Holiday Inn and Wykeland Group appointments strengthen HullBID board
Nigel Dibb (left) and David Donkin are joining HullBID's board.
HULL Business Improvement District (HullBID) has strengthened its board with the appointment of two non-executive directors whose day jobs put them at the forefront of the city’s regeneration.
David Donkin is the Property Director of Wykeland Group, the development company which is a major partner in the redevelopment of Hull’s Fruit Market area.
Nigel Dibb is General Manager of the Holiday Inn Hull Marina, the flagship hotel which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and which is drawing up a timetable for a major refurbishment.
Wykeland joined forces with Beal Homes to create Wykeland Beal, a joint venture company which is working in partnership with Hull City Council to transform the Humber Street area from old dockside warehouses into Hull’s first urban village, bringing together retail, leisure and residential use in a new cultural and creative heart of the UK City of Culture.
David, who joined Wykeland in June 2016, said: “Having worked in Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh and London I’ve seen how BIDs work elsewhere, I’m aware of the strong reputation which HullBID has built and I hope I have something to add.
“If we can create a distinct offer in the Fruit Market area and the wider city centre people will travel here. The museums offer is another example of attractions and experiences that you don’t find in many other towns and cities. The City of Culture events have been great at pulling people into the city and we need to build on that.”
The Holiday Inn Hull Marina kick-started the regeneration of the marina area when it was opened by Trust House Forte in 1987. Nigel took up his post in December 2016 and discovered a business community working hard to use the City of Culture programme to attract visitors.
He said: “We have been the main hotel in the city centre for some time now and I hope we can bring something different to the table. There is some real talent on the HullBID board and a good mix of people from different sectors.
“I think that’s exciting and it is reflected in the city centre business community, where people are working hard to help each other and are being rewarded by increasing visitor numbers. We are working together to get across the message that City of Culture is not just about this year. There is more development to come and, like Wykeland, we will have a part to play.”
Jim Harris, Chair of the HullBID board and Centre Manager of St Stephen’s, said: “Nigel and David bring a wealth of knowledge from the hotel and property sectors, joining the other business professionals in helping to support and guide the operational BID team going forward.
“Under the leadership of our City Centre Manager, Kathryn Shillito, the HullBID team has worked tirelessly over the last 11 years to maintain and promote the very best of Hull City Centre. We are in unparalleled times for our great city as we come towards the end of an amazing City of Culture year, and that now presents the challenge of maintaining the momentum and visibility created by our success has created as we go forward into 2018 and beyond.
“I know the Hull BID team is looking forward to this challenge and, further strengthened by Nigel and David, the BID board will be supporting them to achieve another great year for Hull city centre.”
