Have you noticed a lag between Flavours of the Week? Fear not, it’s just us slacking off, not a drop in job opportunities. Get around all the new appointments here.

TTNQ appoints new CEO

A regional tourism industry chief executive officer with more than three decades of experience in management and marketing has been appointed to lead Tropical North Queensland through a strong growth phase.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Chair Max Shepherd announced Pip Close, who is currently the CEO of the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, would take on the role of TTNQ CEO on July 3.

Previously CEO of the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association, Close managed the organisation’s amalgamation with the Geographe Bay Tourism Association two years ago to become the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association with 800 members, 120 staff, four visitor centres and six tourism attractions to operate.

Her 30-year career in the tourism industry includes General Manager of Tourism Fraser Coast, senior marketing and general management roles in several key Australian hotels and resorts, and earlier roles with Captain Cook Cruises, and the Australian Tourism Commission and Northern Territory Tourism Commission in the United Kingdom.

Shepherd said Close had strong experience in the leisure, business and meetings markets and held board roles in both the meetings industry and regional development in Western Australia.

Aussie girl secures the greatest job ever with Busabout

The international search for Busabout’s Global Brand Ambassador is over as the free-spirited travel experts select Sydney-sider, Leanne Gaculais, as the company’s latest (and perhaps greatest) recruit.

This role will see Leanne travel across Europe tracking down the tastiest tapas in Spain, catching the dreamiest sunsets over the Med and discovering Berlin’s best nightlife…all in the name of work.

Leanne will be joined by Texan Jake Baine, the successful applicant for the role of Video Producer, who has generated video content for music acts including The Chainsmokers. Together the pair will embark on the trip of a lifetime creating stories and making memories to share across Busabout’s social channels.

Starting in London and travelling through the Balkans, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria and much more besides, Leanne and Jake will spend five months experiencing the very best of Europe and creating amazing travel themed vlogs, writing blog posts and documenting their travels on social media.

Adventure World appoints Latin America Product Manager

Adventure World is delighted to announce the appointment and return of Ana Salazar to the brand in the role of Latin America Product Manager.

A native Ecuadorian with over 24 years’ experience promoting South America, Ana has previously directed Adventure World’s Latin America department from 2007 to 2014.

Having extensively explored eighteen countries throughout the region, Ana has welcomed the opportunity to put her passion for all things South American back into practice at Adventure World.

New Hotel Manager and DOM at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of two highly regarded senior managers.

Respected Australian hospitality leader Simon Barnett has been appointed Hotel Manager, while renowned senior sales and marketing expert Helen Radic has joined the executive team as Director of Marketing.

A highly skilled and personable hotelier, Melbourne-born 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.

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.

Fellow Victorian 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, 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.

Matthew Wood appointed as Executive Chef at Hilton Brisbane

Hilton Brisbane , has appointed Matthew Wood as the hotel’s newest Executive Chef who will oversee Hilton Brisbane’s entire culinary operation including catering and events, in-room dining and the hotel restaurant Vintaged Bar + Grill.

“We are thrilled to welcome Executive Chef Matthew Wood to Hilton Brisbane,” said general manager, Chris Partridge, Hilton Brisbane.

“Matthew is an extraordinary culinary talent who has invested many years in renowned restaurants, working with some of Australia’s most prominent Chefs. We believe that Matthew will bring Hilton Brisbane’s culinary experience to
new heights.”

Wood comes to Hilton Brisbane with a wealth of experience after working in the kitchens of some of the country’s best fine dining establishments, including Southbank’s StokehouseQ, Aria on Eagle Street, Urbane, and Vue de Monde in Melbourne.

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort appoints Matt Rippin as GM

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, an InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) property and the first InterContinental property in Australia, welcomes renowned hotelier Matt Rippin to the position of General Manager.

As a well-established and respected leader in the hospitality industry, the New Zealand-born Rippin brings with him over 20 years’ experience in the international hotel industry.

With extensive tenure across the IHG portfolio, Matt rejoins the luxury InterContinental brand following his most recent appointment as General Manager, Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside in 2015 where he spearheaded the hotel’s rebrand and launch of the first Holiday Inn brand to the Cairns market.

Rippin will be responsible for all hotel operations across the 243-room InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, including its four dining outlets, all-new Club InterContinental, 15 meetings and events spaces, weddings and guest relations.

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas Appoints Gordon Drake as Chief Financial Officer

Gordon Drake has joined Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas as the chief financial officer for the group.

He brings more than 13 years of global hospitality experience in corporate capital markets, financial asset management and risk management as well as the development and implementation of operational and financial strategy.

Prior to this Six Senses appointment he had held several positions at Kingdom Hotels Investments since 2007.

He was appointed as chief financial officer and board director in 2009, then later adding head of mergers & acquisitions where he oversaw a multitude of asset transactions in addition to the sale of Fairmont Raffles to Accor.

He had recently also been a board member of the Savoy Hotel in London as well as Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts.

New boss at Nitmiluk Tours

The boards of the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation and its tourism arm, Nitmiluk Tours has announced the appointment of Jane Runyu-Fordimail as the new CEO of prominent tourism operation in Katherine.

“This is a huge milestone for our people—a great step forward,” said Lisa Mumbin, Chair of the Jawoyn Association and incoming chair of Nitmiluk Tours.

“Jane learnt at the feet of our major leaders back in the 1980s, and she was first appointed to the Nitmiluk Tours Board back in 1993.

“Since that time she has dedicated herself to learning about the business, and since 2012 has been manager of cultural services out at the National Park, and been mentored into the role she now takes on.”

Mumbin said that the boards of both Jawoyn and Nitmiluk were united in their commitment to improving and expanding tourism services at the park, and in other areas in the region.

“This is the vision our Elders gave us when they lodged the land claim 39 years ago, a vision in which—through sharing our country with the world—we would also increase Jawoyn involvement in the future economic development of the region.

“Jane is a strong Jawoyn woman, and I am enormously proud of her achievements to date, and look forward to her growing in her new role with the wonderful staff at Nitmiluk Tours.”

Louis T Collection Welcomes Treacy as New COO

A seasoned hospitality veteran with nearly three decades of experience across three continents and an enthusiasm for the independent hotel movement has been named Louis T Collection’s chief operating officer.

Shaun Treacy’s appointment to the boutique hotel management and building solutions company marks his return to Asia after six years in the United States. During that time, he was the North American president of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Rosewood Hotel Group’s senior vice president for the Americas and Europe, and oversaw product and brand design for the Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Before that, Treacy spent 18 years in Asia steadily rising up through the ranks of the Hyatt organization. After three years as the Grand Hyatt Shanghai’s resident manager, he took over as general manager of the Grand Hyatt Taipei for seven years before a three-year stint as Hyatt International Asia Pacific’s vice president.

Born and raised in Manchester, England, Treacy will draw on his track record of implementing strategic business initiatives and driving new brand development to continue Louis T Collection’s positive trajectory following its 2015 launch.

 InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa Welcomes New Area Director of Sales & Marketing

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is proud to announce the appointment of Dean White as the new Area Director of Sales & Marketing – Fiji & Vanuatu.

Dean joins the resort with over 20 years of experience in international luxury hotels as well as commercial operations across multiple countries such as Australia, Hong Kong, Egypt, Africa, Middle East, North America, Vietnam and Cambodia to name a few.

With many achievements in his career, a key highlight was his stint as CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce for Hong Kong and Macau.

He will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of three properties – the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Suva and the Holiday Inn Vanuatu; and realising a number of strategic objectives to maximise profitability and brand awareness across all markets.

“I am excited to join a team with such an outstanding reputation,” said White.

“I am looking forward to developing new markets with our resort strategy and to ensure that 2017 will be a great one.”