The Chief Operating Officer of one of Australia’s largest and most established hotel groups – InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) – has been appointed to the Board of Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA).
Karin Sheppard is IHG’s Chief Operating Officer for Australasia & Japan region, overseeing the operations and performance of some 70 hotels in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Japan across brands including the luxury InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; business and meetings focused Crowne Plaza and the midscale Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands. She is also responsible for the regional operations teams based in Sydney and Tokyo.
Over the course of her 15 years with IHG, Karin has held senior commercial roles in Australasia, Europe and the Middle East. Before taking on her current role, she was Chief Commercial Officer for Asia, Middle East & Africa based in Singapore, where she led key commercial functions including Brand Management, Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management.
TAA Chairman, Martin Ferguson, welcomed Karin Sheppard to the TAA Board, saying that she would add a wealth of experience and professional knowledge to the organisation.
“It is very significant to have IHG represented on the Board of TAA, as they are not only one of the most established hotel groups in Australia, they also cover the industry spectrum from luxury brands to select service hotels, and are undergoing a major expansionary phase under Karin’s leadership,” said TAA Chairman, Martin Ferguson.
“TAA considers it important that all sectors of the industry are fully represented on our Board and IHG is one of the most diverse operators in the country, with a wide range of hotel styles, a quality range of brands, and extensive coverage across the country.
“We believe that with even greater involvement from IHG on the TAA Board, along with a number of Australia’s other major hotel groups, we can play an even stronger role in advocating on behalf of the industry at this critical juncture in the development of Australia’s tourism and hospitality sector.“
IHG COO Australasia & Japan, Karin Sheppard said she was delighted to join the TAA Board: “This is the most dynamic period in Australia’s hotel industry, with vast growth in the hotel development pipeline, so it is important that the accommodation industry has a powerful and pro-active voice to promote the very tangible benefits the industry delivers now and the incredible potential of the industry in the future.”
Ms Sheppard joins a highly credentialed Board, chaired by Martin Ferguson and comprising leading hotel executives from global and national groups including Hyatt, Crown, Starwood, Hilton and Event Hospitality & Entertainment.
