Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers below or click here to check out last week’s new appointments.
1. Meet Daydream Island’s new Director of Sales & Marketing,
Daydream Island Resort and Spa in the Whitsundays has announced the appointment of hospitality sales professional Jayson Heron as its new Director of Sales and Marketing based in Sydney.
As Daydream prepares for its forthcoming $65 million redevelopment it has relocated its sales and marketing office to Sydney from Brisbane.
Mr Heron joins Daydream Island from The Star Sydney where he was Director of Sales. Prior to that he held a variety of roles with Hilton and Crown Resorts in Melbourne.
“We are delighted to welcome Jayson to the team at Daydream,” said Daydream Island General Manager Dawson Tang.
“Jayson’s extensive sales and marketing experience with major hotel and entertainment businesses is going to be invaluable for our growth in key markets as Daydream looks forward to an exciting reopening next year.
“He brings a broad range of experience across important leisure and MICE markets, and will lead the strong sales and marketing team we are establishing in Sydney.”
Jayson said he was thrilled at the opportunity to lead the sales and marketing team for the soon to be redeveloped Daydream Island and develop relationships with key industry partners.
“Daydream has long been highly regarded as one of Australia’s best island holiday experiences in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
“I’m excited to expand Daydream’s presence within Australian and overseas markets as it re-establishes itself once again as the jewel of the Whitsundays.”
2. Meet… Hilton’s new leadership in Asia Pacific
Hilton announced that Alan Watts has been appointed to the position of Executive Vice President & President, Asia Pacific (APAC). In his new role, effective January 1, 2018, Watts will oversee the operations of more than 200 Hilton properties across the region, as well as the company’s pipeline of more than 375 hotels. Watts will be reporting to Hilton’s President & Chief Executive Officer, Christopher J. Nassetta, and serve as a member of the executive committee.
Watts takes over the role from Martin Rinck, who over the last nine years led Hilton through historical growth in APAC and helped position the Hilton portfolio of brands as best in class in the region. During his tenure at Hilton, the organisation launched several of its award-winning brands including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton, and pursued an ambitious growth strategy that has led to more than 100 trading hotels in China alone. Rinck has long planned to relocate to join his family in Canada, and Watts’ transition into the role will allow him to pursue potential other opportunities at Hilton.
“Hilton’s mission is to be the most hospitable company in the world, everywhere our guests want to be. With more destinations than ever before in Asia Pacific, we are well on our way to achieving that, thanks to Martin’s outstanding leadership,” said Christopher J. Nassetta.
“We are incredibly fortunate to now have Alan Watts, who has established himself as an experienced and high-performing leader in the region, to pilot Hilton’s APAC journey from here. I am confident that Alan will use his expertise to deliver superior performance for our hotel owners and investors, and further drive growth.”
“I’m excited to be joining Hilton at such a pivotal time for the company in the APAC region,” said Watts. “I look forward to leading the team to ensure that Hilton continues to deliver the exceptional hospitality the company is known for all over the world. With market-leading growth and high-performing brands, there is no better time to be at Hilton, and I am incredibly proud to help shape the company’s APAC journey.”
Watts joins Hilton after an esteemed two-decade career at IHG, where he most recently acted as Chief Operating Officer for IHG’s Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. He was responsible for the company’s operations in 280 hotels across six brands and 40 countries and territories, including bringing to life the group’s substantial pipeline and brand introductions.
Having spent his entire career in the APAC market, with a number of senior leadership roles, Watts is well known and benefits from vast experience. Originally from New Zealand, he is married with two daughters.
3. Meet… Travelzoo’s Head of Sales, Australia
Travelzoo is further strengthening its leadership team in Australia. The travel deal site, with exclusive offers for members, today announced that Vanessa Young has joined the company as Head of Sales, Australia.
Young brings with her more than 25 years’ experience within the travel industry, in both the domestic and international markets. In 1990, Young joined Qantas, becoming Corporate Sales Manager by 1998. After ten years with Qantas, Young moved to Carlson Wagonlit Travel in 2001 and was appointed Director of Sales in 2003. In this role, she led the national new business development team and was responsible for advancing and executing the Australian new business sales strategy.
Young joined Virgin Australia in 2005 and held a number of sales roles within the company, including Head of Corporate, Government, TMC and OTA Sales and Head of Alliances and International Sales Strategy. During her tenure at Virgin Australia, Young led a team of 35 employees located across Australia, New Zealand, USA, the Pacific Islands and the Middle East and played a pivotal role in launching the Virgin Australia brand and executing the Game Change Program.
Most recently, Young has worked in the hospitality and entertainment industry as Head of Business Development at TGS and was also a contractor at Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation, a charitable foundation in Sydney, after previously volunteering for this charity. Young remains involved with Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation as a volunteer.
Vanessa Young will be based in Travelzoo’s Sydney office.
4. Meet… The Chen’s General Manager
Art Series Hotel Group have announced Amy Moylan as General Manager of The Chen, the eighth art inspired hotel for the Group. Amy will lead The Chen’s opening team after seven and a half years of delivering art inspired experiences for guests across the Group’s Victorian properties.
Matthew Toms, COO Art Series Hotel Groups says: “We are so proud of Amy’s amazing career with Art Series and are delighted she is moving to the position of General Manager at The Chen. Amy has excelled at every aspect of her career, while working her way through the ranks at a number of our hotels.”
Amy’s most recent role was Hotel Manager at The Schaller Studio in Bendigo, where she took a ‘tree change’ from Melbourne to take up the position in December 2014. Prior to this, Amy was pivotal in the opening of The Blackman in 2009 before taking the step to lead the front office team at The Olsen for several years, prior to being promoted to her first General Manager appointment at The Cullen in 2014.
In her two plus years as General Manager at The Schaller Studio, Amy engrained herself within the local Bendigo community, working tirelessly to grow and promote Bendigo as a tourist destination, while also dedicating herself to the busy hotel. Her contribution was recognised when she was appointed as a member of the Bendigo Tourism Board in 2015.
Amy comments: “After seven years with the Art Series Hotel Group, I am incredibly excited to come back to Melbourne and take on the challenge of opening this impeccably designed hotel. My tenure with the group has given me an understanding of the inner workings of the hotels and the nuances of the brand which I will take with me into this opening.”