The Executive board members are:
Sandy Orr, Executive Chairman
David Orr, Chief Executive
Huw O'Connor, Managing Director
Pauline McFarlane, Legal & Admin Director
Lynn Hood, Operations Director
Angus MacDonald, Finance Director
Sandy Orr and Donald MacDonald have previously led the development and financing of many hotels throughout the UK, including 6 Novotels, Edinburgh's Travel Inn and Sheraton. David Orr previously initiated significant city centre Hotel and Leisure developments carried out by major plcs (including Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh).
David Orr led the detailed design and development of the City Inn concept through extensive research into the requirements of business travellers. This led to the creation of City Inn as a new brand of city centre hotels, all new buildings with excellent air conditioning, acoustic integrity, state of the art facilities and an exceptional new restaurant brand, City Café.
Opening initially in Bristol in May 1999, new hotels have now been established in Glasgow in May 2000, Birmingham March 2001 and the flagship City Inn Westminster which opened in September 2003. City Inn Westminster is London's biggest new build hotel in 30 years and has won several major awards since its opening, including: Best Business Hotel Brand at the Business Travel World Awards 2006, Group Hotel of the Year at the Caterer and Hotelkeeper Awards 2005, Best New Hotel at the International Hotel Investment Forum 2004, RIBA Award 2004, Top 5 Best UK Hotels, Guardian/Observer Travel Awards 2004, Most Improved Brand: Recognition and Preference at the BDRC British Hotel Guest Survey 2004Architectural Award for Best New Hotel at the European Hotel Design Awards 2003.
Most recently City Inn Manchester opened in May 2007 and occupies a landmark site at the gateway to
Manchester within the new Piccadilly Place development. The hotel combines state of the art facilities, technology and services with stunning event, meeting and private dining suites, including the Sky Lounge with panoramic views of the cityscape.
At the heart of the City Inn brand are the principles of an uncompromising approach to quality, a commitment to innovation and putting customers first, always. To ensure this, processes, services and facilities are frequently changed and adapted to ensure added value for guests. Offering a modern alternative to the traditional large hotel, City Inn believes in creating new build hotels in thriving city centre locations and providing guests with a cool, light and contemporary environment in which to relax, work or entertain.
The company is continuing to pursue a strategy of developing City Inn in prime UK and international city centres, with projects in advanced development on secured sites in Leeds - the UK's fastest growing city and largest financial centre outside of the capital, a second site in London and the first international development in Amsterdam. Further aspirations include the USA.
