WE’VE CAUGHT UP WITH MATTHEW KNIGHT THIS WEEK, NEW GM AT HOLIDAY INN LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE.
With a huge amount of experience in the sector, we discuss how things are and look towards the future.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR JOURNEY TO THE HOLIDAY INN LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE?
It is a journey that has seen me work and manage a wide variety of hotels in the Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales area, but I have always had a desire to work in Liverpool and experience the city. Recently, I have been GM at Holiday Ellesmere Port / Cheshire Oaks for Centre Island Hotels and delighted to be given the opportunity to take over this great hotel.
SO HOW IS EVERYTHING AT THE MOMENT?
It is a tough time to start a new job, this job is about working with people, building relationship and it is hard to do that when contact is restricted as it is at the moment. The hotel is open and will remain open through this lockdown as we hope that this will be the last interruption. We have all of the protocols in place to keep it safe and the team are only too happy to be here and welcoming guests, albeit a lot less than they are used to. Timing isn’t all bad though, with all of the improvement works taking place on Lime Street while we are quiet it does have its up side.
HOW ARE YOU FINDING THE CITY AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ONCE LOCKDOWN IS OVER?
From a business point of view, everyone that I have come across has been so welcoming and supportive. People seem very generous with their time and I have been really grateful of that, nothing appears to be too much trouble. What am I looking forward to? I can’t wait to see the plaza outside Lime Street station bustling with people coming into the city to enjoy themselves, obviously checking in here first. Also with the Liverpool Connectivity scheme in full swing outside our hotel, I am really excited to see that complete and the area vibrant. Welcoming those large events that Liverpool host so well might be a little while off, but I’m really looking forward to them days returning.
Personally, I can’t wait to get out and explore the city more, to find all of those gems that make Liverpool a wonderful city to visit and be able to recommend our guests some experiences that will enhance their visit to us.