Exciting Changes “Down Under”

By William Visser

I am pleased to join Human Resources in announcing the following changes in senior staff at our Australian properties.

Niel Mason

Niel Mason, formerly General Manager of the Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, has been appointed General Manager of the deluxe Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa Noosa. Outrigger Hotels & Resorts’ Australia Regional General Manager, Grant James said, “Niel’s extensive experience is a great asset to the company as it continues to expand the Outrigger brand throughout the Asia-Pacific.”

Niel has over 20 years of hospitality industry experience and while at Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, he chaired the region’s premier tourism body, Destination Tweed.  His skill set will help broaden ties with local tourism and business sectors and identify new opportunities for the resort’s conferencing and food and beverage operations.

Niel is no stranger to Outrigger’s ‘ohana having first joined the company as General Manager of Outrigger Coolangatta Beach Resort in 2005. He then rejoined Outrigger in late 2009 at the Outrigger Twin Towns Resort.

Niel holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Hotel & Food Administration from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Niel and his wife Ali are making the most of their new location in Australia’s holiday playground by discovering the pristine waterways on their stand-up paddleboards or hiking along the dramatic coastal headlands of Noosa National Park.

Gavin Phillis

Outrigger is also pleased to welcome Gavin Phillis, who takes over from Niel in the role of General Manager at Outrigger Twin Towns Resort.

Gavin has over 30 years experience in the hospitality, training and human resources sectors, as well as regional television and travel documentary production.

He was most recently General Manager of a 282-room full-service resort on the Gold Coast and also oversaw the operations of four other resorts.

Gavin has also lectured on hospitality and tourism at various institutions around Australia and sat on a number of educational and tourism boards.

“Gavin’s experience managing strata properties combined with his strong interpersonal and staff development skills will enhance Outrigger Twin Towns Resort’s leading reputation among leisure and business travellers,” Grant said.

“His diverse background and strata hotel experience equips him with the skills to lead our varied product offering at Outrigger Twin Towns Resort and adds to the strength of our team of highly motivated General Managers.”

Gavin and his wife Sheryl are looking forward to discovering the nearby coastal surroundings and having their family visit from South Australia once they settle in.

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Niel and Gavin to their new roles with the Outrigger ‘ohana.