DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln Hotel, due to open in November 2011, has made the first appointments to its senior management team.

Philip Walker, who has over ten years’ senior management experience in the hotel and leisure industry, is the hotel’s general manager and Niki Shepheard has been appointed to the role of sales and marketing manager.

Philip has previously worked for some of the biggest hotel companies in the world including Intercontinental Hotels Group and Guoman Hotel Management while Niki has previously worked in the travel, events and conference sectors both in the UK and abroad.

Prior to his appointment at DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln Philip has worked as a General Manager at several hotels across the UK and a hotel operations manager for the Crowne Plaza.

“I worked in my last job for six years during which time I helped to transform the hotel into an award-winning business.

“I felt as though my work there was done and I needed a new challenge,” Philip explained.

“Lincoln is a bit of a hidden gem so we need to raise the profile of the city as well as the hotel. DoubleTree by Hilton is a fantastic brand and our aim is to deliver the exceptionally high standard of customer service, which Hilton is famous for, and have some fun at the same time.

“We are here to do a job but we want to enjoy ourselves doing it and it’s about recruiting people with the right personality as well as the right skills.”

Niki, who has previously worked as a Media Executive at Lincolnshire Tourism and International Sales Manager for Conference and Travel Publications in East Sussex, said she’s excited to be working for one of the world’s best-loved hotel brands.

“Hilton Worldwide has a growing portfolio of DoubleTree by Hilton hotels but this is the first purpose-built property in the UK which gives it a tremendous amount of kudos,” she said.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be part of this exciting project! Lincoln has long needed a hotel like the DoubleTree by Hilton which promises to offer both visitors and residents a contemporary, chic yet welcoming place to sleep, meet, work, eat and play.”

Richard Farrar, one of the directors of Brayford Hotels, the company behind the new development on Lincoln’s Brayford Wharf North, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Philip and Niki to the team. Getting a GM and a Sales and Marketing Manager in place was crucial as, although the hotel won’t be welcoming guests for another six months, when it does open we want to hit the ground running.

“Our aim is to create a contemporary and aspirational hotel which will boost the city’s offering to tourists and provide a world-class hotel facility for both residents and businesses to enjoy.

“There’s a lot of work to do before November, however, both back and front of house, but with our key staff now in place we’ll be able to make real progress towards achieving that aim.”