Colm Daly has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Leonardo Hotel Derby

Originally from Ireland, Colm began working in hospitality at a young age and joined Leonardo Hotels as a Graduate Manager after completing university. Since then, he has built a varied and successful career, progressing through roles such as Assistant Conference and Banqueting Manager, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, and Front Office Manager before moving into a Project Manager role for Leonardo Hotels Ireland.

In that position, Colm helped deliver three full hotel refurbishments, two new-build hotels, and one hotel takeover, supporting quality and consistency across the brand. Colm was also involved in the rebrand from Jurys Inn to Leonardo Hotels for the Irish hotels.

Most recently, Colm worked as Interim Hotel Manager at Leonardo Christchurch Dublin, where he oversaw a full hotel refurbishment and roof replacement project during maternity cover. Following this experience, he was promoted to lead the team at Leonardo Hotel Derby.

Over his career, Colm has worked at 13 Leonardo properties across Ireland and the UK, including Derby, Oxford, Manchester, Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Belfast, giving him wide-ranging experience and a deep understanding of the brand and its guests.

Now based in Derby, Colm is passionate about being a champion for hospitality, the city of Derby, and the local community. He has already been involved in career fairs, community engagement meetings, and live business case study events with the University of Derby, and he continues to work closely with Derby City Council, Derby College, local schools, and businesses to promote work placements, skills development, and community partnerships.

Colm is especially dedicated to supporting and promoting Derby as a city, building strong collaborations with local organisations and businesses, and creating a positive working environment for his team. Employee wellbeing and learning and development are at the heart of his leadership approach, ensuring staff are recognised and rewarded for their hard work and given opportunities to grow.

Colm recently completed the first series of the Journey to Work programme with Derby City Council, where three individuals joined the hotel on work placements designed to help them gain experience and confidence in the workplace. The initiative has already been a success, with two of the three participants now employed at Leonardo Hotel Derby, and four more work experience students due to join in the coming months — a clear reflection of Colm's commitment to community engagement and skills development.

Leonardo Hotels proudly promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, values that Colm is keen to continue championing throughout his work with his team and the wider community.