Following an extensive global recruitment search, CEO Mark Davie has appointed Geoff York as Group Director, Hotels, Laura Davie as Group Director, Operations and HR, Kylie Brajak as Group Director, Global Sales and Distribution, Katie Malone as Group Director, Marketing and David Kotze as Director, Hotel Systems.
The new Mantra Hotel at Sydney Airport was officially opened today (19 July) by New South Wales Minister for Tourism and Major Events, the Honourable Adam Marshall MP, to help serve the 42 million passengers who travel through Sydney Airport each year, as well the thousands of visitors and staff who visit the airport precinct daily.
Marriott International is pleased to announce its new Executive Leadership team for the Pacific region, who will oversee a portfolio of over 40 operating and pipeline hotels in Australia, New Zealand and The Pacific. In order to achieve its impressive development target of 50 hotels for the region, Marriott International has appointed Richard Crawford to the role of Senior Director, Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific. Previously the Development Manager – Acquisitions for Mantra Group, Richard has a strong background in commerce and tourism and will be integral to leading and expanding the company’s development plans in the Australia Pacific region, particularly in key markets where Marriott International is currently not represented. Richard will be supported in Australia by Maria Verner, formerly with Starwood’s Pacific Development and Acquisitions team and recently promoted to the role of Manager, Development for Marriott International.
Marriott International is pleased to announce its new Executive Leadership team for the Pacific region, who will oversee a portfolio of over 40 operating and pipeline hotels in Australia, New Zealand and The Pacific. Florencia Aimo has been promoted from Director of Digital Marketing for Marriott Australia to Area Director of Marketing. Aimo has been tasked with the responsibility of delivering marketing initiatives to increase brand awareness and drive brand preference.
Marriott International is pleased to announce its new Executive Leadership team for the Pacific region, who will oversee a portfolio of over 40 operating and pipeline hotels in Australia, New Zealand and The Pacific. Ashley Hansen, previously Regional Director for Sales & Marketing and Sales Organisation in the Pacific, has been appointed to Area Director of Sales & Distribution and will oversee Marriott International’s sales operation in the region.
Based at Marriott International’s Sydney head office at Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, the team is led by Sean Hunt, Area Vice President Australia, New Zealand and Pacific. Reporting to Rajeev Menon, Chief Operating Officer, Marriott International, APEC (Asia Pacific excluding Greater China), Hunt will oversee and drive the operations and financial performance of the property portfolio.
Highly regarded hotel executive Georgina Williams has joined Best Western Australasia as Brand Development Manager with responsibility for growing the group’s profile and presence in Australia and New Zealand.
STR's preliminary May 2017 data for Sydney, Australia, indicates significant performance growth. Based on daily data from May, Sydney reported the following in year-over-year comparisons:
Sam Panetta has been appointed General Manager, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour. Sam joined AccorHotels in 2007 as Operations Manager for Accor’s Sydney Olympic Park Hotels and was part of the opening team of Australia’s first Pullman Hotel. In 2010, he moved on to Sofitel Sydney Wentworth as Executive Assistant Manager and was promoted to Hotel Manager in 2012. Sam was also awarded the AAA Property Manager of the Year in 2012. He was most recently General Manager of Pullman Magenta Shores resort for 2.5 years since 2014. He has also held positions as Director on the Golf Board for the resort and as a Chairman of Central Coast Tourism Board.
A highly skilled and personable hotelier, Melbourne-born Mr Barnett has taken the reigns from his previous role as Director of Marketing at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, marking the third promotion in his six years at the property. Mr Barnett brings more than 25 years’ experience in hospitality to the role, working for top hotel groups in Australia and across the globe including Hilton Hotels and Jumeriah Hotels & Resorts in London and New York.
Ms Radic has joined Four Seasons with an impressive career spanning more than 25 years in Australian hotels, including eight years in her most recent role as Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing at Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel.With a passion for developing and mentoring future leaders in hospitality, Ms Radic has successfully led sales and marketing teams at a number of luxury hotels across Australia, and acted as Hotel Manager at Sir Stamford Circular Quay in 2005.
Mantra Group is celebrating a milestone moment today as the construction of the new-build Mantra Hotel at Sydney Airport exterior is completed.
STR's preliminary March 2017 data for Sydney, Australia, indicates significant demand and occupancy levels. Based on daily data from March, Sydney reported the following in year-over-year comparisons:
With an established history in the industry, Dennington began his hospitality career by serving at a traditional English pub in the UK. From there, Dennington expanded his commitment and expertise by transferring to Sydney and working in 5-star hotel operations. Dennington has gradually expanded his focus on IT and systems solutions supply, and over the past 5 years, he has been responsible for providing property management system solutions to a wide variety of clients across the globe. Increasingly focusing on product marketing, cloud solutions and SaaS, Dennington possesses a deep understanding of what hotel teams require to enhance their business, and is able to use such insight to tailor solutions that fit their precise needs.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Linzhu (Australia) Pty Ltd are promising to deliver extra "Joy of Travel" in Sydney with the signing of an agreement to open the Holiday Inn Sydney Central in the city's CBD.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day (8 March), AccorHotels has announced it has appointed its first ever Indigenous General Manager, Kristy Stanton, who has become GM of ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park. Officially announced at a special Elders breakfast at Harbour Rocks Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel, the appointment of Kristy also marks a milestone for AccorHotels Indigenous Employment Program, which reached over 500 employees nationally at the end of 2016.
David Jaros has more than 22 years' experience across strategy, marketing and technology, and an impressive track record of pioneering growth in SaaS markets. He joins SiteMinder from FinTech startup Noesis Finance where he served as Vice President of Marketing and, later, CMO. Prior, he spent four years at disruptive IT management software company SolarWinds, where he successfully ran lead generation and field marketing to deliver in excess of 400,000 trial downloads per year. As CMO at SiteMinder, he will be responsible for all global marketing activities, including corporate marketing, brand awareness, customer marketing, field marketing and lead generation.
Ken Aoyama brings to SiteMinder a distinguished career in product development, gained at leading technology corporations that include Microsoft and, most recently, Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Cybozu where he served as Head of Engineering and Chief Global Business Officer to penetrate new markets, double revenue and acquire more than 10,000 new customers for Cybozu's application Platform-as-a-Service (aPaaS) business. As CPO for SiteMinder, Ken is responsible for leading an over-60-strong product and engineering team to deliver the company's strategy, development and innovation of product; and enhance its current Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering.
InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the appointment of Chris Waite to the role of Director of Communications, Australasia and Japan. Mr Waite is responsible for leading the communications function for IHG and its core brands of InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo and EVEN Hotels in these rapidly-expanding markets, as well as elevating IHG’s industry thought leadership positioning.
Kristen Carville has been appointed as the General Manager of BreakFree on George, Sydney. He has previous general manager experience at Chifley Hotels in Sydney. Kristen’s energy, enthusiasm and skills will see further opportunities and significant growth for the property.