Director of AA Hotel Group of the Year to speak at Devon Conference
Peter Brend Senior, Director of The Brend Group, winners of the AA Hotel Group of the Year 2015-2016, has been announced as one of the key note speakers at Devon Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Devon Business Conference.
With over 50 years experience in catering and hospitality the Brend Group is a well-respected luxury hotel group with eleven hotels across Devon and Cornwall, including its Belmont Hotel, which was voted one of Trip Advisor’s Top 20 Hotels in the UK.
Peter Brend Senior, Director of The Brend Group said : “I am delighted to be speaking at the first Excellence in Devon business conference. The Brend family has been a permanent fixture in the West Country since the 1920’s, when my parents, Mr and Mrs Percy Brend, opened a Butcher’s shop in Barnstaple’s Butchers Row. Over the decades the family has built up a portfolio of hotels in Devon and Cornwall, starting with the Royal Hotel in Bideford and steadily expanding the brand to embrace eleven hotels and a number of restaurants. I look forward to sharing my experiences and insights with fellow business people at the Conference.”
The Excellence in Devon Business Conference, being held at Exeter Racecourse on Friday 11th March, has been introduced by Devon Chamber of Commerce to discuss why Devon is the place for growth in 2016, and how the business community can work together to harness the opportunities that devolution presents.
Suzi Cumberland, Head of Operations at Devon Chamber of Commerce said: “The Brend Group is a great success story of a thriving family business from Devon. The Chamber is delighted that Peter Brend Senior is joining the roster of key note speakers from the county for the first Excellence in Devon conference.
"I am sure that many local business people will be interested to hear Peter’s experiences and advice on growing a business in the west country. Having recently been awarded the prestigious AA Hotel Group of the Year Award, the Brend Group is a fantastic example of excellence in business and I look forward to hearing Peter speak on 11th March. ”
Sponsored by Redrok UK and Wessex RFCA, the conference will include a mini business expo and a networking lunch alongside a programme of industry speakers who will discuss the key issues impacting Devon’s economy.
David Williams, Managing Director of Redrok UK, sponsors of the conference said: “Redrok is delighted to be sponsoring the Devon Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Devon Conference in March. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet with local businesses as well as hearing from a great line up of guest speakers."
Other confirmed speakers include:
- Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs for British Chambers of Commerce
- Charles Baughan, Managing Director of Westaway Sausages
- Professor Mike Phillips, Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts and Director of Research for i-DAT
- Julia Goldsworthy, Decentralisation Driver at PWC
- Chris Garcia, Chief Executive of Heart of the South West LEP
- Tony Greenham, Director of Economy, Enterprise and Manufacturing at the RSA
More information about the conference can be found at www.devonchamber.co.uk
