Take a look at this impressive list of industry movers and shakers. The most impressive thing we’ve done lately is turning up to work on time.

Metro Hotels appoints new BDM for NSW and Victoria

Metro Hotels has appointed Sri Kodali to the role of Business Development Manager for NSW and Victoria.

In this role Sri is responsible for maintaining and growing the domestic leisure, corporate and government business for Metro Hospitality Group’s properties in Sydney and Melbourne.

With more than 15 years experience in the industry, Sri was previously Regional Sales Manager NSW/Victoria for Oakwood Asia Pacific and Director of Sales & Marketing for APX Hotels & Apartments.

AgencyB&Co appointed to Sydney Airport’s retail portfolio 

AgencyB&Co has been appointed to the dynamic Sydney Airport account as the airport continues to undergo transformational upgrades to the retail, food and dining portfolio – enhancing the experience for the more than 44.4 million passengers a year.

AgencyB&Co, Managing Director, Sally Burleigh says her team are excited to be working with Sydney Airport in 2019, driving media and consumer awareness of the new shopping and dining experience across T1 International and T2 and T3 Domestic.

The agency will support the Sydney Airport team on a number of significant projects across the year releasing content and information on the retail precincts in T1, T2 and T3 including new store openings, designs and activations.

Six Senses Fiji Appoints Frans Westraadt as General Manager

Six Senses Fiji is pleased to announce the appointment of Frans Westraadt as general manager of the resort. Frans brings with him extensive experience in top-tier resorts and excellent leadership skills.

Frans started with Six Senses in 2014 as the resident manager at Six Senses Laamu where he had the opportunity to mentor under General Manager Marteyne van Well. Frans then moved on to Six Senses Yao Noi, as resort manager, in 2018 where he worked under General Manager Graham Grant. Prior to Six Senses, Frans held various leadership positions in operational roles and has overseen luxury lodges and resorts in Namibia, the Maldives and Seychelles. Through these roles he has developed a great passion for hospitality and guest experiences.

Frans studied Hotel Management at the University of South Africa and completed the Cornell University’s Strategic Leadership for Hospitality Professional. He is multilingual and speaks English, German and Afrikaans. A Namibian native, Frans grew up on a farm and he loves the outdoors. He has dived with the great whites and his next mission is to track down polar bears in the wild and would be excited if he could see a Yeti on the way! Frans also holds a private pilot license.

New Business Development Team Members for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises have announced the appointment of two travel industry professionals, Rebecca Scaffidi and Carlos Rodrigues, to their business development teams. Scaffidi takes the role of Business Development manager for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises in WA and NT, with Rodrigues acting as a temporary Business Development Executive for Regent Seven Seas Cruises in NSW and ACT.

Scaffidi brings over a decade of travel industry knowledge and experience to the role, where she will operate as a key contact for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises’ WA and NT based travel partners. Ms Scaffidi previously worked for Singapore Airlines as a Sales Executive and has been nominated twice for the NTIA AFTA Awards, where she was a finalist under the Rookie Of The Year category.

Rodrigues also has over a decade’s worth of travel industry experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism. He joined Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in May 2018, working as part of the outbound team and as Operations Support for the inbound team. Previously Mr Rodrigues worked for Viking River & Ocean Cruises where he was a Cruise Sales Consultant.

Rodrigues has now transitioned into acting business development executive for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, where he will operate as a key contact for the line’s NSW and ACT based travel partners. He takes on the temporary role while Linda Seiersen, Business Development Manager for NSW & ACT, is on extended leave due to health reasons.

Adventure World Travel strengthens team and service

Adventure World Travel is strengthening its team with two new appointments, and delighted to announce Andy Kirkman, to the role of Head of Sales and Rebecca Arnold to the role of Sales Manager for WA, SA and the NT.

With over 12 years of industry experience across the retail, tour operator and wholesale sectors, Andy is dedicated to the travel industry which shows in both his enthusiasm and professional awards. Andy has also been nominated for Best Sales Executive at the prestigious NTIA’s two years in a row, in both 2016 and 2017.

Most recently, Andy has spent the last five years as Adventure World’s Sales Manager in WA, SA and NT, with extensive first-hand travel experience of the Adventure World Travel brand and its ethos. Andy has a passion for eco-travel, having completed volunteer work in Indonesia and in 2018, ticked off his seventh and final continent, with an expedition cruise to Antarctica.

Rebecca Arnold brings across to Adventure World, over five years of travel industry experience, having recently been a travel consultant in SA. Her passion for travel is evident in her curiosity in learning about other cultures and customs, with particular interest in both Cambodia and India. In 2016, Rebecca also escorted a group along the challenging Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.

Hilton Adelaide welcomes Rupert Hallam, newly appointed general manager

Rupert Hallam has been appointed as general manager of Hilton Adelaide, joining the team with more than 25 years in hospitality and tourism, and with a wealth of experience across all facets of hotel management.

Rupert Hallam has been with Hilton for more than 19 years and whilst he is British by birth, 10 years of living across Australia, prompted him and his family to call Australia ‘home’.

Hallam is a passionate hospitality and tourism industry executive with more than 25 years’ worth of international experience working for Hilton in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to this role Rupert was Vice President of Sales for Hilton Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.