voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has named Barnaby Kean as its general manager.
The general manager in charge of the voco Zeal Exeter Science Park’s opening is Barnaby Kean. Currently under construction, the four-star, 142-bedroom property is scheduled to open in January 2025.
Less than a mile from Exeter Airport and next to J29 of the M5 Motorway is where you will find voco Zeal Exeter Science Park. Operating under Valor Hospitality, the hotel will become the first net-zero-carbon hotel in the IHG network.
In week 49 of a 75-week construction schedule, the building—which received a BREEAM Outstanding rating during the design phase—is proceeding according to plan.
Kean comes to the team from his position as general manager at Klarent Hospitality. His experience with IHG brands is extensive, having worked at the Holiday Inn Guildford, which won hotel of the year in 2015. He was also a member of the Zeal Hotels team in the past.
“I am thrilled to begin working at this innovative property and contributing to the creation of a more sustainable hotel sector,” Kean stated.
“We aim to be the premier hotel in Exeter and the UK, utilizing a circular economy from beginning to end in everything we do, with a special focus on the local use of food and beverage. We want to be a beacon of sustainability fit for 2050, as outlined by the Paris Agreement. We want to be the first sustainable generation and to be the leaders in sustainable hospitality.”
managing director of Zeal Hotels, Tim Wheeldon, stated: “We are thrilled to have Barnaby rejoin ‘Team Zeal.'” In 2019, he showed his passion for environmentally friendly operations, practical management, and team building when we opened our first hotel, the Holiday Inn Express in Bridgwater.
“The Voco Zeal Hotel Exeter Science Park surpasses the 2050 net zero energy target and is being built with 50% less carbon and 100% electricity. Every year, the solar panels produce more energy than the hotel uses, and the design guarantees that it will only use one-third the energy of comparable hotels.”
President of Valor Hospitality UK & Europe Brian McCarthy stated: “Barnaby was the ideal choice to spearhead the launch of this cutting-edge new hotel. He shares our values and is aware of our goals, which include putting people first in all we do and building a genuinely sustainable operation at Vovo Zeal Exeter Science Park. We will be hiring for positions all throughout the hotel as we ramp up launch preparations now that Barnaby is leading the group.”
ALSO READ :Misty Ross has joined OTO Development as Vice President, Sales & Marketing
