News & Press Releases
The Westminster Collection Appoints 5 Senior Events Industry Directors to its Board
24/10/2008
The prominent marketing collective, TWC (WESTMINSTER) LTD t/a The Westminster Collection, comprising 22 prestigious venues, attractions and hotels in Westminster, has now completed the appointment of directors to its board. These represent 5 highly experienced and senior leisure industry directors in their own right.
René Dee, Chief Executive Officer - TWC (WESTMINSTER) LTD.
René Dee cut his teeth in the travel industry during the 1970's working in both marketing and operations with groundbreaking international special interest tour operators that pioneered the now fully accepted adventure travel holidays as we know them today. He also ran his own special interest travel company, René Dee Expeditions Ltd. during this time.
In the 1980's René moved across to organizing exhibitions and was co-organiser of the Daily Mail Ski Show for 5 years and Editor of Ski International during the same period. He also acted as Sales Director for the first BBC Radio Show at Earl's Court in 1980 and created PR-INDEX at Wembley Conference Centre - the first combined exhibition and conference for the PR industry to have been staged.
In 1991, René was recruited by the Royal Horticultural Society to re-launch the Royal Horticultural Halls, first as its Sales & Marketing Manager but, soon to become its Managing Director. During the 17 years there, René transformed the brand, substantially improved the product, increased the profit dramatically and left it in excellent shape in March 2008.
René also created the name, The Westminster Collection, and has been its principal architect during the past 5 years. He has also held senior positions as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of several event industry and public sector organisations, and was a member of the London Tourist Board Advisory Committee for 7 years, contributing to its conversion to present day Visit London.
Michael Sharp, Managing Director and General Manager - Westminster Central Hall.
Michael Sharp qualified as a Chartered Accountant and thenspent 20 years or so at the 200-bed 4* family owned Selsdon Park Hotel, Conference Centre, Golf Course and Leisure Club set in 250 acres of countryside just outside Croydon. Initially Michael was appointed Finance Director and Company Secretary and later became Managing Director, so enabling him to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the hospitality and leisure industries.
In 1998 the owners decided to dispose of the hotel to one of the multiples. Michael was seeking new challenges and was intrigued by the potential which seemed to be offered by Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. During the past ten years Michael has nurtured the commercial development of various opportunities generating an average annual growth of 15% and currently enjoying an annual turnover of £8million.
Throughout Michael's career, he has always endeavoured to be well acquainted with all aspects of the hospitality industry through his membership and participation in several professional associations, regular attendance at industry events, and his passion to continuously deliver good quality hospitality.
In view of this experience, he feels that he can make a valuable contribution to the new phase of the development of The Westminster Collection.
Jonathan Byrne, Commercial Director - QEIICC.
Jonathan Byrne, Commercial Director since April 2008, has a wealth of experience in both Operational and Marketing & Sales roles throughout different sectors of the Meetings, Events and Hospitality Industry. He originally gained a professional qualification from HCIMA, now Institute of Hospitality, of which Jonathan has achieved Fellowship and is also a livery man of the Worshipful Company of Marketors.
Travel Trade, Airlines and Hotels in the UK, Middle East and India contributed to his early experience moving from operations into sales. Jonathan remains strongly committed to a culture of people management and development via one of the first implementations of Investors in People when Head of Sales at Payne & Gunter. Graduating to Deputy MD, from Sales & Marketing Director within 2 years at London Catering Services, Jonathan then spent seven years with the Crown Group as Group Sales & Marketing Director. During this time the nine businesses more than doubled in turnover. Before joining QEIICC , Jonathan refreshed his hotel experience with a short spell at City Inn Hotels, managing the Meetings & Events business throughout the group.
Adele Summers, Venue & Marketing Director - One Queen Anne's Gate.
Adele Summers started her career in the hotel industry where her first position was as Head Receptionist at the George Hotel, Stamford. After 5 years in the hotel industry, she spent a year on a working holiday in Australia, returning to the UK to work at the Haycock Hotel, Wansford.
She then moved from the hotel industry to join Ladbrokes as their South East Manager, part of their gaming machine operations.
She joined the Water Industry in 1989 at their offices in Queen Anne's Gate as part of the Services team, looking after the serviced office accommodation and hospitality area and in 2000 was given the remit to promote One Queen Anne's Gate as a meetings and conference venue, alongside the serviced office accommodation. She was also given the remit to develop the brand to make One Queen Anne's Gate a successful and respected venue in the marketplace.
Anna Fenten, Marketing Director - Sodexho Prestige/Cabinet War Rooms - Churchill Museum
With a background in the corporate travel and events sector and a first class degree in Linguistics, Anna started as corporate sales manager on Bateaux London in 2000, London's only floating restaurant, owned by Sodexo Prestige. Throughout the years she worked in London central sales office supporting such prestigious venues as HMS Belfast and Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms.
After completing the CIM Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Anna became a marketing support manager for Sodexo Prestige, working her way up to become a Marketing Director for Sodexo Prestige. Her remit includes looking after marketing communications of a diverse portfolio of venues, such as Blenheim Palace and Ickworth, and events from The RHS Chelsea Flower Show to The Open Championship, as well as supporting conference and banqueting sales at venues such as Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms.
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Notes to Editors
For further information on The Westminster Collection including quotes and images or to arrange interviews and visits, please contact René Dee on 07541314855 or by email to venue100-twc@yahoo.co.uk or visit www.thewestminstercollection.co.uk
TWC
(WESTMINSTER) LTD. t/a The Westminster Collection is a not for profit
company registered in England and Wales acting as a marketing
collective representing the very best of
venues, facilities and services in the Borough of Westminster. It's
vision is, 'To be recognised as the leading business tourism marketing
collective for venues and events in Westminster.'
