I have enjoyed an extraordinary career within the hospitality industry. I started in sales, and this provided me with an excellent foundation for my ongoing career path. As did the opportunity to work across several globally recognised hotel brands including Accor, Rydges Hotels & Resorts and Marriott Hotels. When I reflect on why I’ve stayed within the hospitality industry (despite the challenges we regularly face from pandemics to natural disasters, hotel acquisitions to technological advancements) the answer is simple – it’s the people. I value that as an executive manager I bring together experts from a range of specialties for a common purpose – to provide experiences in our hotels for our customers. In our hotels, we are there for people at their best moments and sometimes at their worst, to be able to have an impact on people in that way is something really incredible. In my current role as Chief Commercial Officer for Accor I am responsible for all revenues for 400 hotels across the Pacific Region. To achieve this, I develop and implement the strategic direction for areas within the business including sales, marketing, loyalty and digital. Success comes from my ability to bring together the right people and to effectively communicate to all stakeholders from hotel operations to investors and owners and the global community of Accor in Paris. I’m committed to flawless execution and outstanding results. Several projects I’ve successfully delivered demonstrate this very clearly. Over a five-year timeframe I grew Accor’s loyalty program by 615% exceeding more than 5 million members to create their most successful loyalty platform in the world. I have attracted commercial partnerships for Accor with Qantas, NRL, AFL, Australian Cricket, Tourism Australia, and Destination NSW to achieve an exclusive above market position. Using organisational values and a positive and strong communication narrative I re-shaped the Commercial Team, including approximately 200 Commercial Executives, across Auckland, Gold Coast and Sydney by successfully identifying the skills required and placing the right people in the right positions.