THE BOSS of a hotel chain is sorry about dropping the name of a well-known local establishment.

Richard Thomason, chief executive of Jarvis Hotels returned to his Kentish roots for a "back to the floor" day at the Ramada Hotel and Resort in Hollingbourne, near Maidstone.

Known since the 1930s as The Great Danes, the hotel was briefly called the Jarvis International until it became a Ramada.

"It will always be the Great Danes to most people," said Mr Thomason, who grew up in Folkestone and lived in Headcorn for several years.

"Do we like losing these old names? No we don't, and, affectionately, it will always be the Great Danes."

But the Ramada brand gave international recognition. That was especially important at a difficult time for the hotel industry suffering from the effects of September 11, war with Iraq and a general economic downturn.

"There's no business confidence," he said. "I've never known a period when so many hotels are sitting and waiting."

He warned that it would be a long time before Americans went abroad again "in large numbers."

But he expected short breaks and the domestic market to help hotels weather tough times.

Mr Thomason was one of hundreds of bosses nationwide who took part in the Springboard initiative.

He spent a day at the hotel on a wide range of duties, including working in the bar and accounts department.

He was also a waiter during a Business Link Kent lunch attended by more than 300 people, and served guest speaker Pete Goss, the celebrated sailor.

"It was great fun, a very good exercise and very enjoyable," he said. "It's good for all chief executives to get back to the floor."