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Ex-Highlife boss takes charge of Olympics accommodation
Former Highlife Breaks managing director Donna Taylor is to be responsible for official accommodation for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
As head of accommodation, she will ensure that suitable accommodation is provided for the International Olympic Committee, national Olympic committees and National Paralympic committees, coaches, officials, and more than 20,000 accredited media.
Besides Highlife, she has also worked for Thistle Hotels as distribution director, lastminute.com and Gullivers Travel Associates.
Taylor’s responsibilities include negotiating additional room availability and rates and to ensure that contractual arrangements with providers are negotiated, understood and delivered, the organisation London 2012 said.
“She will ensure that accommodation is fully integrated into the planning and provision of other operational functions such as security, transport, and accreditation,” said a spokesman.
“She will establish systems for distributing, reserving, financing and tracking accommodation stock, and maintain relationships with the hospitality industry and all key accommodation providers. She will also handle sponsors’ accommodation and hospitality needs.”
Taylor will also have responsibility with Visit Britain and Visit London for the development of the “Homestay” programme, where local residents offer accommodation to athletes’ families during the games, as an alternative to hotels.
She is to also liaise with the two tourist agencies over the accommodation requirements for spectators at the games and visitors to the UK.
“As I have worked and lived in London for all my life, I am proud to be part of such a fantastic event,” said Taylor. “London has an excellent network with many more rooms available than Sydney and Athens and I look forward to developing this network and providing first class accommodation standards.”
Visit London commercial director David Hornby said: “The two key elements in delivering the accommodation project in 2012 will be communication and services delivery and Donna brings a wealth of knowledge to the role.
“Visit London has been involved from the very start in efforts to secure suitable accommodation and we are looking forward to working with Donna and partners in delivering an amazing experience for athletes, the Olympic family and visitors in London 2012.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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