Top news for the travel industry’s various morning tea rosters, as a bundle of movers and shakers add their names to the list.

Outrigger announces Vice President appointment for Andrew Gee

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has appointed Mr. Andrew Gee as vice president sales and marketing, Asia Pacific.

Since 2014, Gee has been regional director of sales and marketing, Australia and New Zealand based in the Sydney sales office. Prior to this he was director of sales and marketing, Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, a position he held for more than 13 years.

Gee began his hospitality industry career as a travel consultant with Thomas Cook Travel in Sydney followed by seven years as the marketing manager at Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney, where he went on to win the New South Wales Young Achiever in Tourism Award. This resulted in a scholarship to the University of Hawai‘i where he earned an executive diploma in tourism.

Gee has built a highly motivated sales and administration team and in 2015, managed the company’s first-ever Outrigger Global Showcase trade event throughout Australia and New Zealand with a second showcase staged in March 2017.

MTA appoints new Head of Product

Mobile Travel Agents has announced the appointment of Vanessa Whitaker as Head of Product with immediate effect.

Whitaker joins MTA with more than 30 years travel industry experience and a proven track record in product development, managing key preferred partner relationships, negotiation and contracting.

Her experience includes a General Manager – Travel role with Byron Bay-based TripADeal, Sales Manager (QLD) at Airtickets, BDM for the Jetset Travelworld Network and Regional Sales Manager for Globus Tours.

Luxurious getaway destination near Singapore welcomes Jared Green as DOS

A seasoned hospitality professional with almost two decades of experience across three continents and a passion for the independent hotel movement has been named The Sanchaya’s Director of Sales.

Jared Green’s appointment to the 21-villa and nine-suite beachfront estate on Bintan Island follows a two-year stint as Director of Sales with The Strand Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. He played integral roles in the reopening of the property after an extensive refurbishment and the launch of new luxury river cruise ship The Strand Cruise on the Ayeyarwady River.

Green also worked as Director of Sales at Cambodia’s first private island resort Song Saa for more than three years, after he was Director of Revenue at Raffles Hotels, Dubai.

He quickly rose up the ranks at luxury hotels in London, Bahrain and Dubai after starting his career in his native Australia as a senior receptionist at The Prince Hotel in Melbourne.

“I am drawn to the flexibility and creativity of the independent hotel movement and The Sanchaya is exemplary in this field,” said Green.

“The attentiveness of the staff, known as ‘artisans’, due to the level of training invested and innovative initiatives such as the S’YA fashion line make me feel very excited to be part of the team,” he added.

Visit Sunshine Coast appoints head of marketing

Recognising the increasing importance of marketing, digital and events, VSC has established the role of Head of Marketing, which will be filled by Kylee Daniel, who has been elevated from her current position as VSC’s Events Marketing Specialist.

The senior hub role will ensure a coordinated marketing outcome across the areas of marketing including leisure, digital, events, business events and domestic. New Zealand will also be included in this domestic mix.

Daniel has a strong background in the events and marketing sectors, most recently working with clients such as the World Masters Games 2017 and the New Zealand Heart Foundation. Notably, Daniel was the Senior Sponsorship Manager for ANZ New Zealand for seven years and was pivotal in driving brand through delivering fully integrated marketing campaigns including but not limited to the Rugby World Cup (2011), NZ Olympic Games team London 2012, NZ Commonwealth Games team Glasgow 2014 and ANZ New Zealand’s leverage programme of the Australian Open.

Speaking about the new position, Daniel said, “The Sunshine Coast is such a beautiful place and so I feel very privileged to be in a position that will positively contribute to the growth and development of the region’s tourism.

“It’s certainly an exciting time to lead the marketing for the region where business events, major events and tourism is going from strength to strength…and if I can coax a few more kiwi’s to this wonderful region for a holiday I will be very happy. It really is one of Queensland’s best kept secrets,” she added.

Announcement of new National Sales Manager for Wholesale brands

Oaks Hotels & Resorts strengthens Darwin team with key appointment

Leading accommodation provider, Oaks Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Paolo Gambino as the new General Manager of its Northern Territory property, Oaks Elan Darwin, effective immediately.

Gambino brings with him a wealth of travel industry knowledge, having held various senior positions across both the Tropical North Queensland region, and most recently Darwin, such as a Director of Sales and Marketing as well as Hotel General Manager, making for over 20 years of tourism-specific experience.

Prior to his appointment with Oaks Hotels & Resorts, Mr Gambino worked with some of the region’s leading hoteliers and tour operators, including Quicksilver Connections, Pacific International Hotel, Green Island Resort, Cairns Plaza Hotel and the H Hotel, Darwin.

This extensive cross-section of experience has also seen Mr Gambino sit on the National Board of the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) for almost three years, as well as Chair of the local ATEC Committee for five years, prior to his move to Darwin.

AccorHotels is pleased to announce the following new appointments in Australia and New Zealand

Kristy Stanton has been appointed General Manager, Hotel Tall Trees Canberra.

Kristy joined AccorHotels in December 2010 on an AccorHotels cadetship and completed her degree of Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Hospitality Management) in 2012. After working in various Front Office roles at Pullman Sydney Olympic Park, Kristy then moved to Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific as Assistant Manager. In 2014, Kristy was accepted into the AccorHotels’ Executive Leadership Program in which she graduated from last year. In June 2016, Kristy was assigned her first General Manager position at ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park where she has remained since.

Janine Livingston has been appointed General Manager, at the newly opened ibis Styles Hobart. Janine has over 30 years’ experience within the hospitality industry and first joined AccorHotels in February 2008 as Financial Controller at Mercure Hobart. In 2013 Janine transitioned into her first General Manager position at Mercure Hobart which then changed ownership to Best Western where Janine has remained since.

Marty Lamont has been appointed Cluster General Manager, ibis Budget NSW/ACT. 

Marty joined AccorHotels in June 2008 when he was accepted as a Graduate Management Trainee for ibis Wellington. Since February 2011, Marty has worked across various Front Office roles throughout New Zealand, Scotland and Australia before accepting his most recent position as Rooms Division Manager at ibis Sydney Darling Harbour in March 2015.

David Criss has been appointed General Manager, The William Inglis Hotel, MGallery by Sofitel, tasked with opening the new-build hotel in March 2018. David began his career with AccorHotels in 1996 as Executive Assistant Manager at Mercure & ibis Hotels Brisbane before receiving his first General Manager appointment at Novotel Rockford Darling Harbour in 2000. He later progressing to General Manager positions at Novotel Brisbane, Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach and Mercure St Leonards. David departed the company in 2008 to take on the role of Managing Director at Rafferty’s Resort. AccorHotels is thrilled to welcome David back to spearhead the opening of this new iconic hotel.

Rebecca Davis has been appointed General Manager, Wilpena Pound Resort. Rebecca joined AccorHotels in August 2008 when she was accepted into the Accor Graduate Management Program at Novotel Darling Harbour. In February 2010, Rebecca became Assistant Manager at Novotel Canberra before moving to her most recent role as Front Office Manager at ibis Styles Canberra Eagle Hawk in September 2014.

Catherine Fitzpatrick has been appointed General Manager, ibis Budget Dubbo. Catherine joined the AccorHotels network in 2006, and spent the last 11 years working across various Front Office roles at Pullman Magenta Shores Resort. This will be Catherine’s first General Manager appointment.

Zayne Boon has been appointed General Manager, Novotel Darwin CBD. Zayne commenced his career with AccorHotels in October 1994 as General Manager, Mercure Grand Apartments Darling Harbour. From 1996, Zayne held numerous General Manager positions in New South Wales and South Australia, before moving to New Zealand in March 2006 as Area General Manager for Wellington. Zayne continued to progress his career within Area Manager and Regional General Manager roles throughout New Zealand, before accepting a General Manager position at Novotel Bangkok in July 2012. Since March 2014, Zayne has continued to hold Area General Manager roles with the Pullman Brand throughout Southern Vietnam, Thailand and Kuala Lumpur.

Paul Lindsay has been appointed General Manager, ibis Budget Windsor. Paul joined AccorHotels in August 2001 at ibis Sydney Airport and advanced his career through a mixture of food and beverage opportunities within the Australian Hospitality Industry. Since August 2016, Paul has been a relief General Manager across a multitude of Australian ibis Budget Hotels, in particular ibis Budget St Peters and ibis Budget Coffs Harbour.

Jaideep Bhardwaj has been appointed General Manager, ibis Budget Perth Airport. Jaideep worked with a variety of hotel brands in India including Le Meridien, Sheraton and Hilton, before relocating to Australia in August 2011 where he worked as Night Manager at ibis Perth. Since then, Jaideep has held key operational roles in a number of AccorHotels’ properties in Western Australia, including ibis Styles Karratha and most recently ibis Styles Kalgoorlie.

John Armstrong has been appointed General Manager, Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. John first joined AccorHotels in March 2004 as Operations Manager, Mercure Grand Chalet before moving to the UK in July 2006 after accepting a position as Operations Manager at Novotel London Heathrow Airport. In June 2008, John was appointment his first General Manager position at Mercure Banbury, where he remained until February 2011 before moving to Novotel Wolverhampton. In August 2016, John returned to Australia to take on his most recent role of General Manager, Novotel Darwin CBD.

Imran Changezi has been appointed Hotel Manager, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

Imran joins Sofitel Melbourne on Collins from Four Seasons Hotel at Nile Plaza, Cairo, where he was Hotel Manager for over a year. Imran has over 15 years’ experience in high-end luxury hotels and resorts across various properties in Jumeirah Group whilst alternating various destinations including Dubai, London and Baku.