New general manager of luxury Cheltenham hotel hopes to inspire the next generation

After a recent £1.4 million renovation, The Greenway Hotel & Spa continues its celebrations with the appointment of a new general manager with an extensive career in the luxury hospitality sector.

Luke Millikin, who has nearly 25 years of experience in the hotel industry, started his career as a bartender and worked his way up through the ranks to general manager, where he has overseen venues such as The Painswick.

Now leading the 60-strong team at the Shurdington-located hotel, Luke will oversee The Greenway and its award-winning spa and 3 AA rosette fine dining restaurant, set in eight acres of glorious Gloucestershire countryside.

And following it's extensive refurbishments in 2023, earlier this year the hotel was named one of the UK’s top ten country house hotels in The Times.

Luke, who grew up in Qatar and has wanted to be a hotel general manager since he was seven, hopes to inspire the next generation of workers in his new role, as the hotel industry continues to try to retain and recruit from a 'small talent pool following Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.'

Luke said: 'Getting young people — particularly 16 to 24-year-olds — interested in our industry, coupled with developing them to a certain standard is the biggest challenge for ourselves and the industry. It is also the biggest opportunity — as we can really rescue some individuals from a path of uncertainty and show what a career in high-end hospitality looks like.

'I fell in love with the industry by sampling it first-hand, and if we can get more young people through the doors on day tours for example, then this is an important first step.

'The Greenway is exactly the type of luxury property that has the potential to inspire so many careers where people can take a look at what is the right fit for them — whether that is working in our busy 3 AA rosette fine dining restaurant or kitchen, through to event management to support our flexible meetings and events spaces, pursuing a career in our Elan Spa, or even working in maintenance and gardening.'