LONDON, UK 19 November 2025 – Dominus Hospitality has appointed William Hunter as General Manager for The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton, one of London’s most anticipated hotel openings in February 2026.
Hunter brings over 15 years of experience across Hilton’s London portfolio, having first launched his hospitality career through the Hilton Graduate Management Programme.
His tenure includes Food & Beverage and Front of House leadership at The Trafalgar St. James London and DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands Riverside and, as well as senior management positions at The Westminster London, where he most recently served as Hotel Manager.
Throughout his career, Hunter has played a pivotal role in shaping operations at some of Hilton’s most distinctive city properties. He has successfully steered teams through major refurbishments and brand transformations, including two rebrands into the Curio Collection by Hilton at The Westminster London and The Trafalgar St. James London. These achievements highlight his strength in brand repositioning and operational strategy. Hunter will now bring his invaluable experience to launch The Derby London City, marking it as the 10th Curio Collection by Hilton in the UK.
The Derby will join a portfolio of award-winning hotels – owned by Dominus and managed by its hotel platform Dominus Hospitality – that operate under global brands including Hilton and Marriott. Dominus has over 1,700 keys in its existing hotel development pipeline across London, with plans to work with investment partners to scale this further.
Building a best-in-class team is a priority for Hunter, starting with the appointment of Edward Field as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing who brings a wealth of Hilton experience across London and Europe. There are a number of key hires underway including Operations Manager and Head Chef who will bring Rycrofte’s Restaurant, Coffeehouse and Bar to life, which will serve British classics with a twist.
William Hunter, General Manager, commented; “It’s an incredible honour to lead the opening of The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton. This hotel represents the next evolution of Curio Collection by Hilton’s lifestyle offering in London where heritage, innovation, and heartfelt service come together to create a truly memorable guest experience.”
Matt Williams, Director of Hotels, Dominus Hospitality, said: “We’re delighted to have William leading our new opening in the heart of the City of London. His expertise will be key as we look to build a first-class team to curate and deliver best-in-class experiences for our guests. We are proud to welcome William and this exciting new hotel to our award-winning portfolio”.
The Derby, affectionately named after The Bowler Hat, is scheduled to open February 2026, perfectly positioned on Great Tower Street just moments from the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, and eight tube stations. The hotel is a tribute to the area’s storied banking legacy and will be a great addition to the City of London.
Dominus Hospitality
Dominus Hospitality is the hotel division and management platform of Dominus. Dominus is a leading real estate investor, developer, owner and asset manager that specialises in hotels and student living.
Dominus’ hotel portfolio includes The Dixon Tower Bridge, Autograph Collection by Marriott, Lost Property St Paul’s, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton London City, Hampton by Hilton Bath City and Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City Centre. All hotels are Green Key Accredited, a leading sustainability certification.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 8,800 properties and nearly 1.3 million rooms, in 139 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 226 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About Curio Collection by Hilton
Curio Collection by Hilton is a global portfolio of more than 180 individually remarkable hotels hand-picked to immerse guests in one-of-a-kind moments in the world’s most sought-after destinations. Each hotel in the Curio Collection evokes a bespoke story through distinctive architecture and design, world-class food & beverage and curated experiences, while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors. Experience Curio Collection by Hilton by booking at curiocollection.com or through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Curio Collection by Hilton at stories.hilton.com/curio, and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and X.