ConferenceLeeds celebrates appointment of new General Manager at Crowne Plaza following 2016 success for the city

Conference Leeds welcomes the appointment of Lynda Coaley as new General Manager at Leeds hotel Crowne Plaza, after a successful 2016 for the city. In her new role, Lynda will oversee the running of all aspects of the hotel, including its conferencing facilities, and will be at the forefront of a multi-million pound refurbishment early this year.

Having previously worked as General Manager at the Holiday Inn, Leicester, Lynda brings her extensive hotel management skills to the role, supporting Crowne Plaza’s recovery from the floods that damaged the hotel on Boxing Day 2015. Lynda will also help in the preparations and execution of a multi-million pound refurbishment, which includes development of the hotel’s bedrooms, bar and restaurant and improving its current offering to conference delegates.

Commenting on her new role, Lynda said: “I’m very excited to have joined Crowne Plaza and to be returning to Leeds. I had my first General Manager role in Leeds and my Dad himself was General Manager at The Merrion Hotel, therefore Leeds always holds a place in my heart. I am also really proud to have been part of the recovery of the Crowne Plaza after the Boxing Day floods, because of which we have just won the prestigious Extra Mile award at the Hotel Cateys; a national awards ceremony that celebrates the UK hotel industry. The hotel has been through a difficult time, so the award means a lot to the whole team. There is now a lot to look forward to in the next year, especially with the refurbishment approaching.

“Leeds itself is a great city to hold a conference, having recently moved into the top five UK conferencing cities according to the British Meetings and Events Survey. It’s the city’s accessibility combined with fantastic venues and uniqueness, which makes it such an attractive place to hold a conference for national and international buyers.”

Jennifer Young, Head of Conference Leeds, commented:
“We are really pleased to be welcoming Lynda back to the city and we are looking forward to working with her to attract prestigious conferences to the city. Lynda has great local knowledge and feels passionate about Leeds and its conferencing abilities; and her appointment means we have a stronger offer of providing an excellent delegate experience. The refurbishment is also a hugely exciting time not just for Lynda and her team, but for the wider city overall and we look forward to seeing the Crowne Plaza’s success continue throughout 2017.”

The Crowne Plaza is a 4-star hotel situated in the heart of Leeds City Centre. The hotel has a choice of 7 function spaces, including the Roundhay Suite which when split into 3 rooms can be used as one large conference venue allowing 200 capacity theatre style. The Crowne Plaza also has 135 bedrooms.