La Vie names South East Asia lead
La Vie Hotels and Resorts has appointed Shankar Sreekumar to the role of Head of South and South East Asia as the company prepares for further expansion in the region.
Sreekumar brings almost two-decades of experience in the hospitality industry in a career that has taken him around the globe. Some of his previous roles include that of Vice President, Operations for Onyx Hospitality Group; and Director, Centre of Excellence, New Hotels for IHG, AMEA.
“Shankar is a proven professional with a strong background in tackling and succeeding in challenging roles with market-leading hospitality brands,” said La Vie Hospitality Group Managing Director, Craig Bond.
“We are excited to have him as a part of the La Vie family, further building out and strengthening our roots in South and South East Asia, as we head towards what is absolutely going to be another stellar year of growth for the company.”
He will be based at La Vie’s regional office in Bangkok, Thailand.
Colliers appoints Head of Hotels
Real estate company Colliers has appointed Karen Wales to the position of Head of Hotels Australia.
Wales – who has served as National Director of Hotels Transactions Services for Colliers for the past six years – brings more than 20 years of experience in the hotel industry and a specialised knowledge of the Asia Pacific hotel investment market.
Her previous roles include Senior Investment Specialist for Tourism Infrastructure at Austrade and Executive Vice President of Research and consulting for JLL.
“Investors continue to be drawn to the sector, as Australians have shown an appetite and willingness to spend up on travel and tourism,” Wales said.
“While travel bounced back strongly in 2022, driven by pent-up demand and the lifting of restrictions, Australia’s large domestic tourism base has underpinned recovery of the sector, which is projected to reach pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
“Investors are also attracted to hotels as an inflation hedge, which have the ability to pass on rising costs immediately with dynamic pricing models and a greater reliance on technology which is resulting in a nimbleness that Australian hotels – and indeed their owners – have long pursued.
“We expect a rebound in offshore capital investment in the Australian hotel market next year, which will occupy a favourable position amidst greater volatility overseas.”
She will continue to be based in Sydney and will report to Colliers’ Managing Director of Capital Markets and Investment Services John Marasco.
“We are excited to have Karen lead Colliers’ hotel transaction services nationally – an organic step for someone renowned industry-wide for their expertise in hotel and tourism investment, with prior roles across real estate, government, advisory, finance and operations in Australia and the United Kingdom,” Marasco said.
“Karen is considered invaluable by our clients, and is highly sought after as a trusted strategic advisor.”
Wales described the promotion as a career highlight and said she looks forward to seeing what can be achieved in the hotel market’s growth trajectory.
“Australia’s hotel and tourism industry is evolving with new trends that have emerged post-Covid, including an emphasis on sustainability, new standards of luxury in city hotels, and the increasing growth of regional tourism,” she said.
“Hotel chains are also introducing new brands to fine-tune their offerings to more discerning guests, and the intersection of hospitality-like concepts like co-living, branded residential and serviced apartments is also expected to continue, further blurring product lines.”
TFE reveals Adina Pentridge team
TFE Hotels has announced several key appointments at Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne, ahead of its February 2023 opening.
Jesse Kornoff has been appointed Hotel General Manager, overseeing the hotel, events, food and beverage and experience offerings. A former winner of HM’s Australian General Manager of the Year award, Kornoff brings more than 25 years’ experience including at the acclaimed Mount Lofty House and Sequoia Lodge.
He will be supported by EAM Alex Bilenki and Guest Services Manager Samuel Sturrock.
Thomas Woods will lead the kitchen team as Head Chef of the hotel’s 200-seat bistro-style restaurant, North & Common, and Olivine wine bar.
A former Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year and Two Chef Hat winner, Woods has spent his early days as a Sous Chef at Jacques Reymond, before later opening the two-hatted Woodland House and, more recently, working with Martin Benn and Chris Lucas on the opening of Society Restaurant in Melbourne.
“At North & Common, we are on a mission to deliver an ever-evolving dining experience with a focus on simple food, great techniques that highlights the natural quality of the produce and all elevated by a thoughtful wine list,” said Woods.
Australian Sommelier, Liinaa Berry, has been enlisted to curate a wine list that celebrates small batch Australian producers as well as rare international varietals.
She has worked overseas in both Mauritius and Seychelles at Lemuria Resort, and was a finalist in the Best Sommelier Competition for the Festival Bernard L’Oiseau where she was trained by world class sommeliers like Serge Dubs and Andreas Larson. She was also part of the pre-opening team for Sequoia Lodge at Mount Lofty House.
Other appointments include Jeremiah Sullivan as Venue Manager; Debrita Sandra as Wedding Sales Manager; and Tina Lozito as Associate Director of Sales.