In the highly competitive luxury hospitality landscape of the Channel Islands, where discerning travelers seek both exceptional service and authentic local experiences, Hand Picked Hotels has initiated a significant strategic maneuver by appointing three senior executives to spearhead its regional operations. This decisive action underscores a renewed commitment to its portfolio in Jersey and Alderney, signaling a long-term investment aimed at enhancing guest experiences and solidifying market leadership. The appointments of a new General Manager for L’Horizon Hotel & Spa, a new Hotel Manager for Braye Beach Hotel, and a newly created Director of Sales for the islands represent a multifaceted approach to boosting performance. This move is not merely a personnel shuffle; it is a calculated effort to infuse the properties with specialized expertise, from operational excellence and fine dining to cohesive commercial strategy, positioning the hotels for a new era of growth and distinction in a demanding market.
A New Vision for Hotel Management
The leadership changes signal a clear focus on leveraging deep local and international expertise to refine the guest experience at each unique property. At the helm of L’Horizon Hotel & Spa in Jersey, Will Jackson steps into the General Manager role, bringing with him an invaluable understanding of the local market from his previous position as General Manager of the Pomme d’Or Hotel in St Helier. His primary mandate is to elevate the hotel’s already strong standing in the luxury sector, building upon recent accolades such as its Green Tourism accreditation and the prestigious AA-rosette awarded to The Grill Restaurant. Jackson’s approach will center on meticulously enhancing every facet of the guest journey, ensuring that the hotel not only meets but exceeds the expectations of modern luxury travelers. His local knowledge is expected to be a critical asset in strengthening community ties and tailoring services that resonate with both visitors and Jersey residents, further cementing the hotel’s reputation as a premier destination on the island. This appointment reflects a strategy of placing leaders who can seamlessly blend operational prowess with an innate sense of place.
In contrast, the appointment of José Simoes as Hotel Manager at Braye Beach Hotel in Alderney brings a wealth of international hospitality experience to the smaller, more intimate island setting. Simoes, whose background includes managing establishments with AA Rosette-awarded fine dining, such as The Isles of Glencoe Hotel, is tasked with overseeing all daily operations. His role, however, extends beyond standard management duties; it involves a delicate balance of maintaining the hotel’s reputation for outstanding, personalized service while carefully preserving and honoring Alderney’s unique and distinct heritage. A key focus of his leadership will be on team development, fostering a culture of excellence and empowerment among staff to ensure that every guest interaction is memorable. By bringing his extensive experience in high-end dining and service standards to Braye Beach, Simoes is poised to refine its offering, ensuring the hotel remains a benchmark for quality and a true reflection of its tranquil and historic surroundings. This move highlights the company’s commitment to tailoring leadership to the specific character and needs of each hotel in its portfolio.
Unifying Sales and Strategy
Completing this strategic realignment is the appointment of Jaime Short to the newly created and pivotal position of Director of Sales for the Channel Islands. This role signifies a major shift towards a more integrated and powerful commercial strategy across the region. Short brings a formidable track record of multi-property commercial management, most recently serving as a Cluster Director of Sales at Marriott Hotels, where she was responsible for driving the sales strategy for nine distinct properties. Her extensive experience in developing and executing complex, market-specific sales plans will be instrumental in her new capacity. Tasked with crafting a bespoke sales framework tailored specifically to the unique dynamics of the Channel Islands market, her focus will be on cultivating and expanding corporate and trade partnerships. Furthermore, she will lead initiatives designed to attract a diverse mix of on-island and mainland guests, creating a cohesive approach to revenue growth that leverages the unique strengths of each hotel while promoting the Channel Islands as a premier destination under the Hand Picked banner.
The creation of the Director of Sales role and the appointment of Jaime Short were designed to unify the commercial efforts of the Channel Islands hotels, which previously may have operated with more siloed strategies. By centralizing the sales leadership, the company aims to harness synergies between its properties, presenting a more compelling and comprehensive offering to corporate clients, event planners, and leisure travelers. Short’s mandate involves not just driving bookings but also building a sustainable revenue pipeline through strategic partnerships and innovative marketing campaigns. Her expertise in managing diverse hotel portfolios is particularly relevant, as she will navigate the distinct market positions of L’Horizon Hotel & Spa in Jersey and Braye Beach Hotel in Alderney. This unified strategy is expected to enhance brand visibility, optimize occupancy rates, and ultimately maximize the commercial performance of the entire Channel Islands collection, ensuring a robust and coordinated approach to market challenges and opportunities.
A Renewed Commitment and Strategic Outlook
The strategic appointments of Will Jackson, José Simoes, and Jaime Short collectively represented a significant investment in human capital and a clear affirmation of Hand Picked Hotels’ long-term vision for its Channel Islands properties. As articulated by company Chair Julia Hands, these hires were a direct reflection of a focused strategy to nurture top-tier talent capable of elevating the performance and reputation of the hotels. The move was interpreted across the industry as a proactive step to reinforce the brand’s presence in a key market, ensuring its hotels were not only competitive but were also setting new benchmarks for luxury and service. The combination of localized operational expertise, international service standards, and a unified, high-level sales strategy created a powerful new leadership framework. This foundation was established to drive sustainable growth, enhance the guest experience, and solidify the hotels’ standing as premier destinations in the Channel Islands for years to come.
