A century – and five generations – later, the Seymour Hotel group remains a main fixture in the Island’s tourism industry, with three hotels, self-catering apartments, the Watersplash beach bar and nightclub and an aquadome and leisure club.
The three hotels the group now run are the Merton, Greenhills and the Pomme d’Or, and the Seymour family are planning a raft of events and initiatives to celebrate their centenary, including the announcement of the new Seymour Hotel Centenary Bursaries to encourage careers in the hospitality industry, and a specially curated centenary exhibition.
The founders of the business, George and Ada Seymour, fell in love with the Island when they opened Merton House hotel in Halkett Place. The pair opened a number of establishments over the years and had to build their hotel chain back up after the Occupation.
Managing director David Seymour said: ‘My grandparents, George and Ada, were entrepreneurial hoteliers and helped to put Jersey on the tourism map. Their passion for service and dedication to making guests feel part of the Seymour family laid the foundation for the business to flourish through ten decades.
‘As a family, we have taken the opportunity in our centenary year to reflect on the last 100 years – the significant changes that have taken place across the hospitality industry; the German Occupation of Jersey in the Second World War and having to rise from the ashes to rebuild the family business after Liberation from occupying forces in 1945; being the first hotel on Jersey to take internet bookings; the recent completion of our £5 million investment programme; and, of course, our exceptional staff, without whom our success would not have been possible.
‘It makes us very proud we are still so well known in Jersey, and we hope that in 100 years members of our family will be celebrating 200 years of Seymour Hotels.’
After the opening of Merton House, George’s parents purchased the Kalimna Hotel in St Brelade and opened the Portelet Hotel.
In 1923, the Fontenay House Hotel was opened, with business transferring from Merton House, and that was followed by the establishment of Mascot Motors.
Seven years later, the Pomme d’Or was added to the group. However, in 1940 all of the hotels were taken over by German soldiers during the Occupation.
The Pomme d’Or was used as the Kriegsmarine Headquarters, the Portelet Hotel became the Luftwaffe Billet and the Merton Hotel was used as a hospital.
When the Island was liberated five years later, the hotels had been left in tatters, as some had walls missing and furniture scattered all over the Island.
Other hotels were added to the portfolio and in 2004 the family purchased the Watersplash beach bar and nightclub in St Peter, which was shortly followed by to purchase of the Greenhills Country House Hotel.
In 2011, 25 self-catering apartments were opened and in 2018 the family undertook a £5 million investment in the group.
In the height of the season 350 people are employed by the group, which holds 12.5% of the Island’s registered bed stock.
Mr Seymour added: ‘Many of our staff have worked for us for many years and they are very valued. We’ll be celebrating throughout the year, and one thing we have done is have our staff chose three charities we are going to support, which are Holidays for Heroes, RNLI Jersey and Jersey Hospice Care.’
