THE BLACKSTONE HOSPITALITY TEAM
ABOUT | BLACKSTONE TEAMMeet our senior team
Bradley Burnett - Managing Director Blackstone Group
Bradley's extensive hotel industry experience in the UK and New Zealand has included revenue and operational management roles with the Westin Auckland, the SKYCITY Grand, SKYCITY Hotel and the Heritage Hotel group. He has held a variety of positions with a number of UK hotel businesses including the DeVere Group and Cavendish St James in London. Bradley helped drive successful launches for the Westin Auckland and the SKYCITY Grand Hotel. He is able to provide solutions for all accommodation offerings including pre opening and opening properties. His strengths include sales and marketing strategy and drive, revenue and yield management expertise, front office operations management and food and beverage strategy and operating solutions.
Contact Brad - bradb@blackstone.co.nz
Lawrence Montague - Financial Controller for the centralised Finance department of the Blackstone Group
Lawrence is a qualified accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of NZ. He has enjoyed a range of work experience both in chartered accounting and in commercial roles. He possesses strong experience in hotel management with over 15 years of hotel accounting experience working in Papua New Guinea, Rarotonga, the Middle East and New Zealand. The finance department is a service department with the objective to help the operational departments and add value to the hotels with timely and accurate information.
Contact Lawrence Montague - lawrencem@blackstone.co.nz
Rebecca Liddle - Group Operations Manager Blackstone Group
Rebecca was a key part of the SKYCITY Grand Hotel in Auckland prior to joining Chifley Suites Auckland where she managed guest services for the Grand. Her hospitality career spans nearly 10 years in Scotland and New Zealand including four years with the Thistle Hotel Group UK. Rebecca is an operational expert and an exceptional manager of people. She continues to deliver an excellent service to all guests at Chifley Suites Auckland as well as supporting and assisting other Blackstone properties and projects. Rebecca currently manages an operations team including reservations, guest services and housekeeping.
Contact Rebecca- Rebeccal@blackstone.co.nz
Ada De Camasca - Blackstone Property Manager
Ada has a strong background in sales and management and an enthusiasm for interacting with people. She has many years of experience in management and was the principal officer of real estate companies in New Zealand and Australia, including four years as a principal officer with the Go Gecko Group. Ada is highly regarded by landlords and tenants alike for her attention to detail, and her negotiating and communication skills. Ada’s management experience and knowledge is a great asset to our business as we continue to grow our role as well as introduce new systems in our pursuit to provide the finest property management service in the region.
Contact Ada - adad@blackstone.co.nz
HOTEL MANAGERS
Franz Staufer - Operations Manager & Executive Concierge at THE CHATHAM AUCKLAND
Franz has been in the Hospitality business for over 18 years working in various hotels and chains including Sheraton Auckland, Carlton Hotel Auckland, Inter-continental Wellington, The Ascot Metropolis, City Life and Heritage Hotel Group, Sky City Grand and now The Chatham Auckland. Franz has held various positions throughout his career and has gained a number of qualifications. He is a member of the international hotel concierge society Les Clefs d’Or New Zealand ‘The Golden Keys’, has held the position of secretary on the executive committee for the past nine years and is the current president for New Zealand which he has held for two years.
Contact Franz - franz@chathamauckland.co.nz
Ron & Muriel Smythe - Managers 540 ON GREAT SOUTH MOTEL
Muriel and Ron Smythe came from Australia four years ago and now manage the 540 on Great South Motel. Muriel, from a nursing background, is a dedicated people person who cares for everyones needs, a necessity in this form of hospitality. Ron has a diverse background in the industry. Having served 23 years with the New South Wales Railways in a senior management role and since that time in management positions in New South Wales and Queensland clubs, management with Accor Hotels, operations manager of a leading Queensland waste management company and also holding a position as Secretary of the New South Wales Railways Sports Institute, his knowledge of the hospitality industry spans over 45 years. Since coming to New Zealand he has held a management role with the Spencer on Byron Hotel and has been active with the Blackstone Group in the opening of Chifley Suites Auckland and relieving as the manager of City Travellers in Auckland CBD.
Contact Ron - stay@540.co.nz
Ranz Fruean - Manager CITY TRAVELLERS AUCKLAND
Ranz has been in the hospitality industry for 10 years and has developed a strong background in sales and marketing. He spent time with Central Hotels Group and with Stamford Hotels & Resorts. He also has previous experience in corporate sales with American Express. He has developed an excellent operational skill set and knowledge base. All of this expertise is utilised in running our hostel City Travellers to the maximum. His ability to try and drive new ideas is key in offering a unique New Zealand experience with our large and very diverse mix of business we have at City Travellers Auckland.
Contact Ranz - ranz@citytravellers.co.nz
