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Five-star north east development secures senior scalps

Rockliffe Hall, the new luxury hotel, golf and spa development in the North East of England, has announced a major new senior appointment as it commences its countdown to opening later this year.

Wendy Benson is the new sales director and marketing director of the multi-million pound development, based on the banks of the River Tees in the picturesque village of Hurworth, near Darlington. It is set to become one of the finest destination resorts in the North of England.

Benson, who is returning to her native North East to take up the position, arrives from The Principle Hayley Group, where she was previously overseeing a similar role at the Royal York Hotel in York.

She said: “The Rockliffe Hall project has been the talk-about new development and I simply could not refuse the opportunity to be a part of it. We’re gearing our operations towards opening now, so I really could not be joining the team at a better time.

“The scale and style of Rockliffe Hall is really going to put this beautiful part of the world on the map. I’m so excited to be taking such an active role in its opening.”

Wendy, who admits to being on the wrong side of 40, has held a number of successful sales positions with some of the major hotel operators, including Intercontinental and De Vere. Her experience at high end establishments will help Rockliffe Hall forge its position as a major luxury destination both here in the UK and internationally.

Nick Holmes, managing director of Rockliffe Hall, commented on Wendy’s appointment: “She’s been someone I’ve known about for some time and was keen to make a part of the senior team here at Rockliffe Hall. In Wendy, we have the perfect person at the helm of the sales operation as we gear ourselves towards opening. I’m thrilled she’s now part of the ever-growing team.”

Wendy has two sons, aged eight and ten and hit the national headlines 13 years ago when she married her Diving Instructor Edward in an underwater ceremony off the Scottish coastline.

In addition to Wendy’s appointment, Rockliffe Hall has also brought in Ian Knight as golf and events director and Jonny Mould as golf sales manager. Ian, who has spent a number of years in the entertainment industry, and Jonny, who previously oversaw corporate golf sales at another North East golf establishment, have been brought in now to oversee golf membership sales which were launched this month.

Rockliffe Hall will open its golf operations, including 7,857-yard golf course, golf academy and new 50,000sq ft club house to members in June this year, while the Spa and hotel operations will open its doors later in the year.

The development has been created around the sympathetic restoration of the 18th Century Rockliffe Hall country home. The finished structure will have 61 bedrooms, as well as a luxury 50,000sq ft spa development, restaurants, bistro and full banqueting facilities. Once opened, it looks set to become the first five-star resort of its kind in the North of England.

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