Sofitel London Heathrow strengthens senior team with two key appointments

Sofitel London Heathrow, managed and operated by the Arora Group, has announced it has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of operations manager James Murphy, and director of food and beverage, Patrick Mudalige. Sofitel London Heathrow is a purpose-built luxury conference and leisure hotel directly connected to Terminal 5. It features 605 guestrooms, spa and the 3 AA Rosette La Belle Epoque. Murphy, who will begin at Sofitel London Heathrow in July, has 13 years’ experience in the hotel sector and is moving from within the Arora Group. Murphy was meetings and events operations manager at the Arora managed and owned InterContinental London - The O2, during its launch. He also has experience of Sofitel London Heathrow, having worked as Meetings and Events Operations Manager for the hotel between 2011 and 2015. With over 20 years’ experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, Patrick Mudalige has worked in some of the world's most prestigious hotels including Hilton International, Burj Al Arab and Waldorf Astoria. Patrick later transitioned into senior roles in hotels including Marriott International, Boscolo Hotels, St Regis Hotels and Autograph Collection Hotels. Ryan Nicholls, General Manager, Sofitel London Heathrow, said: “We’re delighted to welcome James and Patrick to Sofitel London Heathrow – two really strong additions to the team.” Murphy said: “I am excited to be taking the next step of my career within The Arora Group and to be back at Sofitel London Heathrow. I’ve built up a strong skill set across many key hotel functions within the supportive environment of the Arora Group, and I’m looking forward to bringing all of this experience to my new role.” Mudalige added: “I’m delighted to be joining Sofitel London Heathrow and The Arora Group. The hotel has a fantastic food and beverage offering, and I can’t wait to work with the existing team here to continue to strengthen and build on that. I’ll be looking for ways to bring my experience and expertise to the role to ensure the best possible guest experiences at all times.” Sofitel London Heathrow is currently managed and operated by The Arora Group under a franchise agreement with AccorHotels.