About – EPR Hospitality

Enda Rylands

Following my studies at the school for hospitality management at Southbank University I started my career with Principal Hotels quickly becoming an Assistant F&B Manger in a large 3 corporate and leisure hotel. After 4 years I wanted a fresh challenge and to experience a higher quality of hotel and took on a Restaurant Management role at the iconic Midland Hotel in Manchester under the Crowne Plaza brand.

After 3 amazing years I was ready for a step up to senior management and joined progressive Scottish Hotel company Crerar Hotels as Deputy Manager of their largest property which was in Scarborough, a few years later my first General Manager opportunity came at the companies flagship hotel in Edinburgh.

Further GM positions in Scarborough and Leeds followed eventually leading me to the Ramada Hotel in Southport in 2010. The hotel was operated by Then Hospitality and within 2 years I took on additional responsibility as Are Manager for the companies 5 hotels north of Birmingham which consisted of 3 Holiday Inn Express hotels and a boutique hotel in Liverpool. This was a great insight into how the biggest international brands operated and I was part of Wyndham Hotels owners marketing group for the UK as well as representing owners at various IHG forums throughout the UK.

In the middle of 2015 I was approached to take full responsibility of the Ramada Plaza, Southport reporting direct to the hotels owner with a clear strategy to reduce debt and prepare hotel for sale of the lease that was held. Within 18 months debts had been cleared and a successful sale completed.

I remained with the new owners of the hotel working on a strategy to acquire the freehold interest in the hotel and surrounding buildings and then taking on the management contract for the adjacent convention centre. This was all achieved and I assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer for the Waterfront responsible for all elements of the business.

This gave me a real buzz and I loved this change in focus although very much still retained my emphasis on the customer experience that is essential in hospitality.

From 2019 through strong referral network I was able to take on clients and assist them with there hospitality assets which allowed me to create EPR Hospitality.

Awards

PEOPLE WE WORK WITH

Following his appointment as COO at the Waterfront Southport Resort, Enda retained my services as a consultant to deliver a review of all existing operating standards across the Resort’s F&B, C&B, Kitchen and Housekeeping divisions. He then tasked me with the subsequent launch of new operational standards of performance based on my findings. From the start I saw that Enda was a leader that had the guest journey at the forefront whilst subsequently delivering a high level of team engagement and morale. His commercial expertise and leadership in this area helped redefine the Waterfront as one of the premier hospitality businesses in the North West. His time as COO saw the Waterfront’s most successful results from a people, product and profit perspective. He understands the importance of leading from the front to get the best results. A top bloke all round!

Gearóid Pyne

Assoc CIPD

I have known Enda for 3 years, he as my line manager at Bliss hotel in Southport, we worked together on many projects from refurbishing guest rooms to changing the hotels identity. Enda is a highly motivated and highly qualified professional with experience in all aspects of the Hotel & Leisure industry including business strategies, sales, operational & employee relations. Enda was key to the hotels transition and success, he worked well with all team members, supervisors, managers & owners alike. Enda is a results driven professional who drove and led the hotel business strategies like very few I have worked with before. I would happily work under his guidance and leadership in the future due to his creativity, his attention to the customers needs, a strong understanding of the hospitality business as well as manager. I would highly recommend Enda.

Ken Bennett

Facilities Maintenance Manager