A New Chapter for Álvaro

After four years with easyHotel, Álvaro is preparing for his next adventure as Hotel Manager of our newest hotel in Alicante. We caught up with him to reflect on his journey so far, what he'll miss about Newcastle, and why he's excited to help open a brand-new hotel from day one.

1. You've spent time leading the team in Newcastle. What have been some of your proudest moments during your time there?

One of my proudest achievements during my time in Newcastle has been building and developing a strong, stable team culture that consistently delivered high standards in a busy operational environment. Seeing team members grow in confidence and step into more senior responsibilities has been particularly rewarding.

I’m also proud of the improvements we made in consistency and guest satisfaction through better communication, clearer structure, and a stronger focus on accountability. There were also moments where the team really came together during challenging periods, whether due to high demand or operational pressure, and delivered excellent results, which reflects the resilience and unity we built together.

2. You've been part of the easyHotel family for a number of years. How has your career developed since joining the business, and what have you learned along the way?

Since joining easyHotel 4 years ago as Assistant Hotel Manager in Sheffield, my career has progressed through a series of opportunities that have steadily expanded my responsibilities and leadership scope. Moving into a Hotel Manager role taught me how to take full ownership of a property and balance operational, commercial, and people priorities. 

My time in Sheffield built my foundation, while my move to Newcastle upon Tyne challenged me to operate at a higher level and adapt to a larger and more dynamic environment. The biggest lessons I’ve learned are the importance of consistency, clear communication, and empowering teams rather than micromanaging them. I’ve also learned that strong leadership is about adaptability; being able to respond to different teams, markets, and challenges while staying aligned with core standards and values.

3. Later this year you'll be moving to Alicante to support the opening of our newest hotel. What excites you most about this opportunity, both professionally and personally?

Opening a brand-new hotel is an exciting opportunity to build something from the ground up. I'm looking forward to applying everything I've learned in operations, leadership and team development to a pre-opening environment, while also experiencing a new city and culture. It's a significant milestone in my career, and one I'm really looking forward to.

4. Opening a new hotel is a unique challenge. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to building the team, welcoming guests and helping establish easyHotel Alicante from day one?

I'm excited to build a team from the very beginning and create a strong culture that sets the standard for the future. There is something really rewarding about recruiting, training and developing a new team, then seeing everyone come together with a shared purpose.

From a guest perspective, I’m looking forward to welcoming our very first guests and making sure their experience reflects exactly what easyHotel stands for from day one. Opening a new hotel is a big responsibility, but it is also a great opportunity to get things right from the start.

5. What message would you like to share with your colleagues in Newcastle as you prepare for this next chapter in Alicante?

I would like to say a sincere thank you to the team in Newcastle, and to my Director of Operations, Nathan, for their support, commitment, and teamwork during my time there. It’s been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated group of people.

I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and of the culture we’ve built, and I genuinely believe the team is in a strong position to continue growing and succeeding. While I’m excited about the next chapter in Alicante, I’ll take a lot of positive memories and lessons from Newcastle with me, and I’ll always value the relationships built there.