CHARMAINE CHAPMAN
CONFERENCE SALES MANAGER
SOFITEL FIJI RESORT & SPA

Charmaine Chapman has been appointed to the newly-created position of conference sales manager based at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island in Fiji. She reports to Sofitel Fiji’s director of conference and incentives, Natalie Brumniach, based in Australia. Ms Chapman has worked with Accor Asia Pacific since 1997. She started her career with the global hospitality group at the Novotel Brisbane Hotel.

VANESSA TJEMPLON AND SIMON DUFFY
SALES AND PROMOTIONS / MANAGER
NEW CALEDONIA TOURISM

Vanessa Tjemplon is the new sales and promotions manager of New Caledonia Tourism, based in Auckland. She is joined by Simon Duffy who is the new New Zealand manager for New Caledonia Tourism. They replace Julie Cassin.

SANDRA RIPPEY
SALES AND MARKETING
OFF ROAD NEW ZEALAND

Sandra Rippey, the former Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing conference and incentive manager, has taken up a sales and marketing role for Off Road New Zealand. Ms Rippey has in the past worked closely with owner Guy Irwin, who was seriously injured in a surfing accident earlier this year. Through consultation with Mr Irwin, Off Road NZ appointed Ms Rippey to the position. She will also be representing the joint venture “Unforgettable Rotorua”.

ALAN GARNER
GROUP MARKETING MANAGER
VBASE

Alan Garner has been appointed group marketing manager of the Vbase Venue Management Group. Mr Garner assumed the role on March 27. Vbase chief executive, Bryan Pearson, says Mr Garner will bring a range of senior executive skills to the company, with recent and very relevant experience in sponsorship, marketing and licensing with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, Telecom and S-Comm, a global sponsorship consultancy.

YOJI KIMURA
SALES AND MARKETING
MILLBROOK RESORT

Yoji Kimura from Japan Connect NZ has been given a key role at Millbrook Resort in the sales division. Japan Connect NZ Ltd is a sales and marketing consultancy which has extensive experience in promoting Queenstown tourism products to the Japanese through strategic marketing partnerships and sales drives. Yoji Kimura specialises in promoting and selling services and facilities to travel agents, inbound operators and wholesalers in the Japanese market.

RICHARD HOLSTEIN
PROJECT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
VERVE CONSULTING LIMITED

Richard Holstein has joined Verve Consulting in Wellington as project and business development manager. Mr Holstein has a wealth of expertise in project management and business development from his time in the private and public sectors, both in New Zealand and overseas. Most recently he worked as an independent project manager on NewThinking06 and before that at Walt Disney International in London.

KEITH BARR
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP

Keith Barr has been appointed chief operating officer of the InterContinental Hotels Group to oversee its portfolio of hotels in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific and to drive the expansion of its global brands in the region. Previously VP of operations for the group’s midscale brands in the United States, he has relocated to Australia to take on the new role.

Here I am now!

Clifford Morgan
Hotel Manager Bayview Chateau Tongariro

What did you want to be when you grew up: A fireman.

Your first job: Hotel management trainee.

Your first pay packet: 25 pounds a week.

Your first break: The executive chef at the property I was training at left and I was offered a position as a commis chef.

Describe your current role: On a day-to-day basis I am responsible for the well-being and development of both our employees and our business.

The best part of your job: Guest interaction.

The worst: Losing good employees.

Who has inspired you: David Comery with whom I worked for around 10 years and more recently Kathy Guy, our group GM whose passion for the property is infectious.

Your best quality: I like to think I am personable.

Your worst quality: I procrastinate but I am thinking of working on it.

Your best achievement: Securing this position.

Your likes about the MICE industries: I cannot really comment, as I have not had a lot of exposure to MICE as yet.

Where do you want to be in 10 years’ time: I would like to think that I will be working with Bayview in an exotic location however, if I am still at the Chateau Tongariro that would not be so bad either.