Prior to this, Sean held the position of Regional Vice President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Pacific and Managing Director, Sheraton on the Park, Sydney for over eleven years, based in Sydney.

Sean has 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, beginning his career in 1987, at the renowned Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast and Port Douglas Resorts in Queensland, Australia.

He has since served in a variety of roles both in Australia and internationally, including General Manager roles at several high-profile properties, including the Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bali; Sheraton Noosa resort & Spa, Australia; Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, where he opened Starwood’s first hotel in Vietnam; and Sheraton on the Park, Sydney.

Sean’s journey through the global hotel organisation and rise to the role of Area Vice President is yet another example of Marriott International’s investment in long term hospitality careers, and dedication to training and cultivating talent for the industry.

Sean is well regarded in the industry for his established connections and owner relationships. 

How did you get in to the hospitality sector?

I started as a business owner and supplier to the hotel and restaurant industry and was then offered a role in the hotel's kitchen as a chef. From there, I was promoted to a management role in the front of house team. One of the key reasons I stay in the industry is the people, and the opportunity to give back and mentor the next generation of hoteliers.

What are some of your career highlights in time with Marriott International?

During the course of my career at Marriott International, I’ve been fortunate to be involved with some fantastic properties, from opening the brand’s first hotel in Vietnam, JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi, to managing the multi award-winning Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park. Other personal highlights include being awarded the highest EBITDA performer globally within Starwood (now Marriott International) as well as voted Australian Hotel Manager of the Year at the Hotel Management Awards 2008 and more recently the accolade of Hospitality & Tourism Executive of the Year at the CEO Magazine Awards 2018.

What does Marriott International find so attractive about Asia Pacific hotel sector?

This is an exciting time to be part of the Pacific region’s hotel industry. Hotel development in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific continues to grow, reflecting the exceptional improvement in hotel trading conditions over the past several years. All indicators point to strong operating conditions, with high occupancy levels and ongoing demand for high-quality accommodation expected to continue to drive growth throughout the market.

What is your 10-year game plan in the Asia Pacific region?

2018 was a record setting year for signings in international markets for Marriott International with the Asia Pacific region delivering a new record for organic hotel signings. We currently have 21 major hotel projects under construction or in planning with 4,900 additional rooms already signed across Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, putting us on track to expand our network in the region to 50 hotels across 15 brands by 2020.

Over the next 10 years, we’re expecting to see continued demand for new, high quality accommodation as well as bespoke lifestyle hotels, fuelled by the growing number of Millennial and Gen Z travellers. As such, one of our expansion priorities in the Pacific region over the next few years is to establish urban footholds for Marriott International’s newest lifestyle brand, Moxy Hotels. Starting with Moxy Melbourne South Yarra, Australia’s first Moxy hotel, which is slated to open in 2021.

How will Marriott International stand out in Asia Pacific?

We’re focused on expanding our offerings to customers by going beyond the hotel room; from reimagining our dining concepts to offering travel and entertainment experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, a money-can’t-buy guest experience program, with personally tailored activities for each hotel destination which incorporate local-area expert recommendations, bespoke categories and hand-curated lists of things to do.

Our growing F&B offerings include ‘hatted restaurants’ like Garum at The Westin Perth and cutting-edge venues like Three Blue Ducks at W Brisbane. Over the next year, we’ll be rolling out a series of events that complement the high-end dining experiences we already offer at our hotels. All of this and more will be captured and shared on our new Meet Eat Drink website.

At the heart of Marriott International’s success is the company’s rapidly growing loyalty program – Marriott Bonvoy. The new program, which officially launched in February 2019, will replace the Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest brands and marks the final step in the unification of our loyalty offering, enabling us to deliver personalised experiences to more than 120 million members globally.

What changes would you like to see over the next two to five years in the industry?

The hospitality industry remains competitive and attracting and retaining great staff is more important than ever. In this environment, we need to ensure we continue to focus on training, promoting careers in hospitality and putting our people first, so that they in turn take great care of our guests.

What is your favourite hotel and holiday destination?

Croatia has always been a favourite destination of mine with its spectacular clear waters, stunning beaches and diverse culture. It also has a fascinating heritage with Venetian palaces, Napoleonic forts, Roman columns and Slavic churches dotted around the country. We love the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel which has great views of the sea, stunning contemporary architecture and is located in the World Heritage Site of the city of Dubrovnik.

See also:

Sue James appointed to Hilton's Regional Director of Sales, Australasia

Get to know Richard Crawford, Marriott International’s Senior Director of Hotel Development for the Australia Pacific region

Get to know Leanne Harwood, Managing Director of IHG Australasia and Japan