10:45am Friday 12th March 2010
By Richard Garfield
IT’S all change at Hilton Basingstoke as it aims to attract even more business customers.
The hotel in Old Common Road, Black Dam, is undergoing a £1.3million refur bishment programme.
Headed by hotel manager Paul Michael, who arrived just over a year ago, £800,000 has already been spent on upgrading 55 bedrooms, which have stylish new furniture and carpets.
Delighted with the new-look rooms, Paul said: “We want to make sure the business customer has everything he or she needs.
“Every room has a 32-inch LCD televi sion, offering 33 channels, including five business channels, and the rooms also come with complimentary Wi Fi Internet connection.
“Moving forward into 2010, we are spending just under £500,000 on revamp ing the public areas and meeting rooms, which will include a brand new restau rant and bar. We hope the restaurant will be ready for June 2010, just in time for the World Cup!”
Paul, pictured, who hails from the West Midlands, previously worked at the Hilton Warwick before setting his sights on the Hilton Basingstoke.
He said: “My background and forte is to troubleshoot hotels, looking at what customers need and then delivering what they require. I wouldn’t go into a property where I didn’t feel I could make a difference.
“At every property where I’ve worked, I’ve always increased results – increas ing profitability and increasing cus tomer service levels – and that’s because I’m very focused and driven in what I do.
“I have recruited a great team over the past 12 months who are all dedicated to delivering the best focused service to all our guests”
Customer service is something that Paul takes very seriously and it was cus tomer feedback that partly resulted in the refurbishment programme.
Aware of the many big corporate names based in Basingstoke, and the area’s thriving number of small and medium-size enterprises, Paul is keen to foster a closer relationship with the business community.
“Many businesses have corporate accounts with us,” said Paul. “People want a quality hotel and have high expectations when they walk into a Hilton, which we in Basingstoke strive to deliver.”
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