A hotel manager on Westside who first arrived in Birmingham without speaking any English is leaving after enjoying a “very happy time” in the city.
Alfredo Rabadan has been general manager at the Novotel on Broad Street for two years, during which time the city hosted the Commonwealth Games last summer, followed by the Conservative Party Conference in October.
He is leaving after being promoted to a new “exciting project” as general manager of two hotels – Novotel Cardiff and its ‘sister’ hotel, the Ibis Budget. His replacement at Novotel Broad Street has yet to be announced.
Alfredo, aged 44, who celebrated the arrival of his first child, a boy, last September, had originally arrived in England from his native Spain in 2005.
He said: “I came here for a year with no English, working at the Novotel Birmingham Airport as a team leader.”
Alfredo then worked at the international hotel chain’s venues in London and Milton Keynes, before returning to Birmingham at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak in January 2021.
He added: “I took over a hotel when it was closed due to the pandemic. We were able to open in May 2021, but then closed again in the July. Happily, we were able to re-open in March 2022 without any restrictions, and had a party to celebrate.”
During his time in charge, Novotel Broad Street has undergone major redecorations to the ground floor, including the lobby, bar area and conference facilities.
Alfredo added: “I have really enjoyed my time here. We had the Commonwealth Games and the Tory party conference. Everything in Birmingham was buzzing and it was a very happy time.”
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “We say ‘farewell’ to Alfredo with a heavy heart, because he was such an injection of enthusiasm and energy on Westside.
“We wish him all the luck in the world as his career continues to progress, and we look forward to welcoming a new manager to Novotel here on Broad Street very soon.”
