Image: Dominic Loneragan.
Tourism and accommodation industry heavyweight Simon McGrath has been named a Member of the Order of Australia for services to industry in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The long-serving Chief Operating Officer for Accor in the Pacific region, McGrath was honoured for his services to tourism and the hospitality industries. McGrath leads a regional network of nearly 400 hotels across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia and is also the serving Deputy Chair of the Tourism Transport Forum (TTF). He is also currently a Director at the Accommodation Association of Australia (AAoA), among other official duties.
The Order of Australia is bestowed on a few hundred individuals each year, ranging from internationally-regarded and famous celebrities through to business leaders, captains of industry and even local heroes known only within their communities but whose work is no less deserving.
Accor Asia Pacific Chairman and CEO, Michael Issenberg sent praise for the recognition, saying he was proud to see McGrath named as part of a highly esteemed group which also included Hollywood movie star Hugh Jackman.
“Simon not only drives the performance of our hotels in Australia, but more importantly, is personally invested in raising the profile of tourism as an important sector in the Australian economy and providing employment for tens of thousands of people.
“In addition, he is a true advocate for Indigenous communities and is passionate about providing meaningful opportunities for our indigenous staff. This honour is recognition of his hard work over more than 30 years in advancing tourism in Australia,” Issenberg added.