Mark PaynePark Regis, the deluxe Birmingham city centre hotel, has appointed a new general manager (GM) as the incumbent moves to an operations director role. Mark Payne joins the hotel, which is located at Five Ways, from De Vere Tortworth Court, in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, where he had served as GM for just over six years. However, his involvement in the hospitality industry goes back to when he was a young boy, when he served food to customers at his parents’ pub in Herefordshire. Mark, who lives in Gloucestershire with his wife and two teenage sons, said he was excited and honoured to take the helm at the Park Regis flagship hotel, the first to open in Europe. His appointment follows Robin Ford’s move to operations director for Fiveways Hospitality, the management company that operates the hotel. Mark, who has 26 years’ years experience in the hospitality sector, added: “It’s a truly exciting time for Birmingham, with the city being named the candidate city to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, HS2 rail network on the horizon and a host of ambitious developments and infrastructure schemes. I’m thrilled that I have the opportunity to fly the flag for the UK’s second city.