Appointing a Chief Acquisitions Officer to Drive the Growth Strategy of a UK Hotel Group

HPG Advisory Services partnered with a leading UK hotel owner and operator to appoint its first Chief Acquisitions Officer, creating the leadership capability required to accelerate expansion through acquisitions, third-party management agreements and strategic partnerships. Within six months of appointment, the business had successfully completed a portfolio acquisition.

At a Glance

Client
UK Hotel Operator

Sector
Hotels & Hospitality

Geography
United Kingdom

Assignment
Chief Acquisitions Officer

Focus
Acquisitions, Third-Party Management & Growth Strategy

Outcome
Portfolio Acquisition Completed Within Six Months

Strategic Challenge

Our client is an established UK hotel owner and operator with a strong track record of creating value through hotel acquisitions, asset management and operational excellence.

Having successfully built and operated a growing portfolio, the board had identified a significant opportunity to accelerate growth through hotel acquisitions, third-party management agreements and long-term lease opportunities across the UK market.

To deliver this strategy, the business needed more than an experienced dealmaker. It required a senior executive capable of establishing an acquisitions function, building long-term market relationships and creating a sustainable pipeline of opportunities that would support the company's long-term investment objectives.

The successful individual would become a key member of the executive leadership team, working closely with the board to shape the future direction of the business.

Given the strategic importance of the role, the client sought an executive search partner with specialist expertise across hotel development, transactions and investment, hotel operations and real estate.

Our Advisory Role

HPG Advisory Services partnered closely with the board to define the leadership profile required to support the company's next phase of growth.

Rather than limiting the search to traditional acquisitions professionals, we advised on the broader capabilities needed to establish a scalable growth platform and mapped senior executives from across the hospitality investment landscape, including hotel owners, third-party management companies, private equity-backed platforms and branded hotel operators.

Our assessment focused on executives with:

• A proven track record of originating and executing hotel acquisitions, management agreements and lease transactions.
• Established relationships with hotel owners, investors, lenders, advisors and international hotel brands.
• Strong commercial judgement and experience negotiating complex transactions.
• The ability to build strategic partnerships that would generate long-term growth opportunities.
• An entrepreneurial mindset suited to helping scale an ambitious hotel platform.

Each candidate was assessed against commercial capability, leadership style, market credibility and cultural alignment with the organisation's long-term ambitions.

Executive Appointment

Following a retained executive search, HPG Advisory Services successfully appointed a Chief Acquisitions Officer to lead the company's external growth strategy.

The successful executive brought extensive hospitality investment experience, an established industry network and a proven ability to identify, negotiate and execute transactions within highly competitive markets.

Commercial Outcome

The appointment established the leadership capability required to accelerate the company's expansion strategy.

Within the first six months, the new Chief Acquisitions Officer had:

• Established the company's acquisitions and business development function.
• Built a sustainable pipeline of hotel acquisition, lease and third-party management opportunities.
• Strengthened relationships with hotel owners, investors, brokers and international brand partners.
• Supported the continued evolution of a scalable hotel operating platform.
• Successfully completed a portfolio acquisition, providing early validation of the client's long-term growth strategy.

The appointment represented a significant milestone in the organisation's transition from an established hotel owner to a growth-focused hospitality platform with a dedicated acquisitions capability.

Why This Engagement Matters

Sustainable growth in today's hotel sector requires more than access to capital. It depends on experienced leadership capable of identifying opportunities, building trusted industry relationships and executing transactions that support long-term value creation.

This engagement demonstrates HPG Advisory Services' ability to advise hotel owners and investors on strategic executive appointments that directly support business growth. By identifying a leader capable of building an acquisitions function from the ground up, we helped create the organisational capability required to accelerate expansion and execute the client's investment strategy.

Related Expertise

This engagement reflects HPG Advisory Services' expertise across:

• Hotel Investment & Acquisitions
• Executive Leadership Search
• Hospitality Real Estate
• Private Equity & Family Offices
• Third-Party Management Platforms
• Asset Management
• Chief Development & Growth Leadership
• Board & C-Suite Appointments