Thistle Hotels today announces the appointment of Tim Howes as General Manager of Thistle Bristol City Centre, The Grand. In this role, Howes will oversee the day-to-day management of the hotel, responsible for establishing The Grand as one of Bristol’s leading leisure and business destinations and raising its profile as one the best hotels in the heart of Bristol’s city centre.
Howes brings with him a wealth of experience, built up over the 20 years he has worked in the hotel industry. His passion began when he left school and took on a gap year working at a hotel in his home town, Swindon. Realising that he wanted to develop a career in the industry, he went on to study hotel management at the University of Surrey.
After graduating, Howes trained with Disney for a year in the US before moving to Paris to work at The Disneyland Hotel when the park launched in the early 1990s. He returned to the UK four years later and has since worked for Marriott, Novotel and The Landmark Hotel. He most recently held the position of General Manager of Mercure Brigstow.
Situated in the heart of the city, the four star The Grand hotel has recently benefited from a £9 million refurbishment, bring the Victorian building’s interiors up-to-date yet still retaining the original charm and character it’s most famous for. The renovation included a refresh of the hotel’s 182 bedrooms, 10 meeting rooms and in particular, its spectacular Grand Ballroom.
Commenting on his move, Tim Howes said: “The Grand is perfectly situated in the heart of the city and its refurbishment has put us in a great position for further establishing our position as being one of the best hotels Bristol has to offer, for both business and leisure guests. Dating back to the Victorian era, the hotel has an unrivalled heritage in the city and I’m looking forward to building on the history of the property as well as the fondness of the hotel from the local Bristol community.”
Darren Patt, Regional Operations Director, Thistle Hotels, comments: “We’ve invested significantly in the refurbishment of The Grand, transforming it into one of the most desirable business and leisure hotels in the city. The next step for us is to continue to raise its profile and increase awareness of its fantastic features - we believe Tim’s experience makes him well placed to take on this role.”
Howes lives in Bristol with his wife and two children.