Group wins General Manager of the Year and numerous high commendations less than one year since launch
Australia, September 08, 2016: Ovolo Hotels, the new darling of Australia’s hospitality market, achieved resounding success at the 2016 HM Awards with a series of wins and commendations. From a pool of 20 nominees, the hotel group saw its Ovolo Woolloomooloo General Manager Adam Taloni awarded Australian GM of the Year at the 14th edition of the region’s leading award for the accommodation industry. Additionally, the multinational hotel brand and its Founder/CEO, Mr. Girish Jhunjhnuwala, were highly commended in closed nominations as Hotel Brand of the Year and APAC Hotelier of the Year respectively.
Ovolo’s success at the industry’s most prestigious regional award is further compounded when considering the fact that the brand arrived in Sydney just under one year ago. Its two current properties, Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour and Ovolo Woolloomooloo, were just launched in November 2015. And within that time, the hotel group has not only won acclamations from the industry, but also from travellers around the world.
Ovolo Woolloomooloo has been a crowning example of the brand’s Australian success thus far. Purchased from the Taj Hotel Group, Ovolo took what was deemed by many as a “past-its-prime” property, and transformed it into one of the most highly regarded hotels with consistently strong occupancy rates ever seen in Sydney. The Cowper Wharf property, which was once ranked #47 on TripAdvisor, rose to number two on the site in just under one year of Ovolo’s ownership. Achieving this success was made possible not just by the new brand, but by its illustrious team, and GM Mr. Adam Taloni at the helm.
Hailing from Sydney, Adam joined Ovolo in search of change after completing a greenfield opening, two takeovers, three re-brands and renovation at hotels across Australia and South Korea. He joined right after the Cowper Wharf property was acquired by Ovolo, and oversaw as well as influenced nearly every facet of the 100-room hotel’s conversion to what it is today. Adam notes: “Ovolo Woolloomooloo is certainly the most challenging, but truly the most rewarding project I have worked on to-date. The hotel embodies everything I believe modern hospitality should be. It’s hard putting into words what winning GM of the Year at the 2016 HM Awards means to me. I can only say that I am humbled by the win, and see it as validation for the hard work that went into making the hotel what it is today.”
Ovolo’s Founder/CEO Mr. Jhunjhnuwala adds: “I decided to launch Ovolo in Sydney after the amazing praise Australian travellers had for our properties in Hong Kong. To be recognized by the HM Awards in such a short period from launching here confirms we made the right choice coming to Australia. I’m honoured for being commended as APAC Hotelier of the Year, and Ovolo’s recognition as Hotel Brand of the Year. But the best part is, we’re just getting started in the country.”
Ovolo Makes New Leadership Appointment
While the past 12 months have provided significant success to Ovolo Hotels, the next 12 are poised to be even greater. Ovolo has recently appointed Mr. Raphael Antonini as Acquisition and Development Manager for its Australian operations. Raphael will work alongside the hotel group’s Director of Operations & Finance, Mr. Dave Baswal. Bringing over a decade of experience at such brands as the InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton Worldwide, Jones Lang LaSalle and CBRE, Raphael will oversee the acquisition of new hotel properties for Ovolo in Australia and New Zealand as well as manage the group’s existing assets within ANZ. Raphael shares: “Ovolo is like no other brand I have ever encountered in the ANZ hotel market. I’m excited to be a part of the amazing team, and lend my expertise to continued success in shaking up the region’s hospitality industry.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
