Flavour of the Week
There’s movers, shakers and great change makers this week, from ex-CLIA commercial director Brett Jardine in his new venture to Melbourne Star and Veriu Broadway appointments!
Brett Jardine starts ‘Cruise Boss’
Ex-CLIA commercial director Brett Jardine has, following his departure from the cruise body, started up a new adventure called ‘Cruise Boss’.
With 27 years of experience in the travel industry including close to 10 years at CLIA during a boom time for the cruise industry, Jardine has experienced many aspects of cruising and general business that impact both agents and suppliers.
With this in mind “Cruise Boss” has been established to contract to business of varying size and style where the cruise industry is a primary focus.
“Cruise Boss is solo venture – just me,” Jardine told Travel Weekly, adding that his foundation client will be Viking Cruises.
“I’m excited to be able to let you know that my foundation client is Viking Cruises. With a well-established river cruise product, Viking is now making waves in the industry with an outstanding ocean cruise product and I am delighted to be assisting the team at such an exciting time for the business.
“From 27 years in the travel industry and the last 10 in a completely independent role as the face of CLIA in Australasia, I still see many cruise related businesses that are yet to genuinely grasp how to make the most of the growth we have seen in cruise and more specifically, how it relates to their own business.
“From retailers looking to better understand their own demographics and cruise lines as suppliers looking to improve their approach to the trade that is such an important part of their distribution. My goal is to look at these businesses on a case by case basis to best determine how I can help.
“There is no “one size fits all” approach that will work, everyone is different and finding the “silver bullet” that makes a business tick can be very rewarding.”
Visit Sunshine Coast appoints global events specialist
Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC) has appointed Kylee Daniel in a newly created role as Events Marketing Specialist.
Daniel has a strong background in the events marketing sector, most recently working with clients such as the World Masters Games 2017.
Notably, Daniel was the Senior Sponsorship Manager for ANZ New Zealand for seven years and was pivotal in driving brand sponsorships and ambassador programs with events 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, “I relocated to the Sunshine Coast earlier in the year and I’m excited to join an ambitious regional tourism organisation where my global event expertise will be utilised.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to some exciting new initiatives and maximising opportunities for the tourism and events sector here on the Coast.”
Jo Bennett joins The Star Sydney as Marketing Director Leisure & Entertainment
The Star Sydney will further bolster its marketing team with the appointment of senior marketer Jo Bennett to the role of Marketing Director Leisure & Entertainment.
Reporting directly to Melinda Madigan, General Manager Marketing & Entertainment, Bennett will be responsible for the development and management of strategic marketing programs and stakeholder engagement at The Star Sydney.
The role will see Bennett focus on driving brand awareness for The Star Sydney’s renowned signature restaurants, casual dining venues, bars, hotels, retail precinct and its B2B portfolio.
Bennett is an accomplished senior marketing professional with more than 20 years’ operational, strategic marketing, business development and leadership experience across a range of key categories, including retail, hospitality, destination and large-scale events in local and international markets.
Prior to joining The Star, Bennett held senior marketing and operational positions at The Cru Media, Matt Moran’s restaurant group Morsul and in the UK with Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, Ian Schrader Hotels, The Hospital Club and Marco Pierre White.
“I’m thrilled to join The Star Sydney’s dynamic marketing team to drive innovative marketing programs to further enhance the reputation of the world-class property.
“I have extensive professional experience and a deep personal interest in premium food and beverage, retail, accommodation and events and am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to such a profiled brand with a strong and expanding customer proposition,” said Bennett.
Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, Appoints New Head of Sales & Marketing
Melbourne Star Observation Wheel has appointed Nicole Hill as its new head of Sales and Marketing.
Hill has an extensive background in tourism, events and hotel management.
Most recently as Senior Sales Manager at Wyndham Hotel Group, where she managed a sales team who looked after 23 hotels in Australia, SE Asia and the South Pacific.
She joins the leading Victorian tourism attraction, this month, a few months after Melbourne Star celebrated its third birthday and carried its one-millionth visitor.
The appointment coincides with plans to launch an exciting new food and beverage range and an events and functions package that will showcase the state’s renowned culinary offering.
“I love the thought of toasty heated cabins in winter but there’s never a bad time of year, or a bad time of day
to get a sparkling view of the world’s most liveable city,” Hill said.
Veriu Broadway hotel announces new GM
Sydney is set to welcome the brand new Veriu Broadway hotel in June 2017 and Patrick O’Meley has been appointed as Hotel Manager for the exciting new city fringe hotel development.
Having most recently worked at luxury five-star hotels Palazzo Versace and QT on the Gold Coast, O’Meley is well versed in providing attention-to-detail, personalised guest service. He has also worked at other luxury brands including Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island, The Sebel Pier One and The Star Hotel & Apartments.
Shanker Chandra, Group General Manager of Veriu Hotels and Suites said, “Patrick is an excellent choice to lead the hotel and execute our brand service culture.
“An essential part of staying with Veriu is supported by the local knowledge of our team members and ensuring a bespoke experience in line with our guests needs, and Patrick’s exemplary guest service experience will ensure this is core to our service delivery.”
Veriu BrAdd Newoadway will open its doors to the first guests on 2 June 2017. An $18 million conversion of a former warehouse space, it will offer 64 self-contained studios – each over 40 square metres; and one and two bedroom split level apartments.
Ideally located close to the International Convention Centre, the hotel will provide a true and genuine local experience with team members trained as local area guides, plus on-site food & beverage sourced from local providers in keeping with the precinct’s contemporary café and bar offerings.
“Veriu is a unique concept on the Sydney hotel scene and I am excited to be on board with Veriu Broadway right from the start,” said O’Meley.
“It is great to see a hotel brand embrace the local environment and make it part of the guest experience and I’m looking forward to operating a brand new product in a vibrant part of Sydney.”
Unique Tourism Collection announces Norfolk Island account director
The Unique Tourism Collection has appointed Trina Shepherd to the new role of Account Director for Norfolk Island Tourism.
Based in Sydney, Shepherd will be responsible for continuing to develop the momentum growth in visitor numbers and implementing new marketing opportunities for Norfolk Island.
Shepherd joins UTC from Tourism Australia where she worked in Industry Events on activity in preparation for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Prior this short-term appointment during the first part of 2017, Shepherd was Deputy General Manager of Norfolk Island Tourism from 2012, based at the popular short-haul holiday destination for Australians, most recently instigating and driving the successful Destination Campaign featuring Ambassador, Ray Martin.
This ongoing campaign, which spotlights the special island paradise in a series of short stories and social projections, has directly resulted in a significant increase in visitor arrivals on the island from which additional flights from Sydney to the island have now been secured.
Before joining Norfolk Island Tourism, Shepherd was Owner/Operator of The Olive Café, one of the island’s most popular hospitality businesses.
Wellcamp welcomes new airport GM
When Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba was little more than a patch of dirt, Sara Hales joined the team as community liaison consultant.
As part of that role, Hales would spend countless hours on the road visiting the airport’s neighbours and speaking with schools and other community interest groups.
Today, four years later, Hales has been appointed as Wellcamp Airport’s new general manager.
A much-coveted role that oversees the day-to-day running of a multi-million-dollar domestic passenger and international cargo airport.
“I believe in what the airport can achieve for our community and look forward to continuing to work with our team to ensure its success,” said Hales.
Prior to stepping into the GM shoes, which Hales will officially do on May 2, she was the airport’s commercial manager.
Hales led the establishment of the international cargo business at Wellcamp Airport, making all commercial and operational arrangements for the start of Cathay Pacific’s 747-8f weekly cargo service to Hong Kong in November 2016.
She also managed government departmental negotiations for the airport’s international operations, including the Cathay Pacific operation and the TSBE Access China flight to Shanghai in October 2016.
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