Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel appoints GM

Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel has appointed a new general manager to lead the 77-bed boutique venue.

Anuj Sagar will manage the property and its team, and brings more than 15 years of senior hotel management experience to the role, having worked in properties across the UK, the Middle East and Asia. 

He joins the team from Novotel Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire where he spent two years as general manager. Before that, he spent two years as general manager of Ibis London Elstree Borehamwood.

Sagar said: “After undergoing its extensive rebrand and refurbishment, Hawkwell House was transformed into a luxury boutique hotel perfect for staycations and celebrations in Oxford. When the opportunity arose to take on the role of General Manager I jumped at the chance because of its unique character and charm and its exciting potential.

“The brilliant location means we are close to all of Oxford’s biggest attractions, but guests can still escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre while enjoying first-class amenities.

One of the key things that attracted me to the hotel was the home away from home feel. Our regular guests love the relaxed, friendly atmosphere and personal level of service – we aim to truly get to know the preferences of our guests and deliver memorable experiences.”

Working closely with director of Sales and Marketing Isabela Dumbrava, Sagar has devised a strategy to “put the hotel on the map in Oxford”, with a focus on engaging the local community to use the venue and continuing to enhance its guests’ experience.

He said: “The hotel has strong occupancy rates and we will work hard to maintain that, but a key part of our growth strategy is actively working on building relationships with locals and the business community.

“We have an experienced team who are all devoted to making sure our guests enjoy their stays with or visit to us and everyone is treated to a warm welcome and exceptional customer service.”

The hotel’s signature restaurant Frank’s is open to day guests and Sagar and his team said they are focused on welcoming more locals to enjoy it.

Sagar added: “Our plans on the catering side are exciting and, over time, we want to take our dining experience to the next level and make Frank’s a known dining destination in the city. Over the coming year, we will be launching several contemporary new dining options which we hope will become firm favourites.

“My ambition is to return the hotel to being a great destination hotel in Oxfordshire once again. We are confident that with the talented team we have in place and our commitment to creating great guest experiences people will want to try it out for themselves.”