The Team | Dehavilland Collection

THE TEAM

Paul Clark, the ex-chief executive of Virgin Hotels and the De Vere Collection has assembled a team of UK-based high-profile hoteliers, with a strong and proven track record.

The management team has worked at senior levels, within the Virgin Group, Trusthouse Forte, De Vere Group, Orient Express Hotels, Firmdale Hotels, Luxury Family Hotels, and The Ivy Collection. The company is trading as Dehavilland Collection.

Paul Clark and the team have extensive experience in acquiring individual hotels and hotel groups, investing in guest-facing facilities, driving RevPAR and operating profits; then selling three to five years post-acquisition, for very high profits, thereby generating “super profits”.

Since leaving Virgin, Clark and his business partner successfully acquired eleven hotels in the UK, including luxury family hotels from Von Essen and the private purchase of Sheen Falls Lodge in Ireland.

Sheen Falls Lodge is a case in point. The 66-room hotel was acquired in February 2013 for 4.8 million Euros. At that point the hotel was losing money and the new management team set about repositioning the hotel and improving international business. In addition, Clark secured a deal with Aer Lingus and personally promoted the hotel to the US travel trade through Virtuoso.

Profitability improved substantially, with more money being invested in renovating the rooms and public areas. The hotel received many accolades due to the improved accommodation and excellent food. In due course Sheen Falls Lodge was voted by Condé Nast as one of the top ten hotels in the world. The hotel also features in the book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” by Patricia Schultz. An offer was received and accepted for Sheen Falls Lodge from a Singaporean investor in December 2018 for circa 17 million Euros. Investor returns on this project alone exceeded 400%.

Clark and his business partner, with the backing of Patron Capital, acquired seven Luxury Family Hotels from the administrator of the Von Essen group.

Members of the team have project managed many international hotel developments throughout the EMEA, and some high profile five-star resorts, such as La Residencia Mallorca and Sheen Falls Lodge in Ireland.

Our plan is to make selective, opportunistic hotel acquisitions around the world. The team combines extensive operational experience with considerable acquisition and development acumen. Therefore they are able to take on both existing hotels and new build opportunities.