EVER fancied giving up your day job to run your own hotel?

Events organiser Mark Lloyd wanted to do just that after becoming fed up with the 9-5 routine in Watford.

Mark decided enough was enough two years ago when he snapped up Rounceval House Hotel on Chipping Sodbury High Street.

The 45-year-old persuaded his wife Anita and their children Ethan, 6, and Luis, 3, to move to the town and embarked on learning about hotel management.

He has now written a book about his experiences offering advice on How To Buy and Run Your Own Hotel.

Mark, who has also begun delving into this past of the historic hotel, said: "This book is dedicated to all the people who thought, and probably still think, we were mad to make such a drastic change to our lives.

"More important, it is dedicated to all of you out there who are thinking of a similar venture.

"To some of you such a change will be just a pipe dream; to others it will be more than that – much more, in fact."

He said the book will hold people’s hand as they give up the safety of their current profession and leap into the unknown.

Added Mark: "My only knowledge of hotels up to that point was through staying in them as a guest.

"When I looked for a book to guide me through the day-to-day process, I couldn’t find anything that prepared me for what such a venture entailed."

The book describes a year in the life of a hotel manager and the details of his daily schedule. Having just remortgaged in the middle of the credit crunch, Mark also gives advice on how to keep a professional head in a financial crisis.

Mark said: "It is anecdotal and easy to read, but full of detailed practical advice and the important lessons that need to be learnt – in this case from someone else’s mistakes.

"I had no previous experience of the hotel industry but 18 months later I have a successful hotel and no regrets."

The book is available in bookshops now.