Irlanda Garcia promoted to General Manager role
Skye Suites Parramatta has promoted Irlanda Garcia to the role of General Manager.
Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Garcia previously served as the on-property Front Office Manager, for which she was Highly Commended at the 2023 HM Awards.
She has also undertaken several stints as acting General Manager at Skye Suites Parramatta’s sister property.
Her impact at the property has helped the hotel improve staff retention, advance sustainability efforts, and up its Trip Advisor ranking from 12th to 4th and raise guest satisfaction scores to 91.
She looks forward to building closer business opportunities with partners in the local Western Sydney community and continuing partnerships with Westmead Children’s Hospital and national domestic violence initiative, DV Collective.
Garcia attributes her success to the support and mentoring she received in the early years of her hospitality industry and aims to build an environment in which all team members can thrive and succeed.
Choice adds new Brand and Franchise Support position
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac has welcomed Caillin Flint to the newly created role of Senior Manager – Brand and Franchise Support.
An accomplished executive leader with more than 30 years of hospitality industry experience, Flint recently served as Head of Hotel Operations at The Hotel leader and Wellness Co. and previously held roles with Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, including Director of Operations Asia Pacific – Special Projects and Development.
In this new role, Flint will oversee all aspects of franchisee support, from managing the deployment of new brand initiatives and onboarding new properties through to brand compliance.
“We are delighted to welcome Caillin to the Choice Hotels Asia-Pac team,” said Choice Hotels Asia-Pac Director of Franchise Performance, Anthony Stanley.
“We are confident that he will make a significant contribution to the seamless delivery of support for our network of franchisees moving forward.”
Crown Towers Perth welcomes new General Manager
Chris Hamilton has been appointed to the role of General Manager at Crown Towers Perth.
Joining from the Shangri-La Dubai, where he served as Resident Manager, Hamilton brings over a decade of experience in managerial roles in the hospitality sector and a strong understanding of international markets and luxury hospitality.
He previously worked for Shangri-La in Fiji and India, and spent several years with InterContinental Hotels.
“I am excited to exercise my passion for delivering luxury hospitality experiences by ingratiating myself with the team at Crown Towers Perth, and working together to maintain the world class accommodation and resort offerings we have here,” said Hamilton.
Adelaide Marriott names Executive Chef
Adelaide’s first Marriott hotel has appointed South Australian Alexandre Katsman as its Executive Chef.
Katsman brings a wealth of experience managing large-scale kitchen teams and designing inventive menus. Across his 20-year career, he has had successful stints leading and training teams at premium hotels in South Australia and Tasmania.
He will steer a culinary team that includes 19 chefs, managing two dining destinations, a conference and events floor and multiple kitchens.
“I’ve had the privilege of working in many highly regarded hotels and restaurants within Australia but I couldn’t be more thrilled to be in my hometown, driving the dining direction for guests and visitors to the very first flagship Marriott Hotel in Adelaide,” said Katsman.
“Menus with a nostalgic touch are trending globally because they offer comfort and evoke cherished memories. At Penny Blue, we blend ‘new and modern’ with classic favourites like Prawn Cocktail, Beef Wellington, and Bread and Butter Pudding for dessert, creating a menu that celebrates both tradition and innovation.”
Novotel and Ibis Styles Melbourne Airport introduces F&B team
The recently opened Novotel and Ibis Styles Melbourne Airport has introduced some of the culinary leaders behind its Italian dining venue, Boccata Restaurant and Bar.
Chef Rosy Scatigna, formerly of Georgie Wine Bar and Hotel Morris, joins Executive Chef Christian Corpez in the kitchen, with Dylan Wisnesky as F&B Director.
Scatigna grew up in Puglia where she developed a strong passion for cooking, but initially trained as a lawyer before exploring a career as a chef.
She attended one of Italy’s most prestigious cooking schools, Alma, and worked at a number of Michelin-starred restaurants throughout Europe including Lume in Milan, and The Hand and Flowers in England as well as at Aria, Shellhouse and most recently Hotel Morris in Sydney.
She takes on a multi-faceted role in the development of Boccata’s menu, which centres on Italian cuisine.
“The inspiration for the Boccata menu comes from my own family’s Italian roots and the stories of Melbourne’s Italian immigrant community,” said Scatigna.
“When we set out to create this menu, we wanted to honour those cherished memories while celebrating the incredible produce from Victoria’s local farmers.
“Each dish is a tribute to the past and a nod to the vibrant food culture that surrounds us, blending time-honoured Italian recipes with the best ingredients this region has to offer.”
Executive Chef, Christian Corpez, brings experience from some of Victoria’s top restaurants including Estelle Bistro, Lakehouse Daylesford and Miss Mi.
Dylan Wisnesky brings the experience together on the floor, with a wine list featuring Italian and Victorian varietals and a relaxed bar experience.