Who got a new gig this week? Check out this week’s travel industry movers & shakers!
1. Shepherd joins TTNQ’s board
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) has appointed director and tourism industry identity Max Shepherd to the role of Board Chair from July 1.
TTNQ Chief Executive Officer Alex de Waal said outgoing Chair Stephen Gregg had made an outstanding contribution to the region over many years through various roles including four years as chair and two years as a director.
Mr Shepherd, who worked in the tourism industry for more than 45 years before retiring as Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Managing Director in 2014, said his role would be to keep the TTNQ team, board and tourism industry working together to foster a strong and successful destination.
Mr Gregg said the time was right for TTNQ to have a local chair and with Mr Shepherd already on the board there would be an orderly transition.
2. Cooper exits Marriott International APAC
Marriott International Asia Pacific has announced a change in leadership, as Simon F. Cooper steps down his head roll.
Cooper, President and Managing Director of Asia Pacific, will retire at the end of the month and Craig S. Smith, currently President of Marriott International Caribbean & Latin America (CALA), succeeded Mr. Cooper on June 1, 2015.
Mr. Cooper led the operating performance and growth of Asia Pacific. By the end of the year, Marriott International plans to surpass one million rooms worldwide.
3. Globus announces new national marketing manager
The Globus family of brands has announced the appointment of Chris Fundell as its new National Marketing Manager, taking responsibility for marketing the Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms brands across the country.
Mr Fundell brings more than 16 years’ experience in the travel and leisure sectors, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.
He was most recently Marketing Manager for the Concierge Travel Group in Sydney and has held other roles in the UK including as Project Marketing Manager for Cosmos Tours & Cruises, Marketing Manager for Milestones, part of The Travel Corporation, and Trade Marketing Manager at Titan Travel.
Globus family of brands Managing Director Australasia Stewart Williams welcomed Mr Fundell’s return to the Globus group.
4. New managing director for Metro Hotels
Metro Hotels has appointed Peter Frawley as the new Managing Director.
Peter will be taking on responsibility for the management of Metro Hotel’s 14 hotels, apartments and resorts throughout Australia and as well as the Paddy Maguire pub in Subiaco, Perth; The Elephant British Pub in Adelaide and the Palace Hotel in Sydney.
Prior to taking on this role, Peter has spent three decades in the hospitality industry holding senior positions in a number of major listed hotel groups including Starwood, Accor and CDL Hotels. Peter has worked extensively in Australia, UAE and in Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and India).
In recent years, Peter has undertaken assignments offshore in Asia, India and the UAE.
Announcing the Managing Director appointment, Transmetro Chairman John McEvoy said he was confident Peter Frawley ‘will drive growth both in terms of performance and acquisition opportunities.’
Metro Hotels recruited Peter for the Managing Director’s role following the announcement early last month of George Bedwani, the current Chief Operations Office, proposed retirement.
5. New GM steps in at Radisson Hotel & Suites
Sally Burgess has joined Radisson Hotel and Suites as the new General Manager.
Sally is a successful hotelier with extensive operational experience, spanning a variety of departments.
Sally has held previous roles with TFE Hotels as well as Accor where her positions have included General Manager, Hotel Manager, Front Office Manager and Revenue Manager.
6. AccorHotels gets a new Chief Development Officer
Gaurav Bhushan has been appointed Chief Development Officer at AccorHotels.
In this capacity he will report directly to Sébastien Bazin, Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels, and will continue to be directly responsible for the development of the Asia Pacific region under Michael Issenberg, Chief Executive Officer of HotelServices Asia Pacific. The appointment is effective from 1 July 2015.
He will succeed Christian Karaoglanian who, after 40 years with the Group and in full agreement with Group management, has decided to pass on the baton.
Christian will be on hand during the transition to help Gaurav Bhushan set out the new organisational arrangements. From January 2016, Christian will act as Adviser to the Chairman.
He will continue to represent the Group in the various Executive Boards and will be responsible for specific dossiers.
Gaurav Bhushan has an MBA from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investments from the Securities Institute of Australia.
He began his career with AccorHotels in 1995 in Australia, where he held various posts in operations and finance. In 2000 he took up his first development post as Business Development Manager for Australia and New Zealand.
He was then appointed Chief Development Officer for Australia, New Zealand and Japan and extended his area of responsibility to become VP Development for North Asia and the Pacific in 2004.
Since 2006, Gaurav Bhushan has headed the Asia Pacific development teams and coordinated the development of joint ventures and partnerships in the region. It was in this capacity that he was able to secure the acquisition of Mirvac Hotels & Resorts in Australia and New Zealand and, most recently, the alliance with Huazhu in China.