The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and Fast Consortium (FEC), a leading Asian property developer, have signed an agreement for the development of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne located at 250 Spencer Street in the UNESCO city of literature.
Darren Waite has been appointed as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Darren joins Accor with over 20 years’ experience having held a number of senior leadership roles in multinational companies within the hospitality industry both in Australia and in the United Kingdom. Darren was most recently Director, Asia Pacific at CWT Solutions Group based in Sydney. Prior to this he was Director of Key Accounts for InterContinental Hotels Group.
Originally from Brisbane, he brings with him over a dozen years of both international and Australian experience as a Director of Sales & Marketing.
Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,590 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), has officially opened its flagship Melbourne development, Wyndham Hotel Melbourne, becoming the company's first hotel in the city.
- Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the opening of the new DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street, the brand's first property in Melbourne. Previously the Citigate Melbourne, the hotel debuts as a DoubleTree by Hilton following a comprehensive multi-million dollar refurbishment to create a comfortable, modern boutique-style 180 room hotel, taking its design cues from its location in the heart of cool, urban Melbourne and its famous neighbour, Flinders Street Station. The hotel is owned by M&L Hospitality and managed by Hilton Worldwide.
Wahid Banihali has been appointed the Financial Controller for all Ovolo Hotels in Australia. Under this newly created role for Ovolo, Wahid will be responsible for guiding the Group’s accounting processes, fiscal reporting and financial operations of Ovolo Hotels in Australia. He brings 32 years of experience in financial and management accounting to the Ovolo team, including strong technical knowledge and professional expertise in Australian accounting standards/corporation law and all reporting requirements across departments. Mr Banihali has previously served as a Director of Finance for leading international hotel chains in Australia, the Middle East and Asia.
Kathrin Swadzba has been named the Group Revenue Manager for Ovolo Hotels Australia. Kathrin will be tasked with maximizing overall revenue for Ovolo’s Australian assets through development and implementation of effective inventory and pricing strategies and liaising closely with hotel management to drive market share across all market segments and distribution channels. She has over a decade of experience in hospitality revenue management through various managerial roles in the United Kingdom.
Adam Males will lead the team at Ovolo Laneways as the hotel’s new General Manager. The first Australian Ovolo Hotel, Laneways opened September 2012 on 19 Little Bourke Street in Melbourne’s Central Business District. The hotel’s fresh design, smartly spaced interiors and Ovolo’s signature all-inclusive service concept made a successful impression on the Australian travel market, one that encouraged the Group to pursue further growth in the country. Adam will be responsible for taking Ovolo Laneways to new heights, starting with the properties newly redeveloped penthouse suites, which will be open for booking from November 2014 onwards. He is a veteran of Australia’s emerging lifestyle hotel scene, having previously worked for the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, QT Sydney and Qualia on Hamilton Island.
Ovolo Hotels have today announced the establishment of their first international headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. The move marks a new era for the independent hotelier as it grows outside its Hong Kong home market and takes on Australia, and the world's, burgeoning hotel scene.
In her most recent role with Toga Far East Hotels as Group Director of Sales, Nicole was responsible for managing a sales team of 40 with a focus on providing collaborative sales support for over 70 hotels. Nicole was instrumental in cultivating new strategic partnerships and introducing a range of integrated sales and marketing initiatives that saw the business capture greater market share and achieve unprecedented results.
As the first Hilton hotel in Australia we will always be proud of the 40 year history of Hilton on the Park Melbourne and the management of Hilton Worldwide would like to thank team members both past and present for the significant contribution they have made to both the hotel and the establishment of the Hilton brand in Australia.
Choice Hotels Australasia has appointed Daniel Kitch to the position of General Manager, Development, which will see him focus on portfolio expansion for Australia’s largest hotel franchisor.
Wyndham Hotel Group’s much anticipated flagship property Wyndham on William Melbourne is nearing completion, with the management team being recruited, including Hotel Manager, Kate Costello.
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific is pleased to announce the appointment of David Tonkin to the position of Regional Director of Resort Operations for Victoria and Western Australia.
A Melbourne landmark since 1974, Hilton on the Park-Melbourne welcomes the appointment of Andrew Nisbet as its new General Manager.
IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the leading provider of pricing and revenue management software, services and consulting, today announced that The Hotel Windsor Melbourne has seen a nine percent increase in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) in the five months since adopting IDeaS Revenue Management System (RMS).
Cobern commenced her tenure at Choice Hotels in 1998 when the hotel franchise group first launched to the Australasian market and has held the positions of Senior Sales Manager-Inbound, Senior Director-Sales and for the past eight years, General Manager, Sales & Marketing.
Chris Lane has been appointed director of sales for Victoria, Australia for Pan Pacific Hotels Group. Based at Parkroyal Melbourne Airport, Lane will manage business-to-business sales and develop new business as well as maintaining and growing current accounts.
InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto welcomes the appointment of Blair Roxborough as the new General Manager. Adding to his role as Area General Manager (Victoria and South Australia) with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the new position will see Roxborough working to strengthen the hotel’s relationships on both a local and global scale. Working with the existing team he will continue to develop the already excellent guest experience and service delivery which the InterContinental brand is known for globally, as well as building on the hotel’s eminent reputation as a Melbourne icon.
Wyeth has held a variety of roles with Accor since 1996 including a stint as general manager at Novotel Barossa Valley Resort.