A Cork hotel manager with years of experience has been given the job of running Leeside’s fanciest new hotels.
Roger Russell has been appointed as General Manager of Moxy Hotel and Residence Inn, which opened in September. Mr Russell was General Manager at the Metropole Hotel for 16 years, and also held senior roles at The Gresham Metropole Hotel and Gresham Memphis in Amsterdam.
The Moxy Hotel and Residence Inn Cork are situated on Camden Place overlooking the River Lee. The dual properties are Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio hotels operated by the JMK Hospitality Group – which Mr Russell joined in June last year.
Mr Russell is well known in the Cork hospitality and business community both as a former board member of the Victoria Quarter and through his involvement with the Guinness Cork Jazz steering committee and has been very supportive of Cork on a Fork Festival since its inception 3 years ago.
The ‘Plug In’ Zone at the Moxy
(Image: Marriott)
The new hotels are located at the site of the old Courthouse building on Camden Quay. Both hotels are in one block and are internally connected – but with two receptions, two bars, and two totally different themes.
In September, CorkBeo had a poke around the swish hotels ahead of their grand opening. The Moxy is a fun, colourful offering of 153 rooms ranging from simple twin bedrooms to luxurious Moxy Extra suites with impressive views over the Lee through retained original windows.
The Moxy Extra rooms look out over the River Lee
(Image: Sara Rountree)
Over at the Residence Inn there are 53 rooms available, ranging from spacious studio flats to one-bedroom apartments with enviable views overlooking the city.
The Moxy and the Residence Inn receptions are connected internally and share certain facilities including a full gym and a complimentary laundry room, and guests are welcome to avail of either reception.
Sonia Kajani, Director of JMK Group remarked “Mr. Russell’s extensive background in hospitality management, combined with his passion for innovation, positions him to lead these two unique properties to great success. Under his leadership, we look forward to seeing Moxy and Residence Inn Cork thrive as standout destinations for travellers in Ireland.”
The Chairman of the JMK Group, John Kajani, has previously said it’s new venture into Cork was a “natural evolution” for the group: “We have enjoyed great success to date in our locations in Dublin and Waterford.
“Opening in Cork was a natural evolution for us, particularly as Moxy Hotel and Residence Inn by Marriott Cork City will enjoy a prime location on the banks of the River Lee, opposite Cork Opera House. Cork represents another key step on our journey to expanding our presence in Ireland.”