Graeme has been managing director of Elite Hotels, comprising of Ashdown Park, East Sussex, Tylney Hall, Hampshire, The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne and Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, since 1998.
Prior to this, he held the post of general manager of Ashdown Park from its opening in 1993 through to 2000 and where the company’s offices continue to be based.
Once being quoted as calling the likes of past Olympians Steve Redgrave, Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah as ‘inspirational’, Bateman has managed the portfolio through its fair share of testing times as the industry has gotten ever more competitive during his 20-year tenure.
In 2012, noticing the need for young people to take a career in hospitality seriously, Elite Hotels launched its own dedicated Management Trainee Programme. Spearheaded by Bateman, the scheme looks to recruit six new trainees per year across the portfolio, in various entry-level positions.
Aside from his day job, Bateman is actively involved with many aspects of the wider industry; he is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, Master Innholder, Regional Committee Member and past Regional Chairman of BHA. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and Trustee of the Rotherwick Foundation.
