The Great National Hotels and Resorts Group have announced that Rachel Howes, the former Managing Director of Booking.com - encompassing Ireland, UK, France and Northern Europe markets - has taken an ownership investment in the Irish owned hotel chain.
Great National said Rachel Howes was instrumental in the success of Booking.com, helping to grow the company into a major global brand, now valued at €70 billion and listing 1.4 million hotels in 226 countries.
It added that Howes also has a proven record as a technology entrepreneur and investor and is also co-founder of HomeRez.com - one of Europe's emerging brand leaders in holiday letting.
Great National was formed in 2010 and provides a range of outsourcing services to independent 4-star and 3-star deluxe properties including marketing, distribution, reservations and yield management. The company is now comprised of 65 hotels and resorts, with 4,500 hotel bedrooms.
Commenting on Rachel Howes’ investment, Great National CEO David Byrne, said: "We are extremely pleased that Rachel has come on board with Great National. She has over 25 years’ experience in accelerating the hotels rooms revenues and is one of the leading international figures in channel management. Rachel’s role with Great National will be to further develop and direct our own distribution strategy. We look forward to working with Rachel as we move into our next stage development."
