Hand Picked Hotels strengthens its Channel Islands leadership team with three senior hires

Hand Picked Hotels is delighted to announce the appointment to three senior leadership 
roles within its Channel Islands team, demonstrating its commitment to long-term growth 
and service excellence across the region. 

Will Jackson is appointed General Manager for L’Horizon Hotel & Spa in Jersey, José Simoes, 
Hotel Manager at Braye Beach Hotel in Alderney and Jaime Short, Director of Sales, Channel 
Islands. These new roles reinforce Hand Picked Hotels’ focus on the Channel Islands and will 
support the delivery of exceptional service and operational excellence for both guests and 
partners. 

Hand Picked Hotels has named Will Jackson as the new General Manager at L’Horizon Hotel 
& Spa, Jersey. Having held previous roles in a number of luxury establishments, and most 
recently from his position as General Manager of the Pomme d’Or Hotel, St Helier, he brings 
considerable island expertise. 

Commenting on his new role, Will Jackson said: "L’Horizon is one of the Channel Islands’ 
leading hotels, situated on one of the most beautiful beaches in Jersey. This is a really exciting 
career opportunity given the hotel recently achieved the Green Tourism accreditation and 
The Grill Restaurant holds an AA-rosette award. My priority will be to further enhance the 
hotel’s luxury positioning and ensure every guest experience reflects the very best of this 
coastal retreat."

José Simoes joins the team as Hotel Manager at Braye Beach Hotel, Hand Picked Hotels’ 
charming property in Alderney. He brings extensive international hospitality experience 
alongside a strong track record in AA Rosette-awarded fine dining. Previous experience 
includes hotel manager at The Isles of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre, and a food and 
beverage senior role at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa. In this new role, José Simoes will be 
responsible for the day-to-day management of Braye Beach Hotel, with a focus on team 
development and ensuring the continuation of the hotel's reputation for exceptional guest 
service.

Commenting on the new role, José Simoes adds: “Braye Beach Hotel is a remarkable 
property, situated steps from the bay amongst an abundance of natural beauty. With deep 
roots in Alderney’s hospitality heritage, my task is to work closely with the team to continue 
delivering outstanding stays and experiences, while remaining true to the island’s history.”
Completing the trio of appointments, Jaime Short joins Hand Picked Hotels to lead sales 
across the Channel Islands portfolio. She brings extensive multi-property commercial 
experience, most recently as Cluster Director of Sales, Marketing & Distribution at Marriott 
Hotels Ltd, driving strategy across nine hotels and delivering revenue growth.
Known for enhancing commercial efficiency and building high-performing teams, Jaime Short 
has a wealth of knowledge across both corporate and leisure sectors. A key part of her role 
will be driving trade, corporate and distribution partnerships as part of Hand Picked Hotels’ 
ambition to grow in the Channel Islands. 

Jaime Short commented: “The Channel Islands is a unique and extremely valuable market, 
demanding a bespoke strategy. Our hotels have an already strong reputation, and a key 
focus will be to attract both on island and mainland guests.” 

Julia Hands, Chair of Hand Picked Hotels, commented: “Our Channel Island properties have 
always been a key part of our strategic focus, and these appointments reflect our commitment
to and long-term investment in the Channel Islands. We are passionate about supporting 
strong talent and I am confident these colleagues will further contribute to the performance 
and reputation of our Channel Islands properties within the Hand Picked Hotels portfolio.”