A LEADING North-East hotelier who helped to put one of the region's best known hotels on the map is bringing his expertise to a new multi-million pound development.

Until recently, Nick Holmes, 57, was the managing director at the 5 star award-winning Rockliffe Hall Hotel near Darlington, helping take the property from the planning stages to becoming one of the top hotel, golf and spa destinations in the country.

And now he is bringing that skill to the new £16m spa and leisure development at County Durham’s Ramside Hall Hotel, after joining the team in an advisory role

Mr Holmes left Rockliffe earlier this year after six years in the post and since then has been working as a consultant on a number of projects.

“Ramside is a fantastic product and I am sure the new spa development, opening in May next year, will become a major player on the North-East and UK spa scene,” he said.

“I am delighted to be able to bring my knowledge and expertise to help make the spa a success with the added bonus that the team at Ramside are great people to work with.”

Mr Holmes has had a long and prestigious career in the hotel industry, working at properties such as the Gleneagles Hotel and opening the acclaimed Cameron House hotel at Loch Lomond, where he previously worked for six years.

His personal achievements include being shortlisted this year in the CATEY awards – the hotel industry’s measure of excellence – in the Manager of the Year category and being made a Master Innholder and Freeman of the City of London in 2013.

“We are very pleased to have someone with Nick’s level of experience on board to help us drive our new spa development forward,” said Tim Boyd, General Manager at Ramside Hall Hotel.

“We are sure his expertise will be a great asset.”