Hilton welcomes new commercial leader
Hilton has appointed Daniella Tonetto to the position of Senior Commercial Director Australasia, effective 1 July.
Tonetto brings a wealth of industry experience, most recently serving as Director – Hotels at Axsia HTL, where she worked closely with hotel leaders and owners to achieve their goals and maximise return on investment.
Tonetto previously held several senior commercial roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Marriot International across Asia, Australia, and the Pacific region. She returned to Australia in late 2022 after a 7-year tenure in Macau, as the General Manager Sales and Marketing for Sheraton Grand Macao and The St. Regis Macao.
“I am delighted to be joining Hilton International and the Australasia team to lead the Commercial functions,” said Tonetto.
“It’s wonderful to be back in the region and look forward to collaborating across the region to drive performance and growth.”
In this new role, Tonetto will spearhead the delivery of Hilton’s commercial performance in the Australasia region, driving the development and implementation of strategies to optimise revenue. Hilton said the role is “pivotal to achieving commercial targets and expanding market share across Australasia as Hilton continues to grow its portfolio in this crucial region”.
“We are thrilled to welcome Daniella to the Australasia leadership team,” said Hilton Area Vice President and Head of Australasia, Paul Hutton.
“Her experience and dedication will undoubtedly drive our continued success in the Australasia region.”
Hilton Vice President Commercial Operations Asia Pacific, Liz Perkins, said Tonetto’s “passion for the industry, combined with her strong business acumen and proven track record of driving business strategies and creating high-performance teams, makes her a valuable addition to Hilton”.
TFE Hotels’ GM appointments
TFE Hotels has announced several key Hotel General Manager appointments across their Adina, Vibe and Travelodge network in Australia and New Zealand.
Shaarn Letele has been named as the new General Manager of the soon-to-be-refurbished Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour. During his 15-year career with TFE Hotels, Letele successfully reopened Travelodge Wellington before returning to Australia to manage Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Central. He has also been part of the pre-opening team at Adina Sydney Airport and St Mark Road Co. Café – the first of the brand- and, most recently, led the team at Vibe Hotel North Sydney.
Frances Ryall commenced the role of General Manager at Vibe Hotel North Sydney in May. She joins from IHG, where she was Operations Manager of the 209-key Crowne Plaza Coogee and, most recently, a secondment at Melbourne’s InterContinental the Rialto. She has previously worked at properties under Accor and Hyatt Regency brands.
Arthur Rojas takes up the role of Cluster General Manager, Travelodge Hotel Melbourne Docklands and Adina Melbourne Southbank. Having started his career with TFE in 2011, he has worked across the Adina, Travelodge, and the now-defunct Medina brands.
In New Zealand, Suzanne Pentecost has been appointed General Manager of the 164-key Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart, and Annabell Javinez takes on the role of General Manager at Travelodge Hotel Auckland Wynyard Quarter.
Pentecost previously worked in a Cluster General Manager role for Swiss-Belhotel International, overseeing Swiss Belresort Coronet Peak and Swiss Belsuites Pounamu Apartments; as a GM with Ramada Hotels; and as a lecturer at Pacific International Hotel Management School.
Outside of New Zealand, she has worked for The Dorchester Hotel in London, at the six-star Qualia resort on Hamilton Island, and One Hyde Park: The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Resort in London.
“Suzanne is very experienced with strata properties and full-serviced hotels, and brings strong stakeholder management skills to the role,” said TFE Hotels’ Regional General Manager for QLD/NZ/WA and NT, Warwick Kahl.
“We’re looking forward to seeing these skills in action at the hotel.”
Javinez has relocated from Perth to Auckland to take up the role, commencing in July. She brings 15 years’ experience in hospitality and accommodation to the role, including a lengthy tenure with Quest Hotels including a Cluster GM role at Quest Midland and Quest Kings Park and General Manager roles at Quest Perth Ascot and Quest South Perth Foreshore.
“Annabell has strong rooms and rate management skills,” said Kahl.
“These coupled with a passion for the guest experience made her the perfect choice for the role.”
New marketing lead at Hyatt Regency Sydney
Hyatt Regency Sydney has appointed Gavin Maloney as Director of Sales and Marketing.
Maloney brings a wealth of experience from a career spanning over 25 years, and a proven track record of success with top luxury brands across four continents. He is recognised for spearheading transformative initiatives that have revitalised and repositioned several esteemed hotel brands across Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
“Gavin’s charismatic and passionate leadership style has enabled him to cultivate trusted relationships at all levels, both locally in Australia and New Zealand, and across key US markets, Latin America, and Europe,” a statement from the Hyatt Regency Sydney read.
“His remarkable success transcends geographical boundaries, making him a truly international force in the hospitality sector.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Gavin Maloney to the Hyatt Regency Sydney team,” said Hyatt Regency Sydney General Manager, Jane Lyons.
“His extensive experience and exceptional leadership skills will undoubtedly enhance our hotel’s Sales and Marketing capabilities, as we continue to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests and clients.”
Ponant names new CEO and leadership changes
Ponant has announced Deb Corbett as the new CEO in Asia Pacific, replacing Chris Hall who departs the company at the end of June.
Corbett, who has spent seven years with Ponant and 30 years in the industry, will report to Deputy CEO Global Business, Belinda Hindmarsh.
She will be supported by a management team including Maxime Farrenq, who has been appointed COO; Julie Rogers as Director of Sales and whose sales portfolio has been extended to include Japan and Hong Kong; David Marionneau who has been appointed to the new role of Director of Maritime Operations; Charles Boutet, Director of Marketing and Communications; Mick Fogg, Director of Expedition & Destination Development; and Helene Delgado, Customer Engagement Director.
“Ponant is fortunate to have such high calibre executives to manage the APAC region and it is with great delight that Deb Corbett is appointed to the CEO role,” said Ponant Global Senior Strategic Advisor and Honorary Chairwoman, Sarina Bratton.
“Her business experience, professionalism, and industry knowledge will ensure our growth plans are in good hands.
“Chris has been instrumental in the transformation of the business as we focus on our growth across multiple markets, with a priority given to technology, distribution and product development. I wish Chris all the best in his future endeavours.”