Australia’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has announced the following General Manager appointments across the country this month.
Craig Dodd has been appointed General Manager, Novotel Darwin. Craig first joined Accor in July 2008 at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort as Executive Assistant Manager, before acting in the role of General Manager at the All Seasons Mt Isa in June 2011. Craig was appointed to his most recent role as General Manager at Mount Lofty House (part of Accor’s MGallery Collection) in July 2011.
Ajay Vaid has been appointed General Manager, Pullman Palm Cove. Ajay has been with Accor since November 2003, when he commenced at the Novotel and Ibis Ellerslie, New Zealand. Ajay moved to Australia in 2005 and joined the Accor’s Darling Harbour and Sydney Olympic Park hotels before embarking on Accor’s Management Trainee program in March 2007. Ajay was appointed to the role of General Manager at the All Seasons Kalgoorlie in March 2009 and then at the All Seasons Perth in June 2011. In February 2012, Ajay was appointed to his most recent role as General Manager at the Novotel Atrium Darwin.
Matt Juniper has been appointed General Manager, ibis Townsville. Matt joined Accor in July 2004 at the Sofitel Reef Hotel & Casino as Casino Bars Manager and later as Food and Beverage Services Manager. In April 2008, Matt relocated to New Zealand as the Food and Beverage Manager at the Grand Mercure Oakridge Resort & Spa. Subsequently, Matt took on the role of Executive Assistant Manager at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside and later as Hotel Manager at the Mercure Picton Marlborough Sounds in September 2011. Matt was most recently the General Manager of Ibis Styles Verona Mt Isa since July 2013.
Laura Ousby has been appointed General Manager, Ibis Styles Mt Isa. Laura commenced with Accor in March 2002 at the Accor’s Darling Harbour Hotels in the Front Office department, before moving to Mercure Parramatta as Reservations Supervisor in December 2003. Laura then relocated to Queensland in April 2006 as Revenue Manager at the Novotel Brisbane, Sofitel Gold Coast before moving to the Novotel Twin Waters Resort as Revenue Manager, and subsequently Rooms Division Manager in April 2012. In October 2013, Laura was appointed to her most recent role as Multi-Hotel Revenue Manager for the Pullman & Mercure Brisbane.
Patina Farnham has been appointed General Manager, Mercure Canberra. Patina has been with Accor since October 2003, commencing her employment at the Mercure Broome in the Rooms Division. In February 2007, Patina relocated to the Novotel Northbeach Wollongong as Front Office Manager, Revenue Manager and then Operations Manager. Patina was then appointed to the role of General Manager at the Ibis Styles Geraldton in August 2010, before moving to her most recent role as General Manager at the Mercure Broome in January 2013.
Karen Taylor has been appointed General Manager, the Como Melbourne, a member of Accor’s MGallery Collection. Karen commenced her career with Accor in September 1991 at the Novotel St Kilda and has worked in various management positions in both Australia and New Zealand and was appointed to the role of General Manager at the Mercure Melbourne in November 1999. In 2008, Karen moved to the role of General Manager, Novotel Glen Waverly before relocating to the Mercure and Ibis hotels in Brisbane. Karen was appointed to her most recent role as General Manager at the Mercure Treasury Gardens in July 2012.
Glen Erickson has been appointed General Manager, Ibis Glen Waverley. Glen commenced with Accor in 2002 at the Novotel Glen Waverley and was part of the Graduate Management Trainee program in 2006. In 2008, Glen held the position of Hotel Manager at the Grand Mercure Apartments Twin Waters, then Hotel Manager at the Ibis Brisbane. In May 2013, Glen was appointed to the role of General Manager at the Ibis Perth, before relocating to Sydney for his most recent role as General Manager at the Pullman Sydney Olympic Park in February 2014.
Guy Marinucci has been appointed General Manager, Mercure Treasury Gardens. Guy commenced his career with Accor in February 1999 as Food and Beverage Manager and was soon promoted to the role of Executive Assistant Manager based at the Novotel Brighton Beach. In April 2001, Guy was promoted to General Manager at the Novotel Atrium Darwin and in September 2004 transferred to the role of General Manager at The Crossley Hotel, managed by Mercure. In September 2007, Guy was appointed to his most recent role as General Manager at the Hotel Ibis Glen Waverley.
Other upcoming appointments include Wayne Harris has been appointed General Manager, The Reef House Palm Cove commencing on 27th April 2015. Wayne started his hospitality career in January 2001 as a Management Trainee at the Hilton Kuching Resort in Malaysia. Since then, Wayne has held various Food & Beverage and Management roles for the Voyages Group at Ayers Rock Resort, Silky Oaks lodge, Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge and with the Starwood Group at the Sheraton Port Douglas. In August 2013, Wayne commenced in his current role as Resort Manager at the Mercure Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island.
Brett Skinner has been appointed General Manager, Mercure Kakadu commencing on 4th May 2015. Brett has been with the Accor since July 2002, initially in the role of Gaming and Bars Manager at the Novotel Brighton Beach and the Menzies Sydney. In 2006, Brett commenced at the Novotel Sydney Olympic Park where he held the role of Brewery Manager and was later appointed to Food & Beverage Service Manager. In December 2009, Brett was appointed Food & Beverage Manager at the Swiss Grand Bondi Beach, before being promoted to the role of General Manager at the Ibis Styles Port Hedland in June 2011. In February 2013, Brett was appointed to his most recent role as General Manager, MGallery Reef House Hotel Palm Cove.
Alexis Hvalgaard has been appointed General Manager, Mercure Broome commencing on 18th May 2015. Alexis commenced with Accor in September 2002 at the Novotel Vines Resort and Country Club in various operational roles. Alexis then moved to the Ibis Budget Perth as Manager and in 2006 relocated to Rothbury, working in Rooms Division at the Grand Mercure Apartments. In October 2006, Alexis joined the Mercure Sydney and held various Front Office Management roles. Alexis then returned to Western Australia as Front Office Manager at the Mercure Perth in September 2008. Alexis’s most recent role was as Hotel Manager, Mercure Perth.
