Mandarin Oriental names new COO
Mandarin Oriental has appointed Amanda Hyndman to the position of Chief Operating Officer following the retirement of Christoph Mares.
Hyndman, who commenced the role on November 1, will also continue in her current role as Chief People & Culture Officer.
In a career spanning over 30 years in the luxury hotel industry, Hyndman has spent 18 years with Mandarin Oriental.
During her time with the group, she has held several senior management roles in hotels in the UK, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Washington DC as well as Area Vice President roles overseeing hotels in the UK, Germany, Czech Republic and Switzerland and thereafter Hong Kong, Macau and Southern China.
In 2020, she was appointed Group Director of Quality & Rooms and in May 2023 she was tasked with driving the group’s evolution from HR to People and Culture as Chief People and Culture Officer.
“I am delighted to announce Amanda’s well-deserved appointment,” said Mandarin Oriental Group Chief Executive, Laurent Kleitman.
“She continues to make an outstanding contribution to the success of the Group, and I am confident that she is ideally placed to lead our hotel teams with her strong passion and dedication, and to help us achieve our ambitious plans for the future.
“As we roll out our strategy to transform Mandarin Oriental and unfold our full potential, it is timely for Amanda to be in this elevated role to champion people and culture as well as to drive operational excellence to deliver success.”
Hyndman said she is “excited and honoured” to accept the role.
“[I] look forward to working with Laurent and all our colleagues in delivering our strategy and ensuring that Mandarin Oriental is firmly recognised as a leader in luxury hospitality,” she said.
“I am passionate about this iconic brand that I have served for 18 years and am confident that we are in a strong position to deliver our legendary service to many more fans around the world.”
TFE Hotels promotes several team members to GM roles
TFE Hotels has announced a number of internal promotions across its Sydney operations.
Liam Schutz has been promoted to Hotel General Manager of Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach; Danielle Schadow takes up the role of Hotel General Manager at Adina Apartment Hotel Chippendale; and Justin Style has been promoted to Hotel General Manager at Vibe Hotel North Sydney.
Schutz joined TFE Hotels in 2013 as a Front Office Receptionist and most recently served as pre-opening General Manager at Adina Chippendale, overseeing a refurbishment and raising guest service standards.
“Over the years, Liam has evolved into a dynamic leader, most recently earning accolades including General Manager of the Year and the Outstanding and Inspiring Leader awards at TFE’s 2024 Regional Stronger Together Awards NSW/ACT,” said TFE’s Regional General Manager NSW/ACT, Emma Soutte.
“In 2019, Liam took the lead in rolling out Office 365 during a secondment with the Systems and Database team. Most recently, he has taken on the role as Project Lead for a strategic global project for Adina, where he has laid the groundwork for exciting developments at Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach.
“As Liam embarks on this new chapter at Bondi Beach, we have no doubt he will continue to shine and inspire those around him.”
Schadow joins the Chippendale property in her first GM role, following a three-month stint in Europe as part of TFE’s Go Global International Exchange Program.
She has worked across various hotels and brands in the TFE portfolio, most recently as Executive Assistant Manager at Vibe Hotel Sydney, and is currently completing the Women in Leadership Australia’s Executive Ready program.
“Dani’s journey with TFE Hotels began back in 2015 at Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach, said Soutter.
“Over the years, she has excelled in various roles, leveraging her experiences and learnings from TFE’s in-house Academe program to move from strength to strength.
“As Dani transitions into her new role at Adina Apartment Hotel Chippendale, we are confident that her experience and passion for hospitality will inspire her team and elevate the Adina guest experience to new heights.”
Style, who joined TFE in 2015, takes up the Hotel General Manager role at Vibe Hotel North Sydney on December 2.
“As Hotel General Manager, Travelodge Hotel Sydney Airport, Justin guided his team to remarkable achievements, including being named a finalist in TFE’s 2024 Global Stronger Together awards for Hotel of the Year – Full Service/Collection,” said Soutter.
“As he embarks on this new chapter, we’re confident that Justin will bring his commercial acumen and passion for excellence to the North Sydney market, driving the hotel’s success forward.”
TFE Hotels Senior Director of Operations ANZ, Tish Nyar, said each candidate has proven themselves and that the promotions are well deserved.
“I feel confident TFE will rise to any challenges ahead with the team we have behind us,” he said.
Gurner Wellness recruits former Crown Resorts spa leader
Gurner Wellness Group has appointed former Group Director of Crown Resorts Spas Emma McGrady to the role of Group General Manager of Wellness and Luxury.
McGrady, who served as Crown Resorts Group Director of Spas for a decade, will oversee the evolution of service and luxury at Gurner Wellness Group’s Private Clubs including Saint Haven and Saint, as the business eyes national and global expansion.
“I am inspired by Saint Haven’s commitment to providing personalized wellness experiences that integrate cutting-edge technology and holistic practices with 6-star hotel service,” McGrady said.
“There isn’t another offering like it in Australia or globally for that matter, and I’m excited to utilise my experience overseeing the best-in-class offering at Crown Resorts to support Gurner Wellness Group’s vision for delivering the ultimate luxury customer experience in the Private Club space.
“My vision for the role is to nurture a culture of care within the team, ensuring that we can all embody the essence of true hospitality—creating authentic moments that resonate with every member. Together, we will strive to set a new global standard for luxury and wellness.”
Gurner Group Founder and Executive Chairman, Tim Gurner, described McGrady as “the leading voice and executive in the ultra-luxury wellness space”.
“Emma’s unique skillset and experience at Crown Resorts and her global outlook will play a pivotal role in elevating our wellness offerings within our portfolio of Private Clubs,” he said.
“We have only just begun on the level of luxury and quality that we want to deliver at Saint Haven, and members are going to see that quality and luxury taken to a whole new level in the coming months as we now focus on ensuring we are best in class globally.
“We are building a first-class team who can confidently build a stable of brands that can lead the evolution of luxury, service and wellness on the world stage, and we are just getting started as we continue to redefine the luxury wellness experience in Australia and soon, the globe.”