Focus Hotels appoints Lynn Hood as COO

Focus Hotels Management Ltd has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Lynn Hood as COO.

Prior to joining Focus, Hood spent eight years at the helm of her successful consultancy business Hotel Prosperity Ltd, working with clients such as Westmont Hospitality Group, De Vere Hotels, RBH and KSL Capital partners.

Before that, Lynn was on the main board of the multi award-winning City Inn group as operations director, where she was responsible for driving operational excellence across the group, positioning the brand as well as profit delivery for this joint venture start-up company.

During this time she successfully delivered a number of large city centre hotel developments and openings. Hood also worked with Walt Disney World, progressing to leadership roles with brands such as Queens Moat Houses, Malmaison and Marriott International.

Chief executive of Focus Hotels Peter Cashman said Hood’s “wide-ranging experience” in the hospitality sector would add “valuable expertise” – and further develop the company from its existing strong base to become a leading independent ‘White Label’ management company in the UK.

Cashman said: “Lynn undertook a number of high-profile projects which included the redevelopment and repositioning of the famous Belfry Golf Resort and Spa.

“Her clients benefitted from a range of services which included operational and commercial expertise, leadership mentoring, hotel openings and rebranding as well as project management for key business changes.”

Hood added: “Joining Focus Hotels Management gives me the opportunity to support its future development. There is a great team in place and I look forward to working with them to drive the future success of the business in what is a challenging business environment.”

Focus Hotels operate hotels under franchise agreements with Hilton, IHG, and Accor Hotels, as well as independent hotels such as the Hotel Colessio, Sketchley Grange and Spa, and the Oxford Witney Hotel.