brands.”
Staycity Aparthotels is keen to acquire leasehold properties in London, Edinburgh, Bristol,
Glasgow, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, York, Birmingham and Leeds.
Over the next 12 months the company will open three new premises in the UK including
Manchester (182 apartments), London Covent Garden (106) and Liverpool (202) as well as two in France – Lyon (144) and Marseille (108). Staycity now has over 3,000 apartments across eight major European cities.