Pullman Melbourne on Swanston Executive Chef, Ashlee Skrzelinski

Langham Melbourne makes three appointments

The Langham, Melbourne has announced three new appointments in its team.

Karl Marshall

Karl Marshall takes up the role of Hotel Manager; Bibin Bobby has been promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Food Beverage, while Kirby Pickrell has been named the new Director of Spa.

“Karl, Bibin and Kirby are all all seasoned hospitality professionals and share a commitment to making each guest’s visit an experience to remember for all of the right reasons,” said The Langham, Melbourne Managing Director, Jeffrey van Vorsselen.

Kirby Pickrell

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome them to the growing global Langham family. I know that they will embrace our values and culture and hope that soon they are able to experience our two newest properties, The Langham Gold Coast and The Langham, Jakarta, arguably two of the most luxurious new hotels to open in the last two years.”

Bibin Bobby

Originally from New Zealand, Marshall worked in Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt from 2001 until 2006 before spending over a decade working overseas in Dubai, Tanzania, South Africa and most recently Oman, where he was the General Manager of Alila Jabal Akhdar.

Bobby joined the business in December 2021 as Banquet Operations Manager after spending a number of years working in the luxury hotel market in Singapore. In his new role, he will oversee the banquet operations, in room dining, Aria Bar Lounge and Melba Restaurant.

Pickrell brings five-star spa experience having worked at many respected spas in Australia including St Kilda’s Aurora Spa and Queensland’s award winning Gwinganna.

Vista names Sales and Marketing Director

Vista Hospitality Group has appointed Raelene Ohlson to the role of Director of Sales and Marketing at voco Brisbane City Centre and Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre.

Raelene Ohlson

Ohlson brings extensive meeting and events experience from her time at major MICE hotels including Hyatt Regency Coolum, Novotel Twin Waters Resort and several Crowne Plaza properties across Australia.

Her most recent roles include she was Chief Executive – Sales, Marketing and Hospitality at Alice Springs Turf Club, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, and General Manager of Lancemore Macedon Ranges.

“I’m thrilled to be working with the teams at voco Brisbane City Centre and Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre and am looking forward to reintroducing the business events sector to the flexible conference facilities at both of these very cool, unique hotels in the heart of Brisbane,” she said.

“I love creating and working with clients to evolve their conference and event experiences so the fact that we have the ability to hold up to 750 delegates in the Grand Chelsea Ballroom as well as offering clients flexible accommodation options across both of the hotels is a huge advantage.”

InterContinental Fiji’s executive appointments

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa has announced the appointment of several executives.

Akshay Singh has been appointed Area Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue – South Pacific at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) South Pacific. David Bell has been named Director of Dining and Entertainment at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa; while Mary-Louise Corcoran takes up the position of Resort Manager at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa.

 “We are excited to have Akshay and Mary-Lou join the IHG family, and I would like to congratulate David on his well-deserved promotion,” said IHG’s Area General – South Pacific, Lachlan Walker.

(L-R) David Bell, Mary-Louise Corcoran, Akshay Singh

“All three of them are highly experienced professionals in their area of expertise and have made great contributions to the hospitality and tourism industry. The Resort has lofty goals for the next few years in the areas of sustainability, growing and buying local produce, training Fijian leaders, focusing on the fundamentals of luxury service delivery and Akshay, Mary-Louise and David will no doubt be an integral part of achieving them.”

Singh, who brings over 14 years of experience in commercial roles in the hotel industry, will lead the commercial team to drive performance across IHG’s four properties in the region. Bell joined InterContinental Fiji in 2018 as Executive Chef. He will now be responsible for food and beverage operations across all restaurants, bars and venues at the resort. Corcoran joined the business this month, bringing over 30 years of hotel, gaming, project management and parliamentary experience.

Pullman Melbourne names Executive Chef

Pullman Melbourne on Swanston, owned by Erdigroup, has appointed Ashlee Skrzelinski to the position of Executive Chef. She will lead Eva’s Restaurant & Bar, Room 1954, and the award-winning Club Lounge at the hotel.

Skrzelinski joined Accor in 2016 and has worked at Novotel Melbourne Glen Waverley, and Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, where she became Head Chef.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the team at Pullman Melbourne on Swanston,” she said.

“The culture at the hotel and at Erdigroup is second to none. I also love working within a team and having junior chefs grow and get inspired by the things we create together. It’s the most rewarding aspect of being a chef.”

Pullman Melbourne on Swanston launched in late 2019 following a $30 million transformation, and its dining venues have since built up a strong reputation.

Pullman Melbourne on Swanston General Manager, James Muscat, welcomed Skrzelinski to the team.

“We look forward to watching her put her own elevated spin on our heartfelt, homestyle, and yet contemporary cuisine, while mentoring our exceptional kitchen talent,” he said.