22 October 2010
As it celebrates 25 years of success in hospitality, Cedar Court Hotels has announced a new board structure, adding fresh expertise to the existing team and securing the family legacy of this well-known Yorkshire brand.

Kevin Henry, who became Cedar Court Hotels’ Director of Finance in June this year, and Maritza Demetriou - daughter of the founder, Mr George Demetriou – join Mr Demetriou, his son Dino and Group Director John Horvath as board members, with Zoe Georgiou, Mr Demetriou’s other daughter, remaining as Company Secretary.

Kevin Henry is an experienced Finance Director with a strong background in PLCs.  Having begun his career as a Chartered Accountant, he then joined Wakefield textile company Sirdar PLC in 1984.  With Sirdar, Henry was part of the original joint venture company that assisted Mr Demetriou with the funding and development of the first Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield.

Mr Demetriou said:

“Our key strength is the way in which we combine the independent spirit and traditional values of a family business with good business sense and innovative thinking.  In an industry where people tend to move around, we have an extraordinarily loyal staff many of whom stay with the company for years.  I am anxious to keep alive the culture that engenders this loyalty, and the new board structure is, I am sure, going to guarantee that.”

Kevin Henry said:

“My relationship with Cedar Court Hotels has, in many ways, come full circle.  I was part of the team that assisted Mr Demetriou with the development of the first property in Wakefield, and 25 years on I am looking forward to helping to drive the next period of innovation, growth and investment.  As well as our four star portfolio, we are working hard to gain a five-star rating for the new Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa in York.  If we are successful it will be the city’s first five star hotel.”

Coincidentally, Maritza Demetriou worked with Kevin Henry at Sirdar and has obtained considerable finance and management experience.  She has now been appointed a director of Cedar Court Hotels and will be helping to continue the family involvement in the business.

John Horvath has over 30 years’ hotel management experience on his CV.  As Cedar Court Hotels’ Group Director he has overall responsibility for the smooth running of the five properties and is currently interim General Manager at Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa in York.  He previously managed Cedar Court Wakefield where he was General Manager for 18 years.

These new board appointments happen against the backdrop of the development of a ‘2015 Vision’ for the business.  This all-encompassing business plan seeks to consolidate Cedar Court Hotels’ product strengths and aims to position the collection for another 25 years of prosperity and growth.

Despite a major investment in developing The Grand Hotel & Spa in York, Cedar Court Hotels remains a financially robust business.  According to the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009, annual turnover was approximately £15m and this is set to grow as York comes on stream.

Picture

L-R: John Horvath, Dino Demetriou, Zoe Georgiou, Maritza Demetriou, George Demetriou, and Kevin Henry, pictured outside Cedar Court Wakefield, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year