Get to know the employees behind our success
We are proud to say that we have one of the highest staff retention rates in the hotel industry and our greatest motivation is knowing that our employees feel a real passion for their work.
Have a look at some of the Brend Collections' greatest success stories that exemplify the Brend ethos of developing our own and be inspired by those who have played a huge part in the growth and development of the business.
Aleah Walder - The Belmont Hotel
Hospitality pro with global experience, now Assistant Manager at The Belmont Hotel, leading social media and guest engagement with a passion for service.
Sean Dalton - The Carlyon Bay Hotel
Sean Dalton has become an integral and respected member of The Carlyon Bay Hotel team. Sean’s commitment to exceeding guest expectations, going the extra mile, and working closely with his team has made him a standout figure, ensuring every guest has a memorable and seamless experience.
Mathias Oberg - Saunton Sands Hotel
Mathias Oberg, the head chef at Saunton Sands Hotel, represents the perfect blend of passion, expertise, and vision in the world of fine dining. With a career that could serve as a dream blueprint for any aspiring chef, Mathias has honed his skills in some of the most esteemed, multi-Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe.
Sayed Amin - The Imperial Hotel
Sayed Amin joined The Imperial Hotel in 2004, starting in Housekeeping before becoming Restaurant Manager. With a background in a five-star hotel in Egypt, he grew his career and met his wife, Justyna, at the hotel. Their shared journey at The Imperial now includes their baby, making it a special place for Sayed.
Megan O'Connell - The Barnstaple Hotel
Megan O'Connell joined The Barnstaple Hotel in 2021 and quickly progressed from bar staff to senior receptionist. Her journey highlights the opportunities for growth within the Brend Collection and the rewards of embracing new challenges.
Shanice Trower - Turley | The Victoria Hotel
Read all about The Victoria Hotel's Office Manager, Shanice Trower - Turley's 14-year journey for Brend Collection.
Nuria Verger Guerrero - The Royal Duchy Hotel
Meet Núria, The Royal Duchy's GM. From waitress to leader, her calm approach and passion for teamwork make her a role model for the hotel’s future success.
Holly Balanici - The Carlyon Bay Hotel
Holly Balanici has become a familiar and beloved face at The Carlyon Bay Hotel, where she has dedicated over seven years to delivering exceptional service and hospitality. Her journey with the Brend Collection began with a desire to leverage her retail experience in a new, dynamic field of hospitality.
Nicola Brayley - Head Office
Take a look at Nicola's journey starting from the purchase of The Imperial Hotel in 1998 as Reception Manager to pivotal roles in Central Reservations, and now as Mr John Brend's secretary and an invaluable member of the Accounts Department.
Lyndsey Short - The Royal Hotel
Introducing Lyndsey, The Royal Hotels General Manager. starting at the hotel in 1999 as a part-time waitress, with dedication, she rose to General Manager, marking 25 years with Brend Collection.
Sarah - Taw Garages
Meet fun, vibrant Sarah, Head Cashier and Duty Manager at Taw Garages Service Station.
Yas - The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
Meet Yas, a shining star at The Royal & Fortescue and 62 The Bank, who is putting her exceptional skills and dedication on display every day.
Reece Badcott - The Devon Hotel
Reece's journey in the hospitality industry spans a remarkable 9 years. His progression serves as a compelling example of hard work and determination.
Paul Bailey - The Park Hotel
Paul Bailey's journey with Brend Collection spans an impressive 35 years on and off. Starting as a part-time waiter at the age of 16, Paul's commitment to the company has seen him take on various roles across different hotels within the collection.
Andreia Santos - Saunton Sands Hotel
Meet Head of Pastry at The Saunton Sands Hotel, At the age of 18, Andreia embarked on an intensive two-year pastry management course which was quickly followed by an internship at the 5-star resort the Ritz Carlton Penha-Longa in Sintra, Portugal.
Becky Thomas - The Belmont
Starting from a young age, Becky has always been taught to learn as many experiences as possible and she has done just that throughout her time at The Belmont Hotel.
Sue & Nicola - The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
Meet our mother and daughter duo who are The Royal & Fortescue Hotels Head and Deputy Head Housekeepers who have worked for a combined 54 years at Brend Collection.
Ross Hamilton - The Devon Hotel
Introduced to the dynamic world of hospitality by a close friend, Ross's journey began when a job as a waiter at a local hotel restaurant fell into his lap. Since then Ross has worked in various roles within the hospitality industry until he landed his current position as General Manager at The Devon Hotel.
Marie Woolacott - The Park Hotel
Meet Marie, a dedicated individual who has been an integral part of the hospitality industry for over a decade. Marie has been working at the Brend Collection since 2007, showcasing her versatile skills and expertise across multiple roles.
Tim Beauchamp - The Belmont Hotel
The four-star hotel General Manager, Tim Beauchamp, took time out of his busy schedule to lift the lid on the hardwork and dedication involved in running The Belmont Hotel.
Dave Roden - Head Office
Meet our Operational Accounts Manager, Dave Roden, who has been working for The Brend Collection for the last 44 years.
Anna Krolik - The Barnstaple Hotel
You're bound to recognise Anna as being the face of our Brasserie Restaurant, but many may not know that Anna had a very different start at The Barnstaple Hotel. Learn all about Anna’s journey with the Brend Collection.
William Sherwin - The Imperial Hotel
From hotel porter, working in a variety of Brend Hotels to hotel management, William has been climbing the ladder since his Brend Collection journey began.
Liam Bailey - Saunton Sands Hotel
Since joining Brend Hotels in October 2015, Liam has completed an apprenticeship with our HIT Training academy and now manages the restaurant team at Saunton Sands Hotel. Making an impression since he first started working for the company, we’re certain that Liam will inspire young people to consider an apprenticeship at the Brend Collection.
Adam Crocker - Saunton Sands Hotel
Having recently graduated from the University of Surrey with a degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management, Adam joined the Brend Hotels team in summer 2021 following the success of a university mentoring scheme which saw Director Peter Brend, mentor Adam for the last 12 months of his studies.
Marta Supranowicz - The Carlyon Bay Hotel
Marta has been a vital part of The Carlyon Bay Hotel for 18 years. First making her debut in 2005 as a waitress in the Bay View Restaurant, Marta is now Deputy Manager and is always aspiring to achieve more. Discover all about her past, present and future with Brend Hotels.
Matthew Raistrick - The Victoria Hotel
Matthew Raistrick, The Victoria and Belmont Hotels Area Director has been part of Brend Hotels for the past 30 years. From work experience to Area Director, Matthew has climbed the ladder to become an integral part of the Brend family.
Shelley Blundell - Head Office
Offering the same commitment and positivity today as she did 35 years ago, Shelley is a true asset to Brend Hotels and has quite a story to tell…
Luke Hearn - The Park Hotel
From being behind a car bonnet to dreaming of stirring things up behind the bar. Luke went to college to study mechanics, where he realised mechanics wasn’t where his heart was at and his passion lay behind the bar. Find out more about his journey at Brend Hotels.
James Pellow - The Royal Duchy Hotel
Anyone who has ever visited the four-star Royal Duchy on Falmouth’s seafront will almost certainly remember James. Dressed immaculately in top hat and tails, he’s often the first and last member of staff visitors encounter.
Margaret Lovell - The Royal Hotel
Margaret, The Royal Hotel’s Head Receptionist, has been working for Brend Hotels for 49 years and is our longest serving staff member. After completing a ‘Hotel Bookkeeping & Reception Course’, Margaret’s grandmother saw an advert in the newspaper for a hotel receptionist
Phoenix De Giorgi - Saunton Sands Hotel
The winner of the 2020/21 Mr Peter Brend Senior Apprentice of the Year Award is Pheonix De-Giorgi. Here at Brend Hotels, we champion apprenticeships and work closely with HIT Training who are a provider of apprenticeships in the hospitality industry.
Stuart White - The Victoria Hotel
Stuart White is a highly experienced and talented Executive Head Chef who has spent over fifteen years working in the industry and developing his expertise. Stuart’s hard work and determination have seen him working his way up through the ranks to now be Executive Head Chef.
Alex Richards - The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
From part-time waiter to hotel manager in eight years - Alex is one of our greatest successes.