Exclusive: Meriton Suites appoints Regional GM across NSW/VIC/ACT
Meriton Suites has appointed Harry Singh to the position of Regional General Manager NSW/VIC/ACT, based out of the company’s Kent St headquarters in Sydney.
Singh commenced the role on November 13, following a 22-year career with Marriott.
Reporting to Meriton Suites Group General Manager and Meriton Group Director Matthew Thomas, he will serve as the conduit between operations in these states and key stakeholders.
“This is a very important role within our business whereby Harry will be accountable for and driving commercial returns, delivering outstanding guest experiences and producing a dynamic culture for our team members,” said Thomas.
“His wealth of experience has a proven track record in driving success with a demonstrated commitment to excellence.”
In 2005, Singh came to Australia from India and held a number of Hotel and General Manager roles. As a General Manager for Marriott, Singh launched the first Element by Westin and AC by Marriott hotel brands in Australia, which lead to his most recent role as Area Director of Operations ANZP.
Hilton Adelaide welcomes new GM
Hilton Adelaide has welcomed David Wain as its new General Manager. W
An accomplished hotel leader with deep roots in Adelaide, Wain brings a wealth of experience and a fresh vision to the CBD hotel.
“We are delighted to welcome David to the Hilton Adelaide family,” said Hilton Area Vice President APAC and Head of Australasia, Paul Hutton.
“As a proud Adelaidean and highly respected leader, David brings a profound understanding of Adelaide’s unique charm and an unwavering commitment to elevating the guest experience.”
Wain joined Hilton in 2008 as Director of Human Resources for Hilton Sydney in 2008 and went on to work in Human Resources across several Australian properties and later to New Zealand where he assumed his first Hotel Manager position at Chateau on the Park Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton.
He moved back to Australia in 2021 to lead the West Hotel Sydney, a Curio Collection by Hilton team, before briefly relocating to Hilton Brisbane earlier this year.
“I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to lead Hilton Adelaide in my hometown,” said Wain.
“The hotel holds a special place in the hearts of many for its legacy of hospitality excellence. I look forward to this new opportunity and am proud to be able to lead the phenomenal team at Hilton Adelaide.
“My commitment is to build upon this legacy and continue to exceed the expectations of our valued guests and partners.”
Wain replaces Rupert Hallam who has left Adelaide to join the team at Hilton Singapore Orchard as General Manager.
Salter Brothers builds Asia team
Salter Brothers has announced several key hires in Singapore and Japan, following the recent opening of its Singapore office to support its expansion into Asia.
Rahul Ghai has been appointed Managing Director, Asia; based in Singapore. Ghai joins from Partners Group where he was most recently, Managing Director and Regional Head of Real Estate for Europe. Prior to this, Rahul held the same role for Partners Group for Asia Pacific.
“I was fortunate to have had an opportunity to work and successfully complete a transaction with Salter Brothers and was very impressed with their capability and culture,” Ghai said.
“The immediate focus of the Asia team will be identifying opportunities with our capital partners that sit within our programmatic strategies for the region.”
Also in Singapore, Ethan Quek has been named Principal, Asia. Quek joins from KSL Capital Partners where he was most recently Vice President.
Gene Osborne takes up the position of Asset Manager, Asia. Osborne joins from IHG Japan where he was Director of Finance, managing assets operated by IHG/ANA.
Tokio Takai, who joins the firm from Goldman Sachs, has been appointed Associate.
In Japan, Tetsutaro Muraki will oversee deal origination as Senior Director. With over 25 years of experience, Muraki has previously held senior management roles with Tokyo Stock Exchange, Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan and Frontier Management.
Yujiro Muraki – who has over 20 years of experience including in asset management and hospitality for Goldman Sachs and Ishin Hotels Group – will lead commercial and third-party deal due diligence as Executive Director.
“We are excited about the calibre of the team that we have assembled to launch our Asian expansion, with teams now based in Singapore and Japan,” said Salter Brothers Managing Director, Paul Salter.
“We are committed to the region with in-country teams that can leverage our existing scale in Asia Pacific. In Rahul, we have an experienced leader who we believe is the right person to grow our franchise throughout Asia.”
Ascott bolsters South East Asia team
The Ascott Limited welcomes industry veterans David Cumming and Kanit Sangmookda to lead fast-growing markets within its Southeast Asia portfolio.
Cumming joins as Regional General Manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, overseeing a portfolio of over 40 properties, where more than half are slated to open over the next three years.
He brings over two decades of global hospitality industry experience across the United Kingdom, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and most recently Thailand, including leadership roles with Onyx Hospitality Group, InterContinental Hotels Group and Accor.
Sangmookda takes the role as Country General Manager for Thailand and Laos, managing a portfolio of over 30 properties, where over a third is slated to open over the next three years.
With over two decades of experience in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Sangmookda brings strong operational and commercial expertise from the past management of large hotel portfolios under leading hotel chains such as Marriott International, Minor Hotels and the former Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Ascott’s Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Head of Strategy and Global Operations, Wong Kar Ling, highlighted the importance of the appointments in Southeast Asia, where Ascott’s footprint spans more than 65,000 units across almost 90 cities.
“Our Regional and Country General Managers play integral roles in leading our network of operationally-ready teams that go deep inmarket across geographies,” said Wong Kar Ling.
“Both David and Kanit bring with them extensive experience with global hotel chains which will further strengthen our capability to grow Ascott’s portfolio of flexhybrid properties to further us on our continued journey as a global hospitality company.
“The travel landscape is changing and as we enter a new era of hospitality, these new appointments will be instrumental in propelling the drive for operational excellence and commercial performance across the properties in David and Kanit’s portfolios.”
The Star Brisbane names Director of Culinary
The Star Brisbane has announced internationally regarded chef Uday Huja as the first Director of Culinary.
Huja brings a wealth of international hospitality experience, including cooking for former U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House and at Michelin-starred venues.
He will lead a growing culinary team, oversee the menus, culinary development and roll-out of more than half of the 50 food and beverage experiences at the new entertainment resort.
“I am so excited to take on this challenge and be part of a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to Queensland’s culinary voice,” Huja said.
“From the day we open our venue doors, we will be showcasing the best of Queensland from native ingredients to artisan suppliers, local produce to our people.”
The Culinary Ambassador for the 2022 Magic Millions, Huja was previously Executive Chef at The Star Gold Coast and brings a quarter of a century of experience in the chef whites including at luxe Las Vegas hotels The Signature and The Mansion (part of MGM Grand), as well as founding and managing his own restaurant, Marfa in Texas.
The Star Brisbane General Manager Food and Beverage and Events, Dustin Osuch, said Huja will be the first culinary lead to have worked across all three of The Star’s properties, including at The Star Sydney as Culinary Director.
“With his exceptional talent and an impressive array of accomplishments, Chef Uday is an inspired lead for The Star Brisbane’s world-city food focus,” Osuch said.
“We will be revealing a host of exciting F&B experiences over the next few months and as we look to the future and of course the 2032 Games, we are proud to be part of Brisbane’s growing reputation as a lifestyle city and must-visit destination.”
Huja will be involved in a recruitment blitz in the United Arab Emirates aimed at luring Australian expats home to work at the new entertainment precinct.
“While there are hundreds of jobs up for grabs for Queenslanders to be part of something special, we also have some specialised culinary positions to fill,” he said.
The Porter House Hotel appoints new Executive Chef
The Porter House Hotel Sydney MGallery has appointed Steven Hartert to the role of Executive Chef, to drive a new culinary direction at its food and beverage venues, Dixson and Sons, Henry’s Bread and Wine and Spice Trader.
Trained in Germany, Hartert brings over two decades of luxury hotel and fine dining experience to the role, including at the prestigious Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, and triple-hatted Sepia Restaurant.
“We are delighted to bring Chef Hartert onboard, as his talent for combining the freshest local ingredients with traditional European techniques will further elevate our culinary offerings,” said The Porter House Hotel Sydney MGallery General Manager, Mitchell Turner.
“We are proud to have been awarded an Australian Good Food Guide Chef’s Hat just months after opening, and plan to build on this achievement to create a vibrant dining destination in the heart of the city, for both locals and visitors alike.”
Hartert is passionate about working with regional farmers and producers, and believes in letting the best seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients speak for themselves.
“Just as the Porter House Hotel combines a modern wing and heritage building, our food will showcase tradition with a modern twist, while taking our guests on a journey,” Hartert said.
“I am so excited to work in this beautiful hotel, which will inspire myself and the team to design flavour-driven menus that are worthy of this iconic location.”