Chris D.

General Manager @Staycity Group

Birmingham, GB

Staycity Aparthotels deliver a distinctive city stay experience by combining hotel-quality service with the flexibility and comfort of apartment living. At Staycity Group, I led the successful opening of Wilde Aldgate, a 156-apartment aparthotel with a vibrant bar and restaurant, which was awarded Property of the Year (2022). That same year, I was honored with the Values Award for my contributions to sustainability across the company. In 2023, I was proud to be named General Manager of the Year at the ASAP Awards, recognising leadership and excellence in hospitality. Building on this success, I transitioned to Staycity Birmingham City Centre, a 170-apartment site with a busy F&B operation. There, I led a turnaround from the company’s lowest guest satisfaction score (8.4 on Booking.com) to one of its highest (8.9), achieved through minimal, yet targeted capital investment and a relentless focus on standards, culture, and team energy. Most recently, I co-led the Elevate leadership training program (2024), delivering development sessions to all 22 General Managers across the Staycity Group. Year to date, I’ve successfully doubled Food & Beverage EBITDA, through strategic cost control, targeted cross-training, and a focused upselling program. Additionally, I’ve contributed to market share growth (RevPAR) compared to the previous year and was selected as Regional Delegate for UK South and France in a company-wide working group on labour controls, recognised for implementing best practices at property level, achieved with a positive impact on the guest experience.