Peter SK Till to Lead Choice Hotels Europe in UK

LONDON. 26 SEPTEMBER 2016 Choice Hotels International Inc, one of the largest hotel companies in the world known for the Comfort, Quality, Clarion and Ascend Hotel Collection brands in Europe, announced today the appointment of Peter S K Till to the position of UK Managing Director for Choice Hotels Europe.

Based in London and reporting to Mark Pearce, Senior Vice President, international division, he will be responsible for the expansion of Choice’s UK hotel portfolio as well as enhancing the services provided to Choice Hotel’s existing franchisees in the UK. Peter will take the lead on the development and implementation of Choice’s strategic business plans for the UK market, directing the day-to-day operations of the UK business, including Franchise Services and Portfolio Management.

Choice Hotels International currently franchises more than 6,400 hotels worldwide and nearly 500 in Europe and is keen to grow further its UK hotel portfolio.

Peter Till brings to Choice almost 40 years of hotel industry experience gained both as an industry consultant and as a senior hotel executive. As the founder of PSKT International Hotel Consulting he has spent the last 14 years providing a range of business development and management advisory services to leading hotel chains. He joins Choice from Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group where for six years he was their UK Head of Development & Asset Management, responsible for all aspects of expanding Rezidor’s presence in the market. Previously he held a number of Vice-President level hotel development roles for Marriott and Ritz-Carlton both in Europe and the U.S. His earlier career was spent as a Managing Consultant for Pannell Kerr Forster Associates, the network of global accountancy firms, based in London and Washington D.C. where he oversaw a team providing hotel and tourism related projects throughout Europe.

In addition to his various leadership roles Peter also has strong hotel operations experience having worked in a number of international hotels, including The Grand Hyatt, New York and The Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds.

He holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration.

Mark Pearce, senior vice president, international division, for Choice Hotels, commented: “We have aggressive growth plans for Europe and I’m pleased that such an experienced hotel franchisor and developer as Peter is going to be leading our efforts in the UK.”

Peter Till commented: “I am delighted to be joining Choice Hotels at such an exciting time in its development. I have long admired Choice as one of the world’s leading hotel companies and look forward to expanding its UK business.”

As part of its European expansion programme in the first half of 2016 the company has signed agreements to add 19 properties in Germany, Austria and Hungary under the Comfort and Quality brands, and another deal to establish multiple hotels in Belgium. Choice is further growing its presence in Germany with two new Comfort brand hotels in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, and recently launched its upscale Ascend Hotel Collection in the UK and France.

The Choice Hotels Europe portfolio of franchised hotels offers business and leisure travellers a full spectrum from premium economy to upscale hotels. Choice Hotels Europe franchises nearly 500 hotels across Europe that are either open or under development. Brands franchised by Choice Hotels Europe include Clarion Collection, which is three to four star rated; Quality, which is three-star rated and provides a mid-scale full service offering and Comfort, which is two to three star rated and is the largest Choice Hotels International brand worldwide, known for value, customer service and reliability.

Choice also provides guests with an upscale, boutique hotel offering through Ascend Hotel Collection, a portfolio of 4-5 star rated independent hotels located in key cities and destinations.