A new £43m Novotel hotel will open in Liverpool on July 4 and the operator Legacy Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its management team. Tony McDonough reports

Howard Lewis has been unveiled as the general manager of the new £43m Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village hotel.

Due to open on July 4, the hotel was funded by Liverpool city council via public loans. Operator Legacy Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its management team for the hotel. It will offer 221 rooms in the city’s Knowledge Quarter.

The Novotel was built by Morgan Sindall Construction and is franchised by Accor. The hotel has been designed by Ryder Architecture, with Faithful+Gould acting as project managers.

Howard Lewis brings almost 30 years’ experience working with hotel brands across the country. This includes 10 years with Hilton Worldwide. His previous role was general manager at Crewe Hall Hotel.

READ MORE: Liverpool hotels set room rate record

Sara Mullins will be the hotel’s director of sales. She comes with more than 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry at director level. Kieran Maxwell also joins the leadership team as head chef, after more than 20 years at Hilton.

Mr Lewis said: “Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village will be a game-changer for Liverpool. It will bring something new and exciting to the already world-class hospitality offer the city is renowned for.

“We also find ourselves in a unique position of being a main player in the city’s vision to be an international destination of significance for life-science, healthcare, and technology industries.

“I cannot wait for guests to come through our lobby for an unforgettable hospitality experience, complete with that world-famous Scouse welcome. I want this hotel to be a destination that the local community can be proud of and can call their own.”

Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village will also offer 32 long-stay apartments. It is aimed at patients, students and relatives attending the nearby hospitals and universities. These include Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for economy and development, added: “The opening of the city’s new Novotel will be a big moment for Paddington Village and the wider Knowledge Quarter.

“I wish the hotel every success and all who are employed to work there. Successful regeneration schemes deliver opportunities that change not just the economy but people’s lives and careers, and that is exactly what Paddington Village is doing.”