Michael Dunphy has been named by ZDirect as Director of Sales for the APAC region. Operating from the company’s regional office in Singapore, the 16-year hospitality industry veteran and former hotel general manager will focus on delivering ZDirect’s eCRM and Hotel Marketing Automation solutions.
“Michael comes to ZDirect with an impressive background in hotel operations and technology sales,” said Hayes Thomas, ZDirect CEO. “It’s rare to find someone who understands the intricacies of how technology impacts operations, and intimately knows the geographical and cultural challenges that hoteliers in this region of the world face today. We are thrilled to welcome Michael aboard. His professional diversity and geographical dexterity make him the ideal person to expand our presence as the dominant Hotel Marketing Automation provider in Asia Pacific.”
A native of Ireland, Dunphy began his hospitality career in Dublin hotels, holding manager positions at both the Stillorgan Park Hotel and Bracken Court Hotel. He also served as Deputy general manager for the School House Hotel in Dublin and the Quality Hotel in Waterford.
He then moved to the sales field, working as regional sales manager for Rafferty Hospitality Products, Ireland’s leading supplier of personalized products to the Irish hospitality market; and also regional sales manager for Key Information Technology (KIT), distributors, implementers and supporters of the entire suite of Micros Fidelio Hospitality Solutions in the Middle East. Most recently, he served as hotel sales/account manager for MICROS Australia, responsible for the overall sales performance primarily in the hotel sector across Australia and the Pacific Islands. He also served as senior business development manager for Clifton’s, a training and seminar facility with locations in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
“I wanted to join ZDirect because ZDirect is known around the world for its cutting-edge technology, and hoteliers worldwide love doing business with the company’s global teams,” Dunphy said. “Through this new position, I have the good fortune to introduce ZDirect’s proven, robust solutions that will increase revenues for hotels and vastly improve the way hoteliers are communicating with guests before, during and after each stay.
“As a hotelier working in this industry since I was 16 years old, I am passionate about this industry,” he said. “From the Middle East, Melbourne, Perth and New Zealand to the Pacific Islands of Bora Bora and Tahiti, I’ve met an invaluable number of contacts and learned the nuances of doing business in different countries. I know the region. I know hospitality. More importantly, I believe in ZDirect and its solutions. Hotels that are not ZDirect partners are throwing away money and potential customers simply because they don’t know how to reach them. With ZDirect’s broad spectrum of solutions and my vast customer network, we will quickly blanket this region with happy hoteliers and even happier travelers.”
