{{Short description|British businessman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Gowers | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|9|28|df=y}} | alma_mater = Keble College, Oxford (BA) | occupation = Businessman | title = CEO of Safestore (2011–2013)<br />CEO of Travelodge UK (2013–2020) | spouse = {{marriage|Claire Sykes|1998}} | children = 2 }} '''Peter Gowers''' (born 28 September 1972)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/9gvHuTS9OF7zzEXGY9MtW_CpYa8/appointments|title=Peter Darren GOWERS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-03-28}}</ref>{{Better source|date=March 2018}} is a British businessman, and the former chief executive of the hotel chain Travelodge UK.
==Early life== From 1991 to 1995 Gowers studied law at Keble College, Oxford,<ref name=Cave>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/11414356/Travelodge-has-complete-makeover-as-it-focuses-on-families-and-business.html|title=Travelodge has 'complete makeover' as it focuses on families and business|work=The Telegraph|last=Cave|first=Andrew|date=15 February 2015|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref> gaining a first class BA. He was President of the Oxford Union Society in the spring of 1994.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}
==Career== Gowers worked at the management consulting firm Arthur D. Little in his first job, as an analyst.<ref name=Bourke>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/meet-peter-gowers-the-travelodge-boss-plotting-london-expansion-a3914206.html|title=Meet Peter Gowers: The Travelodge boss plotting London expansion|work=Evening Standard|last=Bourke|first=Joanna|date=17 August 2018|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref>
Gowers joined InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in 1999. He was IHG's strategy officer, then from 2005 to 2007 their chief marketing officer. He then became the boss of their Asia-Pacific region. He left IHG when the Great Recession hit and their Asia-Pacific region was split into smaller business divisions.<ref name=Bourke></ref><ref name=Davies>{{Cite news|url=https://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/46090/travelodge-names-new-chief-executive|title=Travelodge names new chief executive|last=Davies|first=Phil|work=Travel Weekly|date=20 November 2013|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref>
In July 1999 Gowers joined Bass. He became the chief executive of the self-storage firm Safestore in 2011.<ref name=Davies></ref> He spent two years at the helm of the company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/monday-interview-peter-gowers-travelodge-2000488|title=Monday interview: Peter Gowers, Travelodge|work=The Scotsman|last=Jeff|first=Dominic|date=7 July 2014|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref>
Gowers became the chief executive of Travelodge UK on 25 November 2013, succeeding Grant Hearn. He said he was "delighted to be returning to the hotel industry" and was praised by the Travelodge chairman Brian Wallace.<ref name=Davies></ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aladyofleisure.com/travel-interview-travelodge-ceo-peter-gowers/|title='My £125 million Travelodge transformation': interview with Travelodge ceo Peter Gowers|last=Bridge|first=Sarah|website=aladyofleisure.com|date=18 August 2019|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref> On 28 November 2020 it was reported that Gowers would leave the office at the end of the year following a landlord dispute. He remained as an adviser to the company into 2021. He was replaced by Craig Bonnar, the chief operating officer, as acting chief executive.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Dominic |title=Travelodge chief Peter Gowers to quit after restructure finished |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/travelodge-boss-to-quit-after-loss-of-hotels-cjglqxrm9 |access-date=17 June 2021 |work=The Times |date=28 November 2020}}</ref>
In January 2022, Gowers took the position of Chairman of the Management Board and Group Chief Executive Officer for European car rental company Europcar. He stated that he was "delighted to be joining Europcar Mobility Group for the next stage of its journey and to deliver both transformational and operational improvements".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220629005814/en/Europcar-Mobility-Group-Opens-New-Chapter-With-Appointment-of-Holger-Peters-as-Chairman-of-the-Supervisory-Board-Peter-Gowers-as-Group-Chief-Executive-Officer-and-Philip-de-Klerk-as-Chief-Financial-Officer-and-Members-of-the-Management-Board|title=Europcar Mobility Group Opens New Chapter With Appointments|date=2022-06-29|access-date=2023-02-03}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gowers is married with a son (born September 2002) and daughter (born March 2004). He lives in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. He married Claire Sykes in September 1998 in Leeds. He met his wife while studying at the University of Oxford, and she also studied law at university.<ref name=Bourke></ref> He is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/big-shot-peter-gowers-of-safestore-nr8c5jswrgv|title=Europcar Mobility Group Opens New Chapter With Appointments|date=2011-03-01|access-date=2025-04-28}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.travelodge.co.uk/press-centre/executive-team Travelodge UK]
{{S-start}} {{S-bus}} {{S-bef|before=Grant Hearn}} {{S-ttl|title= Chief Executive of Travelodge UK |years=2013–2020}} {{S-aft|after=Craig Bonnar<br>{{small|Acting}}}} {{S-end}}
{{UK Hotels}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gowers, Peter}} Category:1972 births Category:Alumni of Keble College, Oxford Category:British businesspeople in the hospitality industry Category:InterContinental Hotels Group people Category:People from Beaconsfield Category:Presidents of the Oxford Union Category:Living people