PRESENTS
Meet the Board It’s shaping to be another big year for the Accommodation Association of Australia. We are proud to have shaped our National Board of Directors which we will introduce here. We believe the advocacy challenges facing the accommodation sector are in infinitely qualified and capable hands under the careful watch of the following group of esteemed individuals. PRESIDENT – JULIAN CLARK (Lancemore Group)
Julian is the Chief Executive Officer of The Lancemore Group, a family owned and managed business and one of the largest boutique hotel operators in Australia. Julian has extensive experience in the accommodation industry and in his current role manages several iconic properties across Australia that regularly feature in Gold Lists and Good Food Guides. Julian is also a past board member of Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC).
DEPUTY PRESIDENT – SIMON MCGRATH (AccorHotels)
Simon is the Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Pacific, responsible for over 385 hotels, 53,000 rooms and 21,000 employees in this region. He has had an extensive and highly respected career in the hotel sector, having worked in management positions in major cities in Australia and Asia including Malaysia and Thailand. Simon holds positions on industry boards including: Deputy Chairman of TTF, Deputy President of AAoA and outside of industry, holds the position of Independent Director of GenesisCare.
TREASURER – BRUCE COPLAND (Independent Director)
Bruce is a professional company director and hotelier who has worked in the hotel, hospitality, tourism and related consulting business since 1969. A former Chief Executive Officer of Toga Hospitality, he continues to serve on the board of TFE Hotels. Bruce is a Director of McKenzie Scott & Associates, providing consulting services and back-office systems to a wide variety of companies across Australia. Bruce is the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, overseeing all remuneration, accounting and compliance issues for the Association.
COLIN HUGHES (Independent Director)
Col’s background is in Aviation, having held senior Executive positions at Cathay Pacific Airways, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Qantas in Australia, Asia, Europe, Middle East and USA. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Director International Operations for Aviation Online (AOL). Among other Directorships, he is also past Chair of Business Events Sydney (BES) as well
He was appointed to this role in April 2012 after joining Choice Hotels in 2002. Trent has been at the forefront of property growth for Choice Hotels throughout his 15-year tenure and has developed and implemented strategic, growth focused business plans, leading to substantial increases in group RevPAR and business delivery.
BARRY ROBINSON (Wyndham Vacation Clubs)
Barry Robinson serves as the President and Managing Director of International Operations for Wyndham Vacation Clubs, overseeing operations of the company’s timeshare business outside North
America. He served as President and Managing Director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific for 14 years, driving significant property acquisitions and enhanced resort developments. He was also responsible for leading Wyndham Hotel Group’s growth across South East Asia and the Pacific Rim. The service culture that Barry strives for at Wyndham Vacation Clubs is to create personalised, memorable experiences at every customer touchpoint.
DINO MEZZATESTA (The Star Sydney)
Dino Mezzatesta was appointed the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at The Star Sydney in January 2019. Responsible for the property’s day to day management and operations and in guiding the delivery of outstanding guest and team member experiences, his appointment comes following two years as COO of Hotels, Food & Beverage and Retail. With more than 30 years in the corporate travel and leisure markets, Dino is deeply experienced in hospitality and hotel management, leadership and setting solid strategic direction.
CHRIS SEDGWICK (TFE Hotels)
Chris Sedgwick has been the Chief Operating Officer for TFE Hotels since April 2017 and is responsible for over 70 hotels, 10,000 rooms and 2,500 employees across Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark and Hungary. Prior to TFE Hotels, Chris worked with AccorHotels for 10 years in various leadership and executive roles. He has over 22 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and has held senior leadership, management and executive positions in key Australian city and tourism destinations as well as internationally in New Zealand and Thailand.
RAMY FILO (Classic Holidays)
as being the Chair & Co-founder of the National Tourism Alliance (NTA).
TRENT FRASER (Choice Hotels Asia-Pac)
Trent is the Chief Executive Officer for Choice Hotels Asia-Pac – the largest Hotel Franchisor in the region, with more than 300 properties. 20 HM The Business of Accommodation
Ownership Council.
Ramy is the Chief Executive Officer of Classic Holidays, a timeshare resort management company with 34 Resorts representing 65,000 timeshare owners in Australia and New Zealand. He is also the current President of the Australian Timeshare and Holiday