Britannia Hotels Group has appointed four new directors to its board, pledging a "new phase of development" and significant investment despite being ranked Britain's worst hotel chain for the 12th year running. The Altrincham-based company, which also faced controversy over housing asylum seekers, said the appointments mark "a new chapter in the company's evolution" focused on enhancing guest experience, investing in the UK-wide portfolio, and strengthening team performance.
New Board Members Bring Decades of Experience
The newly appointed directors are Simon Powell, Helen Rees, Prakash Sivarajan, and Paul Streets, all of whom held senior roles within the group. Simon Powell brings over 30 years of operational and managerial experience, including 18 years with Britannia. Helen Rees has more than 25 years of managerial hospitality experience and joined Britannia in 2023. Prakash Sivarajan has over 25 years in hospitality with leading brands and joined in 2020. Paul Streets, with over 10 years as a solicitor, has served as general counsel for Britannia Hotels for three years.
Investment Plans and Refurbishment Programme
Britannia announced a multi-million pound property refurbishment programme, investment in new systems and technology for hotel teams, a new entertainment breaks programme at five hotels, and a visual refresh of the brand identity. The group aims to honour its 50-year legacy while evolving to meet changing guest and employee expectations.
Paul Streets said: "Britannia Hotels has a proud heritage and unique place in the UK hospitality landscape. As we approach our 50th anniversary, the new Board represents an important moment for the business – one that allows us to respect what has been built over many years, while bringing greater focus, clarity and ambition to how we operate going forward. Our priority is to invest in our hotels and our people and deliver consistent and great value experiences for our guests."
Background and Controversies
Founded in 1976 by Alex Langsam, Britannia Hotels owns 65 properties with over 10,000 bedrooms, including the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, the Britannia Hotel in Manchester, and the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth. It also operates the Pontin's holiday camp chain, with the Southport site closed since 2024. The company faced criticism for housing asylum seekers in some hotels, including the International Hotel in Canary Wharf, under Home Office contracts. In April, the Government announced it was closing 11 more asylum hotels, including the Britannia Hotel in Wolverhampton, which had seen protests the previous year.
