Name: Sir Rocco Forte.
Age: 56.
Background: Son of Lord Charles Forte, who built the Forte Hotels empire from just one milk bar. At its height, the group included Little Chefs, Happy Eaters, Welcome Break service stations and more than 800 hotels. In 1993, Lord Forte retired and was replaced as chairman by Sir Rocco. Despite efforts to reconstruct and rationalise the company, he lost the chain to a hostile takeover by Granada in 1996. In that same year he set up his own hotel chain, RF Hotels. He now runs seven luxury hotels.
Family: Married to Aliai, they have three children.
Why he is in the news: He recently made his first business visit to Dublin since his RF Hotel group was established in 1996. His visit was to promote the opening of the new five-star Lowry Hotel in Manchester.
