Macdonald Burlington on New Street in Birmingham has appointed
38 year-old Derek McDonagh as General Manager.
His appointment to the 115-bedroom hotel in Birmingham that
boasts one of the largest conference facilities in the city
reflects the hotel's determination to firmly position itself as the
number one choice for corporate, conference and leisure visitors to
the UK's second largest city.
Dublin born McDonagh, who assumes responsibility for over 80
staff and conferencing space for up to 500 delegates (Horton Room),
said of his appointment: "The Macdonald Burlington Hotel is a
hidden gem that over the years has established an extremely good
reputation for service.
"I wanted to get back into the 4-star hotel market. Macdonald
Hotels & Resorts leads the way in its delivery of guest
hospitality including a commitment to serve fresh and locally
sourced food. It also has a fantastic career structure in place for
management and staff, so when the opportunity to take the helm at
the Macdonald Burlington arose I jumped at the chance.
"My priority is to raise the profile of the Macdonald Burlington
and firmly establish the hotel as the leading hotel in Birmingham.
With one of the largest conference facilities in the city and
mindful of the fact Birmingham is home to both the International
Convention Centre (ICC) and NEC, the staff will be working hard to
regain market share by appealing to discerning visitors, including
in the corporate business tourism sector."
McDonagh's appointment comes at a time the business hotel in
Birmingham is investing over £1million in the refurbishment of its
comfortable and spacious bedrooms. The beautifully appointed
Victorian building, dating back to 1871, originally opened as the
Midland Hotel. Located just two minutes' walk from the main New
Street railway station and in the heart of the city shopping
district and offering business travellers meeting rooms in
Birmingham, the Macdonald Burlington Hotel is an ideal choice for
busy executives and leisure guests alike.
McDonagh assumes his new role with Macdonald Hotels after 14
years with Jurys Inn - the past 9 in the West Midlands. In 1999 at
the age of 26, he became the youngest general manager ever to be
appointed by Jurys.
The family man and keen distance runner (he competes in the
annual Birmingham half-marathon) started his career in hospitality
in Dublin at the age of 15 where he washed glasses within the
city's Green Isle Hotel. It is also where he met Clara, his future
wife. Having found his calling in hospitality, the former Gaelic
football player would go on to undertake a 4-year course in
Hospitality Management in Dublin with placements in Germany
(Bochum) and Galway.
Since 2005, McDonagh has sat on the executive of MARCHE, the
Midlands Association for Restaurants, Catering, Hotel and
Entertainment venues.
About Macdonald Hotels & Resorts:
First established in 1990 by Donald Macdonald and colleagues
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts operates over 40 hotels across the
UK and ten resorts throughout the UK and Spain. Macdonald Hotels
employs over 4,400 staff and operates in excess of 4,500 hotel
rooms. Its focus is on developing its strong portfolio of four and
five star hotels, with each offering its own character and
individuality underpinned with the quality and attention to detail
expected of the Macdonald brand. In particular, the company prides
itself on the seasonality and provenance of its food within the
hotels, from breakfast through to dinner, as well as its wide range
of specially selected wines. As testament to the excellent level of
service the Group provides, it has on numerous occasions won
several prestigious accolades, most notably the AA Hotel Group of
the Year 2007-08 and the National Customer Service Awards for
Leisure and Tourism.
