Rydges Wellington appoints new GM
EVT has announced the appointment of Shannon Craig to the general manager position at Rydges Wellington.
Craig, who returns to New Zealand after two decades living and working in Australia and the UK, will also take on the role of Area General Manager for Rydges Rotorua and Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua.
“We are delighted to have lured Shannon back to Wellington as she is a highly regarded and extremely accomplished addition to our New Zealand operations,” said EVT Hotels and Resorts General Manager Operations New Zealand, Simon White.
Craig said she had long considered returning to New Zealand if the right opportunity came up.
“We had discussed for a long time if the right opportunity presented itself in New Zealand that we could consider it,” she said.
“Slightly triggered by the lack of accessibility during the pandemic, when the role at Rydges Wellington became available I knew I could come home and make a positive mark on a beloved hotel in the capital.”
Most recently, Craig served as General Manager at Atura Adelaide Airport, which was awarded EVT Mid-Size Hotel of the Year in 2022. At the same time, as Area General Manager for South Australia and Tasmania she oversaw four general managers across six EVT properties, assisting both operationally and in delivering opening, branding, design, budgetary and sales and marketing plans.
Prior to that, she spent three years as General Manager of QT Canberra, during which time she was named Australian Hotel Association ACT – Member of the Year in 2021 and was a finalist for the HM Awards 2021 Australian GM of the Year.
A supporter of females in business, Craig was the VP of Canberra Women in Business and a board member of AHA Canberra during her tenure at QT Canberra.
“I have worked in hotels for 25 years and I still love the industry,” Craig says. “I have the luxury of remaining in a company that celebrates the individual meaning whenever I move to a new hotel it quickly feels like home.”
Ascott welcomes two development leaders
The Ascott Limited has announced two Vice Presidents of Business Development to support its Asia Pacific growth strategy.
Ryan Chen and Dulaphan Amatyakul will report to Chief Growth Officer Serena Lim, who was appointed earlier this year.
“As a global player with a strong network of in-market teams, one of our core strengths has always been in our ability to drive agility and market-led solutions,” said Lim.
“The appointments of Ryan and Dulaphan will support our focus on driving expansion in key markets as they work alongside our local cluster teams. Both of them bring valuable expertise from their respective fields and will play integral roles in leading region-specific plans that will not only strengthen owner engagement through tailored solutions, but also allow us to focus on strategic deals as we enter a phase of accelerated asset-light growth.”
Chen will support business development strategies to grow the group’s portfolio, focusing on Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, while Amatyakul – based in Bangkok – will focus on Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Chen joins the business from Far East Hospitality and prior to that, he was based in Bangkok as Group Director of Development of Dusit International. He brings over 15 years of development experience covering markets in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
Amatyakul brings more than 15 years of related experience in investment management, corporate and investment banking, as well as hotel operations, having served as Senior Vice President, Investment and Business Development at Conduit House Holdings (Thailand) prior to joining Ascott. He also held senior roles in asset management and hospitality firms such as MFC Asset Management PCL, Valor Hospitality Partners Asia and DTGO Corporation Limited.
Fender Katsalidis’ Sydney and Brisbane appointments
Design firm Fender Katsalidis (FK) has announced key appointments in its Sydney and Brisbane studios.
Principal Jessica Lee, who joined FK as a graduate in 2005, has been appointed as studio lead in the Brisbane office, while Angela Biddle joins the Sydney office as Principal.
Lee says she is grateful for the support she has received from within the business and is eager to pay that forward.
“I have always been given the opportunity to grow and develop my skills as an architect and leader at FK,” said Lee.
“I am grateful for the support received right from the beginning, and for the space to pursue my passions.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to continue to foster FK’s culture in Brisbane. It feels like a full circle moment, as I now have the chance to nurture and support the Brisbane team.”
Biddle brings over 20 years of international experience to the interiors team, including leadership roles as director at Scott Carver and as creative lead for Yoo Hotels and Resorts.
“Whether it’s a local or international context, I’ve always been driven to create inspiring environments for unique brands,” Biddle said.
“Stepping into this role as principal at FK, I look forward to driving design solutions that maximise a project’s commercial potential while being a succinct expression of the client’s identity, the people who inhabit these spaces, and FK’s standard for design excellence.”