Sean Donkin

Observer
DISC Type : ic

Chief Executive Officer at The Inn Collection Group

Tyneside Area, United Kingdom

Overview

A hospitality veteran, Sean Donkin rose through the ranks from General Manager to CEO at The Inn Collection Group over a 15-year tenure. He was the driving force behind the companys aggressive "buy and build" strategy, expanding its portfolio from a single inn to over 30 sites across the North of England and Wales.

Outside of his professional life, Sean is a father who enjoys seeing people succeed, a passion that would have led him to become a sports coach in another life. His personal interests include 80s music, the film Top Gun, and reading books on holiday to unwind. He also enjoys spending time with his family.

He was pivotal in growing The Inn Collection Group from a single site to a portfolio valued at over £300 million.

Personality Overview

Curious

Example Seeker

Value Driven

They ask a lot of questions and rely heavily on information and collaterals.  They are generally good communicators and can be hard to convince. They can sound friendly and charming but can quickly change gears to become inquisitive and probing.

Topics They Care About

Strategic Acquisitions
He spearheaded the group's "buy and build" growth strategy, focusing on acquiring inns in dominant local markets with the potential for scale and redevelopment.
Employee Development
Passionate about promoting from within, he views his staff as family and invested in them during the pandemic with mindset coaching and ensuring 100% furlough pay.
Hospitality Excellence
Focuses on delivering a high-value, efficient customer experience centered on an "eat, drink, sleep, and explore" model, rather than complex hotel administration.

Media Appearances

Sean Donkin, Managing Director, The Inn Collection Group – Getting to Know the Leader. Featured in Boutique Hotelier

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Meet the MD: The Inn Collection Group's Sean Donkin on growth and unlocking the potential of the hospitality industry. Featured in Bdaily

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Work History

3-2017 - 12-2025
Chief Executive Officer at The Inn Collection Group
3-2012 - 3-2017
Director of Operations at The Inn Collection Group
2008 - 3-2012
Multi Site Retail Manager at The Inn Collection Group
2006 - 2008
Consultant at Hospitality Sector Consultancy
2002 - 2006
Multi site retail manager at Wessex Taverns

Education

1992 - 1999
Education details unavailable from Royal Grammar School Newcastle

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 27 Location : Tyneside Area, United Kingdom Job Level : N/A Designation : Chief Executive Officer at The Inn Collection Group
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Insights For Selling To Sean

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Be prepared for a lot of questions, answer them objectively
  • Help them understand the risk aspect fully while inspiring confidence
  • Share testimonials from known people and give multiple examples of product value

DONT's

  • Don’t be too objective but make sure to pad your storytelling with data points
  • Don’t brush off any concerns, take all questions seriously
  • Avoid making offhand commitments

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Sean is

  • Proven value, strong testimonials are important for them, rapport can impact decisions a little.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Sean

  • They are practical and friendly, don't expect a clear-cut response often.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Sean move?

  • They like to perform full analysis and can take time to make any decision.
  • Can Sean take some risk or not?

  • They weigh all decisions systematically and are unlikely to take many risks.

You And Sean

Personality Compatibility


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