Member Article

Rockliffe Hall MD becomes Master Innholder

Rockliffe Hall’s managing director, Nick Holmes, has been inducted into one of the hospitality industry’s most exclusive and prestigious national bodies.

The Master Innholders is limited to only the country’s top hoteliers and includes general managers of London’s most prestigious properties and many of the hotel industries leading figures. Entry is strictly by invitation only and all entrants must be nominated by a prominent industry figure.

Nick becomes one of only a few Master Innholders in the North, having undergone a rigorous interview procedure where he had to demonstrate his commitment to fostering high standards of hotel management and to improving standards within the sector.

The Master Innholders is an association of leading hoteliers and has a reputation spanning decades, founded in 1978 at the instigation of the Worshipful Company of Innholders (WCI)– one of 108 City Livery Companies with its origins in medieval guilds formed to regulate crafts, trades and services within London’s Square Mile. Their first charter was granted by Henry VIII in 1514- celebrating their 500th anniversary next year- and it is one of only 50 guilds with its own hall still within the city.

The current Master Innholders association itself was formed to renew links with the WCI within the hotel industry and to forge a commitment to maintaining and extending the highest standards of competence and professionalism.

Speaking about his acceptance into the industry body, Nick Holmes said: “The Innholders has an incredible heritage and it’s a tremendous honour to be recognised by my industry peers and to able to represent the North East region. It came as quite a shock but I can’t deny that it is a real privilege to have my career recognised in this way.”

The official induction ceremony took place earlier this month at the stunning Innholder Hall within the City of London and in the presence of many of the hotel industry’s leading names.

Nick has been managing director of Rockliffe Hall since it launched in 2009, helping it to gain its 5* and triple AA Rosette status. Prior to joining the 5* resort, Nick worked for well-known hotels including Gleneagles in Perthshire, the Craigendarroch Hotel in Royal Deeside and Cameron House at Loch Lomond, as well as spending time in the Midlands and Bristol.

In addition to being a member of the Master Innholders, Nick is actively involved on the management committee for the North East Hotelier Association (NEHA), the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) Tees Valley and was recently elected as Chair of the British Hospitality Association (BHA) Northern England Region.

He is also a member of the Teesside University Business School advisory board and the Institute of Hospitality.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .