KINGFISHER RESORTS - Key Persons
Adrian has a degree in International Tourism Management and extensive experience in the premium tourism and hospitality sector. He started his career as Head of Marketing for luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, and spent several years as the Regional Marketing Manager for Indian Ocean hotel operator, Constance Hotels.
In 2009, Adrian joined Nigel Chapman to launch Martinhal, before working with him in 2011 to reacquire the Luxury Family Hotels portfolio in partnership with private equity backers. Over the past 10 years, Adrian has played a key role in increasing the turnover and profitability of the Kingfisher Resorts portfolio.
Job Titles:
- Hotel Director, Knoll House Hotel & Hotel Meudon
Donovan's career in hospitality has grown from humble beginnings as a trainee chef in South Africa, to development within the luxury safari industry, working with internationally recognised brands such as Abercrombie & Kent across South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, over a span of 15 years.
He joined Kingfisher Resorts in 2016 and spearheaded the redevelopment and successful re-launch of Gara Rock as an award-winning five-star boutique hotel. Since then, Donovan has taken over the role of Hotel Director at Knoll House Hotel, working closely with the Kingfisher Directors to obtain planning permission to redevelop and re-launch the hotel as a luxury resort in this world-class location on the Jurassic Coast.
Job Titles:
- Resort Director, Una St Ives
James' early career was within the luxury four-red and five-star hotel market, including management roles within the Savoy Group and at The Goring in London. Attainment of a Michelin Star at the Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds was followed by a successful group role within Champneys.
James' recent Cornish experience includes The Cornwall Hotel and Gwel an Mor Resort, where he achieved numerous awards, including Holiday Resort of the Year at the English Tourism Awards. His current role at Una St Ives oversees the ongoing operational repositioning, including culture, senior team development, recruitment, health and safety, and steering of standards and procedures.
A Chartered Accountant (FCA), Nigel is also a hotel and resort developer and operator, a role he has undertaken for over 30 years. In 1989, he founded Luxury Family Hotels: the first of a new breed of hotels focusing on family friendly luxury.
During his career, Nigel has also conceived and developed the successful ‘urban' hotel brand Alias Hotels, and, with partners, opened the 100m Martinhal resort in the Algarve. In 2013, Nigel led the acquisition and revival of the five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare, Ireland. He led the acquisition and repositioning of Hotel Meudon in 2020/21 and holds interests in several other hotels and resorts, including Una St Ives and Knoll House Hotel.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Finance Director
Tony is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) and the Finance Director responsible for accounting and finance across the portfolio of interests managed by Kingfisher Resorts.
Tony was a consultant to Sheen Falls Lodge, and has held Finance Director, Non-Executive Director and consultancy roles in a wide mix of leisure and hospitality businesses, over a period spanning 30+ years, ranging from PLC and PE backed companies to EIS and other tax efficient vehicles.