The Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort

The Vale Resort, near Cardiff, has announced the appointment of Gareth Coles as its new Operations Manager.

Mr Coles will report directly to the Resort's General Manager Ben Danielsen, who he worked with previously at the 4-star Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa in Newbury, Berkshire that has been named the AA Hotel of the Year England in 2007/08.

With extensive operational experience including working with Nigel Mansell at his Woodbury Park Hotel in Devon, Mr Coles will be responsible for all operations at the Vale Resort including its 143-bedroom hotel, 700-seat conference facility, restaurants & champagne bar and award-winning golf, leisure, spa and sports facilities.

Mr Coles considerable food and beverage experience helped win the Donnigton Valley Hotel & Spa the coveted accolade of the AA's most notable wine list. It is this exceptional high level of service and quality that he will bring not only to the Vale Resort but also in the redevelopment of the neighboring 5 star Hensol Castle Resort that will focus heavily on delivering food and drink excellence, unrivalled in the local area and beyond.

A true people person at heart Mr Coles was smitten by the hospitality industry at the tender age of eight while staying in a 500-bed hotel in Hong Kong. Not only did they recognise and welcome his father but by providing flowers for his mother and chocolate for him and his sister, it taught him from an early age that the personal touch is what sets a good hotel apart from an unforgettable one.

He said: “Be it a spa break, international business conference or a round of golf, I believe that every guest and visitor at the Vale should feel important to us and that we have done all we can make their visit truly memorable.

“The Vale Resort already offers the very best in sporting, leisure, spa and business facilities, set in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK, and with the exciting developments both here and at the Hensol Castle Resort I am naturally delighted to be a part of the team.”

Vale General Manager, Ben Danielsen said: “Gareth's appointment has been integral to us building a hand selected senior management team that have a combined vision, exceptional high standards of excellence and experience to drive the Resort into the future.

“As a leading European hotel destination it is critical that we maintain high levels of service on a day to day basis, while looking to the future for ways that we can constantly improve and perfect our offer to our customers.

“This is an exciting time at the Resort and having worked with Gareth previously I know that he is the best in the industry.”