Following a successful year of growth in 2017, Swiss-Belhotel New Zealand has appointed three senior staff to its New Zealand team.
The international hotel chain, which has more than 150 hotels, launched in New Zealand in 2015 and now has three local properties, one in Auckland’s Victoria Park and two in Queenstown.
Swiss-Belhotel International was founded in Hong Kong in 1987 with its head office operating out of Hong Kong. New Zealander Gavin Faull purchased the company in 1999 and recently moved the company’s head office to Auckland.
The new appointments strengthen the hotel management company’s presence in New Zealand, appointing Matthias Schulz to the newly created position of Regional Director of sales. Oytun Cevik has been appointed General Manager for Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park. While Halie Carnie has taken up the position of Regional Manager – marketing.
Schulz will be responsible for driving business and increasing revenue for all Swiss-Belhotel’s New Zealand properties, as well as parts of Asia Pacific including Bali, Vietnam and Australia.
Originally from Germany, Schulz has extensive hotel experience in his home country, as well as the Netherlands, South Africa, United Kingdom and Australia. Having worked for an international hotel group (in several countries) for more than nine years, Schulz is well versed in sales, business development and new business roles.
With a love of travel, Schulz met many Kiwis on his adventures and was enamored with their friendliness. He made a vow that if ever the opportunity to live and work in New Zealand came up; he had to take it up. That chance arose after an attack in Peru that halted his travel plans and resulted in heading back to Germany to recover. In 2010, a job offer in Wellington convinced him to make the move and after a short stint in the United Kingdom in 2017, he now calls Auckland home.
Oytun Cevik has extensive hotel experience both locally and internationally and was most recently general manager of Beachfront Hokitika. He has held senior hotel positions in both Auckland and Queenstown, making him well versed in both locations Swiss-Belhotel operates in.
Cevik was born and raised in Ankara, Turkey and moved to New Zealand in 2002, following a two-year stint in Georgia, United States. He has experienced several roles within hotels, ranging from food and beverage, housekeeping and management, where he has developed a solid understanding of all aspects of hotel management.
Halie Carnie started with the company in January and with more than 17 years in the industry she brings a wealth of experience to the marketing and communications department.
Carnie will be responsible for marketing team leadership, driving awareness and exposure of Swiss-Belhotel in New Zealand and will also contribute to the marketing and business strategies of the hotels.
“These appointments demonstrate the importance we place on New Zealand as part of our larger global network. With the recent move of our head office to Auckland, we needed to expand the team to ensure we can meet demand and continue to deliver a top class product for Kiwis and international visitors staying in Auckland and Queenstown,” says Gavin Faull, Swiss-Belhotel International CEO and President.
“The appointment of Matthias, Oytun and Halie is a coup for the company and we look forward to seeing the properties succeed as a result of these appointments,” concluded Faull. Swiss-Belhotel International has a total of 85 staff based in New Zealand working in head office and within the three properties.
