Millennium Hotel Queenstown’s new general manager
Millennium Hotel Queenstown looked within the family to appoint its new general manager, with Ken Orr moving from his role as vice president of operations for Millennium and Copthorne Hotels New Zealand to become GM of the Queenstown property.
Orr has been with Millennium and Copthorne Hotels for more than two decades, in both operations and managerial roles around New Zealand, including in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
“It’s great to be back in my spiritual home,” said Orr.
“My first experience working with Millennium Hotels and Resorts was at the hotel 29 years ago, so it’s great to come full circle and live and work in such a superb part of New Zealand.
“I’m looking forward to activating the hotel with our conferencing and group market and enjoying some of the best golf in the world in Queenstown.”
Orr’s appointment comes ahead of the reveal of refurbishment work at the 220-key hotel.
“Ken is exactly the right person to lead Millennium Hotel Queenstown into this exciting new chapter,” said Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand’s vice president of sales and partnerships, Melanie Beattie.
“Ken knows this market inside and out and his deep knowledge of our operations will be invaluable as we continue our property refurbishment program.
“This is fantastic news for our hotel and a win for Queenstown’s hospitality sector.”
Millennium Hotel Queenstown also boasts the destination’s largest hotel ballroom, which can seat 600 delegates in theatre.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour appoints new commercial director
Next door to Sydney’s convention centre, the 590-room Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has also chosen from within to fill its commercial director role.
Tracey Carter Knox steps up into the commercial leadership position from director of revenue management at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, a role she has held since mid-2023.
Carter Knox has a variety of experience across the hotels and business events sector, having worked for Swissôtel Sydney, Clockwise Consulting, Business Events Sydney and The Star Entertainment Group.
“Tracey has held her role as director of revenue at Sofitel Darling Harbour for the last two years and her performance has shown her capability to lead the hotel’s commercial function at a senior level, ensuring we remain competitive and agile in a fast-moving market,” said the property’s GM, Sam Panetta.
“Tracey’s promotion is a reflection of her proven track record and the confidence we have in her ability to continue delivering strong business outcomes.”
Leaders appointed for new Novotel at Cabravale Club Resort
Ahead of a November hotel opening, the general manager and director of sales at Novotel Sydney Cabramatta have been announced.
Sam Fakih will be the hotel’s general manager, moving over from IHG Hotels and Resorts, where he was cluster general manager for Crowne Plaza Burwood and Holiday Inn & Suites Parramatta Marsden Street.
Prior to that, Fakih spent almost five years with Holiday Inn Warwick Farm.
Alongside Fakih, Anthony Hoang has joined the hotel as director of sales, with more than 25 years of hospitality sales and marketing in tow.
Hoang moves over from Holiday Inn Parramatta where he was director of sales and marketing. Previously, he held the same role at the Stamford Plaza Brisbane. He also has international experience, working in a variety of roles in Vietnam, including as director of marketing and communications for the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort.
The 140-room Novotel Sydney Cabramatta is part of Cabravale Club Resort, recently rebranded from the Cabra-Vale Diggers and in the final throes of a $230 million upgrade.
Marriott International appoints new cluster directors of sales and marketing in Melbourne
Mandy Walsh has been selected as the new cluster director of sales for Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands and the AC Hotel just behind the convention centre.
Alongside Walsh, Afiyat Mustaq has been selected as cluster director of marketing for the same two properties.
Walsh moves to Melbourne from Brisbane, where she spent more than 11 years with Accor, most recently as director of commercial and guest experience for Novotel Brisbane South Bank. Roles prior to that have included heading up the ambassador program for what is now Northern Territory Business Events.
Meanwhile, the new role is a return to Australia for Mustaq, who has spent the last nearly three years in marketing roles for hotels in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Prior to this, she spent almost three years as a field marketing manager for Next Story Group, which has hotel assets across three countries in the Asia Pacific.
