Fresh from being awarded Durham City Good Citizen of the Year, Stuart Lloyd General Manager at the Radisson Durham, spoke to Michael Grahamslaw about his career in hospitality as well as plans for the Hotel.
What initially attracted you to a career in the hospitality sector?
It sounds a bit shallow but I simply wanted to work where footballers and famous people stayed! I originally started my journey at the beautiful Mottram Hall Hotel where I loved getting involved in their exciting events. We saw a lot of David Beckham at the time as well as Sir Alex Ferguson who was a golf member.
How has the Radisson Durham evolved during your time there?
It has been a privilege to be at the helm over the past seven years. During that period we have been fortunate to receive a lot of investment which has transformed our bedrooms, meeting areas and public areas.
With 46 million visitors to Durham City in 2025, resulting in a 1.36 billion impact on the regional economy, we are proud to be one of the go to hotels in the area.
What is the Radisson Durhams USP?
Our riverside location, with views of a Unesco World Heritage site, is very special. Close proximity to the railway station is important too.
How are you addressing the challenges facing the hospitality sector?
With costs continually rising we are undoubtedly navigating a difficult period. This makes it imperative that we price everything correctly and give our customers the finest experience possible.
What approaches have worked best for staff development and retention?
We have our own dedicated People and Culture Manager which has made a huge difference. As we are competing with the best venues for the best talent in the region we have to make sure our staff are well looked after. We have our own monthly awards which have proven to be a great way of celebrating their success.
Sustainability is increasingly important for travellers. Are there any initiatives you’ve introduced to reduce your environmental impact?
We now have filtered water on each floor which has allowed us to replace plastic bottles. We also have a focus from waste to landfill with the intent to reduce to zero by the end of the year.
Going forward we intend to explore renewable energy more and build further upon our Silver Green Tourism Award.
How do you engage and support the local community and business?
In a multitude of varied ways. Until recently we were proud to be long term supporters of Durham Women Football Club. We have also just raised a fantastic £20k for the brilliant St.Cuthberts Care. As a keen runner I am also delighted that we are involved with the Durham Dash aimed at Year 5 and 6 children. On an ongoing basis we are involved with numerous community initiatives including the clean up of the River Wear.
What trends do you expect to shape hospitality over the next 5 years?
I think we will see advances in technology to support delivery of a great guest experience but real people will of course always be at the heart of our business. The future of hospitality will be more personalised, technology-driven, sustainable, and focused on experiences rather than just accommodation.
What has been your proudest achievement whilst at the Hotel?
Winning the Durham City Citizen of the Year was very special as it shows that what we are doing is working. Seeing the Hotel through a multimillion development has also been very satisfying.
What are you currently working on?
As ever in hospitality you never stand still so at the moment we have plans to enhance and refurbish the spa. We are also going to redevelop our events space where we will introduce a range of wellness packages aimed at enhancing the customer experience. Whisper it quietly our Christmas brochure has also just been launched!
How do you like to unwind?
I enjoy the gym after work as well as the Park Run at the weekend. I’m also a huge Manchester United fan.
www.radissonbludurham.com