Our ethos The Team
Our experienced team has the expertise to give you confidence and we endeavour to earn the trust of each of our clients through a commitment to transparency, structure and a proven track record.
We understand that it takes more than just great facilities to thrive in the hotel and hospitality sector - reputation and guest experience is everything in today’s marketplace. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. All of our team have built successful careers in the hotel and hospitality industry, and it’s that experience and knowledge that’s become the foundation of our company.
Our TEAM
Our team has built strong working relationships with each of our partners – delivering an expert approach that yields unparalleled results, and more importantly, value.
Through knowledge, experience, and skill our team challenge the status quo, deliver results to the bottom line and re-position the hotels we manage as leaders in their marketplace.
At Brightstar Hospitality, we work in cohesion with the owners and investors of the properties we manage, to ensure a successful partnership, that delivers results.
Meet Nikhil Gupta CEO
Nik’s experience spans hospitality and travel-technology. He started his career in various operational roles with Oberoi Hotels and then InterContinental Hotels. He then went onto join BDL Hotels in Glasgow who at that time were a small team of hoteliers with a vision of developing & managing hotels. BDL went onto become the UK’s largest hotel management company. Nik was an owner and Director at BDL Hotels. After BDL, Nik joined the Exec Team at Skyscanner and oversaw the launch Skyscanner’s Hotels and Car Rental business.
Nik has been Vice-Chairman of IHG’s Global Distribution & Revenue Committee, Chairman of IHG’s UK Marketing Forum as well as Chairman of Wyndham Hotels UK Marketing Council.
In 2015 he was recognised by HSMAI and was awarded ‘HSMAI’s - Top 20 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing and Technology
Meet Clive Nicholls Chairman
Clive has dedicated his entire career to the hospitality sector. His working life began at Hotel School and progressed via Crest Hotels and Europa Hotels. The purchase of his own hotel and the subsequent operation of Barringtons, which operated circa 60 hotels for BDO, Arthur Andersen and Deloittes, gave him the in-depth operational knowledge he’s widely known for. Clive is our brand’s driving force and has expanded our client base through his vast network of contacts. His experience and expertise in the hospitality sector is invaluable to Brightstar Hospitality, and in turn, the hotels we manage.
Meet David Reading Managing Director
David has over 25 years’ experience in the day to day minutiae of running a successful branded hotel. His career began with the attainment of an HCIMA qualification and a position at Choice Hotels Europe. This was followed by 7 years at Somerston Hotels (now Atlas Hotels) where he was managed a number of hotels in their large portfolio. David has managed to run several hotels successfully. His vast knowledge of the day to day running of each Brightstar Hospitality Management makes him one of our most valued members of the leadership team.
Meet Nilesh Gangadia Business Development Director
Nilesh is a Graduate in Economics and a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of industry experience. A hotelier with a strong financial background, during his career Nilesh has developed an expertise in corporate strategy and deal structuring plus a high level of experience of project management. He has also developed strong analytical skills for assessing the financial viability of new projects.
Some of the hotels that have been developed using Nilesh's experience are: Europa Gatwick, Holiday Inn Express Banbury, Ibis Styles London - Heathrow and Hampton by Hilton Old Street.
Meet Mike Hurst CFO
Mike Hurst has over 40 years accountancy experience within Industry and Practice and has specialised in Hospitality accounts. Over a ten-year period, Mike and his team have developed a state-of-the-art accounting system which negates the need for hotel-based accounting and gives management an up to date picture of performance.
Meet Andrew Sanders Regional General Manager
Andrew has worked in the hospitality sector for over 24 years. His career began with a position at Jarvis Hotels and he has since worked for several leading brands including Accor, IHG, Rezidor, DeVere Hotels, Choice Hotels and Best Western. He joined the Hospitality First team in 2013 where his role is now to assist David Reading and the rest of the Brightstar team, to identify which brand each hotel should be integrated into. Andrew has actively led three projects for our hotels and successfully integrated them into the Best Western Brand. He is our project leader on social media and all IT projects, including hotel PMS installations, design management, and implementation of new websites. Andrew has a very strong revenue management background and assists the Hospitality First team in design and implementation of strategies to ensure that our partners benefit from continual ROI. Andrew is the project leader on Brightstar's central marketing platform Hotelfeature.co.uk and has also developed Apple Wallet applications to aid loyalty in our hotels.
Meet Anna Temple Head of Sales
Anna has worked in hotels and hospitality for over 20 years, both overseas and in the UK, for the past 10 years within the Leisure segment. Anna worked for 8 years for an IHG franchisee as Group Leisure Sales Manager supporting 33 hotels on the FIT/Group/Sporting and Stag/Hen business responsible for over £8,000,000 per annum in revenue. Previously to that working in a four star Central London hotel looking after their Leisure and FIT sales along with Front Office and Reservations Departments. She offers a wealth of experience and contacts, and gives consultant advice and support on driving Group, FIT and Sporting business into the Brightstar's portfolio of hotels. Anna is passionate about hotels and the travel industry as a whole.
Our Regional Sales Team
Natalie Wilday
Sales Manager
Rebecca Haughton
Sales Manager