PETER DOHERTY
HILTON AUCKLAND SENIOR SALES MANAGER

Peter Doherty has been appointed senior sales manager of the Hilton Auckland. His main focus for 2006 will be to develop and grow sales prospects for the year ahead. Mr Doherty was previously the corporate sales manager.

SARAH THOMAS
HILTON AUCKLAND CORPORATE SALES MANAGER

Sarah Thomas has been promoted to the position of corporate sales manager at the Hilton Auckland. Ms Thomas has been with the Hilton Auckland for the past three years, and was previously catering sales manager. She is excited about her new role saying recently she has “been lucky enough to work with some fantastic events such as Mazda Artworks at the Hilton and the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival.”

NICOLA BROGAN
HILTON AUCKLAND CATERING SALES MANAGER

Nicola Brogan has been appointed catering sales manager of the Hilton Auckland. Ms Brogan had been working with Sarah Thomas at the property for some time prior to her promotion. Director of business development at the centre, Craig Bonnor, said he was extremely pleased with Ms Brogan’s appointment.

ANDREA LINTON
HILTON AUCKLAND MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Andrea Linton has been appointed marketing and communications manager for the Hilton Auckland to focus on all aspects of marketing and communications, covering advertising, partnerships and sponsorship, public relations and media exposure. She brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously marketed global brands on the international stage. Her most recent position was with Tourism New Zealand. Prior to that she worked for the Team New Zealand America’s Cup 2003 defense in a public relations capacity.

KATHERINE PEARCE AND ALICIA BELL RYDGES
ROTORUA CONFERENCE & SALES CO-ORDINATORS

Katherine Pearce and Alicia Bell have both been appointed conference and sales coordinators at Rydges Rotorua. Not new to the hotel, Mrs Pearce has held several roles in various departments in the hotel including reservations and reception giving her a sound knowledge of the hotel’s overall operations. After a stint outside the hotel from May 2005, Mrs Pearce returned late last year to the new role. Meanwhile Alicia Bell brings more than five years of conference experience to the team, both operationally and in the sales arena. Previously from Rydges Auckland, Ms Bell has been with Rydges Rotorua eight months.

GARETH PEARCE
EZIBED.COM

Gareth Pearce, Chateau Tongariro executive manager, has resigned to take up a new job in Hawkes Bay. Mr Pearce has taken a marketing position with online accommodation website ezibed.com and will leave the Chateau around mid-March. His stint at the Chateau in Mt Ruapehu extends to nine years and included roles as the sales and marketing manager and last year a promotion to executive manager after general manager Kathy Guy was recruited to Wairakei Resort outside Tuapo. Mr Pearce, who says he will miss the team at the Chateau, has bought a shareholding in ezibed.com, a competitor to the well-known wotif.com.

DAVID CAPPER
GENERAL MANAGER OUTRIGGER AT THE BEACON

David Capper has returned home to New Zealand to further his career with an international resort group, the luxurious Outrigger at the Beacon, Queenstown. Mr Capper has spent the past two years as general manager of Outrigger’s 134-suite Cairns Resort by Outrigger in North Queensland. “It’s good to be back on home soil and having previously worked in Queenstown for six years, I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends and colleagues,” Mr Capper said.

Here I am now!

Jenny Gill
SALES MANAGER MICENZ.NET MAGAZINE

What did you want to be when you grew up: A comedian or actress.

Your first job: Surfboard Rider.

Your first pay packet: $500 and a block of wax.

Your first break: Winning an Australian and World Surfing Title which led to opportunities to work in radio and television.

Describe your current role: Selling and marketing one of the most popular destinations in the world, to qualified buyers in New Zealand and Australia.

The best part of your job: I thrive on being a part of a dynamic team and developing relationships with clients in the industry.

The worst: Listening to the boss’s jokes for the past two years.

Who has inspired you: My father, with his zest for life and support – after losing my mother to cancer at the age of 12.

Your best quality: Enthusiastic, sense of humour and loyalty.

Your worst quality: I want everything yesterday.

Your best achievement: World title in surfing.

Your likes about the MICE industries: The contagious energy and enthusiasm.

Your dislikes: The fact that I didn’t discover it sooner.

Where do you want to be in 10 years’ time: Still exceeding client’s expectations and being able to still ride the waves.