Chris Eigelaar

Bio:

Chris Eigelaar is Managing Director at The Belfry. Honing his business and commercial acumen with some of the UK’s most esteemed hotel brands, including DoubleTree by Hilton, Sofitel 
and Locke Hotels, he has over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry.  
Named ‘Manager of the Year’ at The Cateys, Chris joined The Belfry in 2018, leading a dynamic team and steering the Resort’s vision, strategy and cultural transformation. During his tenure, 
Chris has navigated the resort through a significant property sale and spearheaded an £85million expansion project which has seen the resort almost double in size. This includes the construction of a new events venue, The Masters Suite, the building of a cutting edge leisure club, and the addition of 149 brand-new bedrooms.  
Awarded prestigious Master Innholder status in 2025, and as Chair of the Institute of Hospitality Midlands, Chris is a champion for the highest standards of hotel management. Priding himself on driving business performance and delivering results, under Chris’ leadership The Belfry has won over 30 illustrious awards, secured a contract to host the Betfred British Masters until 2027, and been named in the Sunday Times Top 10 Best Places to Work and Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality. 
This is as well as delivering record-breaking revenue, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, and embedding responsible tourism throughout The Belfry’s operations. 
With an inclusive, people-focussed leadership style characterised by strong communication, visionary thinking and employee investment, Chris has fostered a culture of excellence that inspires his team to consistently surpass expectations and takes The Belfry from strength to strength. 
Awards Won: 
• The Cateys – Hotel of the Year 2026 and Manager of the Year 2025 
• Master Innholder 
• Chair of the Institute of Hospitality Midlands  
• Boutique Hotelier Power List