ICHM calls upon GIIAC at various times throughout the year to comment on industry trends and developments, to be part of curriculum and subject reviews, or to visit Adelaide to speak to the student body.
The International College of Hotel Management’s (ICHM’s) Graduates in Industry International Advisory Committee (GIIAC) is made up of 21-members. Seven are general managers of properties like the Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and Mantra or hold corporate positions with groups like AccorHotels. Others are in business management areas such as sales and marketing, finance and accounting, human resources and strategic business development.
‘ICHM prides itself on its up-to-the-minute industry relevant curriculum and graduates who are highly regarded by employers because they have the capability and capacity to hit the ground running’, says ICHM’s Principal, Dr Ian Whyte.
GIIAC member Martin Kunzmann, for example, is General Manager of Amari Residences in Pattaya Thailand. He accepted ICHM’s invitation so that he can contribute some of the knowledge he has accumulated over the past 17 years to the next generation of hoteliers. Like other GIIAC members, Martin’s experience covers a range of departments, in particular, sales and marketing, e-commerce, revenue management and hotel pre-opening.
‘Having worked in Thailand for the past 10 years for one of the country’s leading hospitality providers, I believe I can provide a unique perspective on the industry in this region. In my opinion, Thai hospitality is provided at a high level compared to other parts of the world, so there is always a thing or two to learn, which can be applied elsewhere.
‘I got a lot out of my time at ICHM and I am happy to give something back’, he says.
ICHM is positioned to become the top hotels school in Australia and among the best in the world. Since startup in 1992, more than 2500 students have passed through its doors.
GIIAC 2016
Raghu Menon,
General Manager
The Ritz-Carlton
Bangalore, India
Lokesh Sabharwal,
Vice President-Development
AccorHotels South Asia
Gurgaon, India
Martin Kunzmann,
General Manager
Amari Residences
Pattaya, Thailand
Andrew Hodges
Director of Revenue Management and Systems-Asia Pacific
AccorHotels
Singapore
Jason McGowan,
General Manager
Mantra Goup
Melbourne, Australia
Enriko Purba,
General Manager
Hotel Sahid Bandar Lampung
Lampung, Indonesia
Juan Paolo Alfonso,
General Manager
Hacienda AltaGracia—An Auberge Resort
Costa Rica
Paul McMurray,
Director of Sales and Marketing
Shangri-la Hotel
Sydney, Australia
Junichi Tamakoshi,
Director of Business Development
Marco Polo Hotels Group
Hong Kong
Linda Scaffidi,
Assistant Human Resources Manager
Hilton Adelaide
Australia
Carmine Iommazzo,
General Manager
The Kahala Hotel & Resoirt
Honolulu Hawaii, USA
Zara Karaduman,
Executive Producer
Bunch Group Event Services
Melbourne, Australia
Deidre Cotterill,
Hotel Manager
Ritz Carlton St Thomas
Virgin Islands, USA
Nawee Wattasongsuit,
Hotel Manager
The Siam
Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand
Marvie Villaruz/Spies,
Assistant Director Talent and Culture
Sofitel Melourne, Australia
Surlina Yin,
Senior Principal Product Manager
Fusion Talent Management at Oracle
London, United Kingdom
Cherlyn Tan Li Ting,
Revenue Analyst
Marine Bay Sands Resort
Singapore
Anthony Gerber,
Director of Sales
The Montague on the Gardens Hotel
London, United Kingdom
Nicholas Lacey,
General Manager
Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort
Hainan, China
Justin McConnell,
Executive Assistant Manager
Emporium Hotels
Brisbane, Australia
Andrew Choi,
Director of Sales and Marketing
Oakwood Premier Incheon
South Korea
