Ramada Hotel celebrates its 10th birthday
THE award-winning Ramada Hotel in Southport is celebrating its 10th birthday.
The number one-rated, four-star establishment, in the waterfront complex, opened its doors on October 23, 2008.
With its 133 rooms, Marine Brasserie and relaxed atmosphere, it has become one of the town’s most prominent hotels.
General manager Lisa Little said: “We are delighted to be celebrating such a milestone birthday.
“We feel that our strength has been the partnerships we have made and ingratiating the business into the town and its offer.
“We work with other businesses, organisations and Sefton Council to attract people into the town and offer the very best customer experience once they visit us.
“We are undergoing huge change here, moving into becoming The Waterfront national leisure destination alongside the Southport Theatre, Floral Hall Ballroom, and we look forward to the next 10 years.”
There are still members of the original team working in the hotel today including Nicky Cooper, who is sales director, and Rick Cooper, head concierge.
Rick has welcomed thousands of guests and even met his wife – sales director Nicky – while at the hotel.
Last, but not least, Caroline Hughes has been balancing the books since the very beginning and continues her role as finance manager.
Enda Rylands, now COO of Southport Waterfront, was the general manager for eight years and the driving force leading his team in developing the Ramada into the business it has become.
In January, the hotel will undergo a rebrand, becoming the first Bliss Hotel in the UK, as it is now owned by Bliss Investment Partners, a private office investment partnership.
Joint managing partner Robert Agsteribbe has been a shareholder of the hotel since it opened 10 years ago.
Now, with his partners Daniel Broch (founder of Everyman Cinemas group) and Kevin Potter (managing director), he aims to reinvent The Waterfront as a national leisure destination.
The owners said that the aim is to put Southport on the map and that the Bliss Hotel experience is distinctly different, with the same team – but with some “added Bliss sparkle”.