Ruan started his career in the hospitality industry after working for two years for a chartered accounting company, then moving from Pretoria to study Hospitality Management at the International Hotels School, Cape Town. After studies, he was recruited to the opening team of the luxury Taj Cape Town Hotel in 2010, and for two years played an integral part implementing a huge variety of controls and processes.

Ruan has continued to assist the Taj in all matters of finance, overseeing of audits, training, consolidating of financials and corporate reporting, while starting his own financial consulting business, working in various boutique properties and adding great value to all his clients.

French-born Patricia started her career in the hotel industry in Bavaria, Germany straight after passing her Baccalauréat. After moving to Cape Town, Patricia started as a waitress at Blues Restaurant and received training in a different perspective to hospitality. She was then given the opportunity by Nicky and Steve Fitzgerald to join the opening team of the Bay Hotel where she performed the roles of Guest Relations Officer and Duty Manager. This is where she met Tony Romer-Lee and Euan McGlashan.

A few years later she teamed up again with Tony and Euan, and worked with them at Cape Grace in the guest relations field. Patricia joins Valor Hospitality Africa as she has a very keen eye for detail in all areas of service.

Peter is a chartered surveyor with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Peter’s early career involved working across the Forte Hotel Brands following on in later years with MacDonald Hotels and Resorts, Paragon, the LRG Portfolio and finally Valor Hospitality.

Peter recently managed the implementation of Valor’s Capex programme of over £40m across 3 years, including the rebranding of the first Marriot Hotels in the UK, conversion of Holiday Inns to Crowne Plaza’s and the 79 bedroom hotel extension to DoubleTree by Hilton, Chester.

As Global Development Director, Peter is responsible for assisting the Valor development leaders in each region with delivering the yearly Capex plans across the portfolio, disciplined management of rebranding and repositioning projects, project management process, structure and discipline as well as reviewing new build opportunities.

Tapan's hotel management studies were completed at the world-renowned Oberoi Centre of Learning & Development in India, followed by Certification in Hotel Real Estate and Revenue Management from Cornell University (USA) & the Revenue Academy UK. His successful hotel management career has demonstrated his very strong leadership abilities, with proven expertise in managing all aspects of various luxury hotel operations, training and developing staff, overseeing annual budgets, and implementing successful sales strategies.

Tapan has won numerous awards for hospitality assets under leadership including a "Best Hotel in the World" honour whilst with Oberoi Hotels. He has successfully opened two international hospitality projects on-schedule, working closely with asset owners, operators, licensing authorities, and various contractors.

Tapan is an accomplished and goal-orientated professional. He joins the Valor team as Regional Operations and Business Development Director in the Middle East. He is based in Dubai with his wife and two young children.

Mark became Operations Director at Valor in 2015, after spending over 20 years in various operational and leadership roles in the hospitality industry. Mark has been instrumental in the growth of Valor in the UK and has overseen extensive refurbishment, rebrand and extension projects, as well as the integration of many new hotels into the UK portfolio. He is obsessive about service and quality standards and, as a result, Valor is recognised by our brand partners as one of the leading hotel management companies in the UK. Mark strongly believes in developing and mentoring his team and several of our current General Managers have risen through the ranks to achieve their positions under his leadership.

Louise has 20 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry for a number of leading brands. Having graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc (Hons) in Mathematical Sciences, Louise’s early career was centered on profit analysis before she moved into roles with more of a focus on revenue generation. Louise has held senior management positions with Travelodge and Thomas Cook, and her career to date has given her an in-depth knowledge of all areas of revenue management, coupled with strong analytical skills. Her knowledge of different industries allows her to share alternative approaches to maximising revenue.

As Revenue Director, Louise is responsible for driving a total revenue culture by developing the group’s revenue team, optimising distribution and setting the strategy for pricing and inventory allocation.

Vanessa is an experienced sales and marketing leader, having spent over 25 years within the hospitality industry. Vanessa joined the business from Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where she held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing UK and headed up the sales and marketing function for over 60 hotels. The portfolio encompassed franchised hotels with Hilton, IHG and Accor, as well as several independent hotels and a wide range of restaurants, leisure clubs and spas.

Prior to Interstate, Vanessa was Director of Sales UK for Chardon Management which, at the time, operated over 30 hotels across 10 brands. Other career highlights include four years as Director of Sales Development for 36 IHG hotels and six years with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.

In a brief departure from the hospitality industry, Vanessa was very successful as a Regional Director for one of the UK’s largest training providers, where she grew her region from seven to twenty centres in two years. It didn’t take long though, before her love of the hotel industry brought her back.

Vanessa is passionate about leading her exceptional team of highly engaged and motivated sales and marketing professionals, and, as a result, driving increased revenue to Valor hotels.

Andrew has over 47 years of experience in the UK as a Chartered Accountant in the Glasgow-based, professional firm of French Duncan, LLP. He worked solely with this firm progressing through senior management to senior partnership level, and for his last five years in the firm, he acted as Chairman with 14 partners and 80 staff. During his career, he specialized in advising SME companies’ restructure finance, corporate governance and taxation together with advising and directing the directors of the companies in all business matters. Andrew also had extensive involvement in personal taxation and wealth management for private clients and continues to advise some remaining clients regarding personal taxation. Currently, he acts as advisor to companies in hotel and construction markets involving taxation, finance, company development and general management.

With over 20 years of hospitality experience in various managerial positions across the UK, most recently as the general manager at Valor’s DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Piccadilly, Ed brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. Beginning his Valor career in 2016 as general manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Chester, Ed played an integral part in the extensive investment and repositioning of the hotel and spa, before moving on to Manchester in 2019.

Willie is a passionate leader with over 20 years of extensive experience in sales, commercial, marketing, and communications in various senior Sales & Marketing roles within award-winning hotels. Willie has previously been with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide (now Marriott) at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel & Towers, hosting world leaders and royalty over many years to opening the Westin Cape Town, Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa (a Luxury Collection Hotel at the time) as PR and Marketing Director. After Cape Town, Willie took the helm once again as sales leader and a regional position for Starwood’s PR and Marketing for Sub Sahara Africa and later opening the first Africa global sales office in Johannesburg at Starwood for its global brands such as W Hotels, St. Regis, Sheraton, Westin and Le Meridien.

Willie’s heart drew him back to Cape Town and in 2011 he joined Michael Pownall, then General Manager of Taj Cape Town, as Director of Sales & Marketing. During his tenure at Taj, he managed to exceed all expectations in all the market segments, which resulted in him being nominated for many awards as a keen strategist and brand specialist.

In 2020 Willie joined Valor, to develop the sales and marketing strategies for the various iconic hotels and lodges on the Africa continent, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts first voco branded hotel on the African continent, which opened in Rosebank, Johannesburg in February 2022.

Mike has over 25 years’ experience in leading hotel operational teams. Mike joined the business from Leaf HOSPITALITY where he was Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this, Mike was Operations Director for glh Hotels, the largest owner and operator of hotels in London. Mike was a founding member of Q Hotels, where he held the positions of Regional Director and Director of Asset Development.

Mike’s earlier career included positions with Forte, Le Mêridien and Principal Hotels.

Andrea joins Valor Hospitality with over 15 years experience in the hospitality industry.

Andrea pursued his passion in hospitality at a very young age by enrolling himself in the César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, where he graduated in International Business in Hospitality and Tourism.

After embracing greatest levels of hospitality at the Baur au Lac, Zurich, Andrea decided to continue his career in the Middle East.

Being part of the iconic Armani Hotel, Andrea’s devotion grew him to Food and Beverage Manager, leading a stunning F&B portfolio at the hotel. His great leadership led the restaurants to win multiple awards across the years.

After an exciting experience in luxury environments, Andrea further moved to become the Food & Beverage Manager of one of the biggest F&B operations in the UAE, Emirates Flight Catering.

Andrea also left his footprint at Expo 2020 Dubai, by developing the F&B scene and managing 9000 sqm of F&B Operations as Senior Manager – Commercial F&B.

With over 20 years in luxury hospitality in the Middle East, Sahiti has deep knowledge of all things Sales, Marketing, Revenue, Brand management, Commercial repositioning, Distribution and Public Relations.
Senior executive roles included 14 years with Jumeirah group, including 2 strategic postings at the flagship Burj Al Arab. Between 2014-2021, in her role as Area Director- Middle East, with Taj hotel group, Sahiti launched and established the brand in the region and led the properties to market-leading commercial success and multiple F&B outlets awarded each year for best in category.

Sahiti received her degree in hotel management from IHM New Delhi. She completed ‘Revenue Management’ and ‘Strategic Leadership’ programs from Cornell University, Ithaca. In 2020 she completed a program in ‘Strategic Innovation’ from Said Business School, Oxford University and ‘Creative Thinking’ from Imperial College, London.

Sahiti was awarded “Top 10 Extraordinary minds in Sales, Marketing & Revenue” by HSMAI Middle East in 2017. Hotelier Middle East magazine placed her 3rd on the ‘Top 25 Women’s Power List’ for the Middle East in 2020.