WHAT'S NEXT - Next Story Group
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WHAT’S NEXT
JUNE 2019
First LinQ Hotel to Open in
Melbourne in September
Patrick
Imbardelli
appointed as
Next Story
Group’s
Chairman
Patrick Imbardelli succeeds Luis Miranda as the
new Chairman of Next Story Group. Luis has
retired from the Board after more than six years in
the role. Prior to Patrick’s appointment, he was a
non-executive Director and Advisor to Next Story
Group for three years.
Patrick’s hospitality career, which spans more
than 30 years, began at Hilton International.
He was formerly Chief Executive Asia Pacific
Next Story Group has acquired a new-build hotel at of InterContinental Hotels Group, and Chief
167 City Road in Melbourne’s vibrant waterfront Executive and Board Member of Pan Pacific Hotels
hub of Southbank. The soft opening of the 16-storey, Group. His achievements extend from capital
162-room property is scheduled for 1 September restructuring and investments in developing
2019. After a complete fit-out, the hotel will deliver countries to integrating hotel management
a guest experience that is reflective of the Group’s companies, businesses and brands.
upper midscale LinQ Hotels brand from 1 November Patrick is also a Director and Advisor of IDEM
2019. Hospitality, Advisory Board Member and Advisor
This will be the Group’s first hotel under its for Tionale Enterprises, Director of The Goodnight
LinQ Hotels brand, which offers unconventional Co., and previously a Director and Advisory Board
independent hospitality for the next generation of Member of Symmons Industries in Boston. He has
travellers. It also delivers a hassle-free experience also received numerous accolades for his corporate
and provides a great base from which to explore the achievements. Patrick’s wealth of experience will
destination. be invaluable to the Group as it moves ahead with
its ambitions to establish Kafnu and grow its hotel
Representing one of the Group’s three core brands, portfolio.
LinQ Hotel Melbourne Southbank will complement
Next Hotel Melbourne at 80 Collins Street, which On behalf of the Group, we would like to thank
is slated to open in Q2 2020, and Sage Hotel Luis for his contributions to the company, and at
Melbourne, Ringwood, which has been in operation the same time, congratulate Patrick on his new
for over a year. appointment.
The hotel is the perfect base for both business
and leisure travellers. It is a short walk from the Update on Sri Lanka
Southbank Promenade, Melbourne Convention and
Exhibition Centre, Crown Entertainment Complex Communities in Sri Lanka are starting to regroup
and Melbourne CBD. Sports fans in particular will and rebuild. Construction work on Next Hotel
be thrilled with the hotel’s proximity to sporting Colombo has also resumed. The safety and well-
venues including AAMI Park, MCG and Rod Laver being of our colleagues still remain a priority
Arena. Public transport nodes including the Flinders for us and we will stay vigilant and continue to
Street Station are also close by. monitor the situation.
01
WHAT’S NEXT JUNE 2019
Deep dive into the LinQ brand
The EHL student team, with (extreme left) Ian Millar, Manager of the Institute of Business Creativity & Senior
Lecturer from EHL, and (fourth from right) Siddharth Biswas, Chief of Staff, Next Story Group
Next Story Group is partnering respected hospitality independent hospitality targeted at the next
school, Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, on a market generation of travellers, these Gen Z hospitality
research project that will culminate in the creation students are uniquely positioned to research the
of the guest journey and concept for the LinQ Hotels segment. They are excited to be working on the
brand. project as part of their final semester requirements
and will present their ideas to us in the coming
Six highly-motivated hospitality students, led by weeks.
Violet Li who interned with our Design & Technical
Services team in Singapore last year, are working Their research and ideas will be taken into
with us on this project, with guidance from their consideration as we continue to work on refining
professor. the LinQ Hotels brand before we launch it in the
marketplace with the opening of our first LinQ
As our LinQ Hotels brand offers unconventional Hotel Melbourne Southbank in November 2019.
Sage hotels score big with high tea events
Sage Hotel Wollongong’s first-ever Mad Hatters
High Tea in April has earned the hotel many new
fans. Tweedledum and Tweedledee welcomed
delighted guests into the Five Island restaurant,
which the team had transformed into Wonderland.
The adult guests enjoyed a decadent spread that
included an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet, while
the children were entertained by a Mad Hatter
magician and had their faces painted by Alice.
Sage Hotel Melbourne, Ringwood served up its
successful high tea on Mother’s Day, attracting The event also cemented the hotel’s partnership
many local guests. The feedback was excellent. The with associated business – Pandora, Blue Illusion
guests loved the selection of sweet and savoury Clothing, Essential Beauty, Sisko Chocolate, Moet
items, including scones that were made using the Hennessy, Skin B5, Yarra Valley Magazine and T2 –
chef ’s grandmother’s recipe. which contributed to goodie bags for guests.
02
WHAT’S NEXT JUNE 2019
Team Adelaide delivers top performance
Sage Hotel Adelaide and Chifley on South Terrace, sales, while our service delivery and support teams
Adelaide have achieved their best results since have gone above and beyond in what is usually a
January 2013. Occupancy levels at both hotels are quiet month,” said Justin.
above market performance and Sage Hotel Adelaide
has also achieved very strong market share. “Not only did they keep up with the pace, they
did so in a manner that ensured service levels
To celebrate their success, General Manager for were maintained and expenses were managed. We
Adelaide Justin McConnell and his teams took some exceeded almost all of our profitability targets for
time out by the poolside. the month.”
“Our Sales, Reservations and Front Office Teams Take a bow, Adelaide!
are focused on stimulating demand and converting
Pleasing palates at Kafnu Ho
Chi Minh City
Chris Fong is our new F&B Director for Kafnu Ho
Chi Minh City and Head Chef of its modern Asian
restaurant, Soy, which champions locally-sourced
ingredients.
“I joined Kafnu because I like to conceptualise
“
dining experiences from scratch. It gives me a sense
of ownership,” he said. “I also love being part of a
multicultural team. As a chef, it is important to
explore different cultures and cuisines. It stimulates My favourite Vietnamese
the mind and forces you to think in new, inventive Dish is Hu Tieu. It is the
ways.” perfect expression of the
Chris has eight years of culinary experience,
beauty of cross-cultural
including two years at Michelin-star restaurants influence – invented
Les Amis, Saint Pierre and Restaurant Andre. He by the Cambodians,
was also Chef de Cuisine of Horizon Bistronomy tweaked by the Chinese
for four years and a finalist at the World Gourmet
Summit in 2013. He joined us from Villa Song Saigon
and enjoyed by the
Vietnamese.
“
Bistro Song Vie, where he was the Chef de Cuisine.
03
WHAT’S NEXT JUNE 2019
Ask Darren
Q. What do you do to ensure you are continually
growing both personally and as a leader?
A. There is nothing truer than that old chestnut
‘You never stop learning until the day you die!’
All your questions By learning, I believe you are growing, and the
answered by Darren foundation of learning comes from listening to
Edmonstone, CEO, people’s opinions and views, and having an open
Next Hotels & Resorts. mind. Our industry is extremely dynamic and if you
do not keep pace with innovations and trends, you
can get left behind fairly quickly. Luckily, there is
no shortage of publications in this regard, whether
it be industry-specific or strategic leadership/
management-related, so read a LOT! Also, never be
Q. Is Next Story Group solely focused on growing afraid to try new things. Challenge yourself, always.
in Asia/Australasia or do we have plans for global
expansion?
A. We are adopting a smart, responsible growth
strategy, focusing on growing strategically in key
geographies across Asia Pacific. Right now, we will
continue to grow organically in markets such as Guest Service Agent Chatu
Australia, South East Asia and South Asia with our Jayamaha is the winner of
hotel brands – Next, Sage and LinQ – and Kafnu. At Next Hotel Brisbane’s Easter
the same time, we will explore opportunities that Egg Challenge. More than 30
arise in other regions. staff took a stab at guessing
the number of Easter eggs
Q. How do we compete in an increasingly in the bowl and she came
competitive shared space landscape? closest, with a guess of 237.
A. We believe strongly in Kafnu’s potential to be a There were 238 eggs and now
differentiated concept in the marketplace. We are she gets to enjoy all of them.
monitoring the performance of our Kafnu properties Congratulations, Chatu!
and diving into feedback from members to fine tune
the concept to ensure that it appeals to our target
audience and drives loyalty.
Finding the perfect blend
Sage Hotel Melbourne, Ringwood was the birthplace
of a collaborative partnership, and maku: Hemp
Session Ale, a beer that combines the wonders of
hemp and hops.
It began with a chance encounter between Adam
Guskich and Todd McClellan of Yarra Valley Hemp
Co. and Dale White and Michael Smith of The Public
Brewery at the hotel’s shared workspace. The
conversation set the wheels in motion and led to
extensive product development.
The first commercial batch sold out in days and
orders have since been fulfilled across the country,
from Perth to Sydney and Byron Bay. Of course,
maku is also on the menu at Sage Hotel Melbourne,
Ringwood, where it was conceptualised.
04
WHAT’S NEXT JUNE 2019
We started the Discover phase in March to reassess
our target customers. What has changed for them
and our markets? Are we still relevant? Has the
Join us on competition caught up? Is there new competition?
our brand When we complete this phase in early June, we
would have a clearly-defined brand strategy and
journey positioning for each brand.
by Samantha Llewellyn, In the Design phase, in June and July, new agencies
Group Vice President, will help us create updated brand guidelines,
Marketing marketing tools, resources and templates that we
will launch in August.
At the same time, a cross-functional working
group will help us Develop the end-to-end
The world we live in, the customers we serve, and customer experience, with a Delivery roadmap
our competition, are constantly changing. For these for implementation from August 2019 through to
reasons, great brands must evolve. 2020.
In 2019, we are undertaking a four-stage – Discover, This is a big and exciting undertaking. It requires
Design, Develop, Deliver – process to review each support from corporate functions and the
of our core brands to ensure we are positioned to properties, and we look forward to all your
win. contributions.
Bringing to life the magic of storytelling
Perth was abuzz with youthful
creativity in May. Sage Hotel
West Perth partnered with the
Scribblers Festival to bring a fun-
filled programme of literature and
the arts to kids and young adults.
The annual Scribblers Festival is
organised by cultural non-profit
organisation FORM and the Town
of Claremont, and it focuses on
introducing youngsters to the
magic of storytelling.
This is the second year in a row
that Sage Hotel West Perth has
supported the initiative and the
team is proud to have contributed
to sparking the imaginations of the
young people in the community.
100% occupancy of Kafnu
Bengaluru’s private offices
The Kafnu Bengaluru team is excited to welcome its
first corporate client, Aspect Software, which signed
up for 60 private office desks. This has resulted
in 100% occupancy of Kafnu Bengaluru’s private platforms and resource management systems, chose
offices. Kafnu Bengaluru because of its holistic approach to
the work experience and its quiet and collaborative
Aspect, a US multinational company with 45 years spaces, in addition to its comprehensive service
of experience in providing customer engagement offering.
05
WHAT’S NEXT JUNE 2019
Meet Jackson, our new Digital
Marketing Manager A warm welcome to our new
colleagues:
Kafnu Alexandria
• Claudia Kay, Community Associate
Next Hotel Brisbane
• Julie Im, Assistant Accountant
• Paul McCartney, Maintenance Supervisor
• Rebecca Carey, Marketing & Communication
Executive
Jackson Sim joined the Marketing team at our
Singapore Office in May.
Careers at Next Story Group
What excites me most about my role is the
opportunity to elevate Next Story Group’s digital Check out these latest career opportunities:
and social presence to the next level. When it Singapore Office
comes to managing our social presence, I think • Kafnu Member Marketing Manager
being genuine is most important. People respect • Finance Assistant
authenticity and relatability. To be heard amidst all
the noise, a brand needs to stand out and the way to Sydney Office
do that is to be true to what it is. • Field Marketing Manager
I have a love for the written word. I wrote for Cuisine Sage Hotel West Perth
& Wine Asia for four years. Many assume that eating • General Manager
was the best part of the job, but it was actually the • Business Development Manager
opportunity to interact with chefs, sommeliers
and hoteliers. I was inspired by the fact that they Sage Hotel Melbourne, Ringwood
trusted me to tell their stories, and my two back-to- • Business Development Manager
back awards, for Trade Publication of the Year, were
testament to that. Kafnu Alexandria
In college, I studied culinary arts, which subsequently • Business Development Executive
gave me the opportunity to work in the kitchens of
Chef Ken Hoh, then one of Malaysia’s most respected Kafnu Alexandria & Chifley Apartments Newcastle
chefs. I think my culinary journey began when I was • Hotel Accountant
growing up. I spent far too much time in the kitchen
helping my mum cook, and stealing a bite every now LinQ Hotel Melbourne Southbank
and then. I love cooking and I love eating. • Hotel Manager
I once had the grand ambition to learn and speak For more information or to apply, reach us
10 languages. Alas, I only speak three fluently now at careers@nextstory.com.
– English, Malay and Mandarin. I do however speak
a multitude of dialects, including Hokkien, Teochew,
Hakka, Cantonese and Bahasa Sarawak. I can
probably also order a latte and croissant in French.
Welcome to the world Promotions
Country Comfort Perth’s Congratulations to:
Food & Beverage Manager • Lynne Cassidy, Area Manager – Revenue
Aleysha MacLaren and her
Strategy, Next Hotel Brisbane
husband James welcomed
their daughter Elizabeth • Olivier Ney, Area Manager – Revenue
on 17 April. Strategy, Sydney Office
• Bor Kwok, Director IT, ANZ
06
WHAT’S NEXT JUNE 2019
Employee Spotlight:
Sook Tan, Senior Community Manager, Kafnu Hong Kong
It has always been my dream to live and work in as nothing quite like it in the market. I love the challenge
many countries as possible because I love exploring of charting new territory and being empowered to
new places and cultures, and I think all these once- make a difference to what we offer our members.
in-a-lifetime experiences are priceless. Over the Having a hand in making a great concept a reality is
last five years, I have worked in four cities. I started exciting to me.
out in Singapore, then went to Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo,
and now Hong Kong! This may have something to do with the fact that I
am a very curious person who likes to find out about
I joined Next Story Group in October 2018 and things. I want to know the origins of pink chocolate,
transferred to Kafnu Hong Kong in January. The how LEGO bricks are made, and all the different ways
great thing about my job is that I am contributing to of getting from Hong Kong to Shenzhen depending
a genre-defining concept that is still taking shape. on what time of the day it is!
Our Kafnu brand is evolving and there is really
Book online for special
staff rates
Area General Manager for Brisbane, Craig Syphers,
hosted a welcome luncheon for new team members.
He met with F&B Attendants Demario Ballet, Bree It has never been easier to experience our
Bolton, Thais Zuqui, Javiera Barrales, Annalise Next, Sage, Chifley, Country Comfort, Kafnu,
Azevedo and Renata Penteado; Restaurant & Bar Kiridara and Riva brands as a guest. Book now
Manager Aditya Sharma; Assistant Accountant Julie at www.nexthotels.com and use the promo
Im; Maintenance Supervisor Paul McCartney and code NSGSTAFF to save up to 50%, subject to
Marketing & Communication Executive Rebecca room availability and each property’s T&Cs.
Carey.
07
JUNE 2019
With The Next Step, we hope to:
• Drive retention
• Develop our services and maintain a competitive
edge
• Support our succession and mobility plan
The Next Step • Provide a leadership pipeline
by Rosie McCartney, Regional We are committed to the training and development
Director, Human Resources – ANZ of all our team members and will identify appropriate
learning and growth opportunities. At the same
time, our team members need to take responsibility
for managing their own careers and personal and
With new properties and new brands coming
professional development.
onstream, you can expect new career opportunities
within Next Story Group, and we want to help you We look forward to working with you on your
seize them and achieve your career goals. Personal Development Plans, exploring your
mobility options, identifying leadership pathways
To provide the training, skills and experience you
and mentors, as well as training that will help you
need for your next step, we have a comprehensive
realise your full potential.
learning and development programme called The
Next Step, which will help you understand the skills
required by the business. It will also enable you To find out more about The Next Step, email
to deliver optimal performance, drive your career careers@nextstory.com or
development and give you the opportunity to grow rosie.mccartney@nextstory.com.
with our business.
Keep learning and stay focused
(extreme left) Alex Billing representing Next Story Group at a panel discussion at AHICE 2019
Thanks to The Next Step, Alex Billing went from four months of trading towards profitability and
being General Manager of Next Hotel Brisbane to stability, as some of the highlights of his career.
Regional Vice President, Operations, Next Story
Group, in just four years. “The company empowered me to make real change
and take ownership of the business. This is very rare
In between, he served as Regional General Manager in the industry,” he said.
for Queensland and oversaw the opening of Sage
Hotel Brisbane, James Street. He was also Regional He added that it was a great learning experience
General Manager of Queensland, New South Wales for the Next Hotel Brisbane team who took on the
and Victoria, and led the opening of Sage Hotel Sage Hotel Brisbane, James Street opening on top of
Melbourne, Ringwood and the revamp of Sage Hotel their usual portfolios, and ultimately rewarding too.
Wollongong. He said, “ We must all continue to learn, and if you
He counts these achievements, as well as leading want to grow your career, buckle down and focus on
the Next Hotel Brisbane team from a difficult first delivering results. The growth will come!”
We look forward to hearing all about your triumphs and your Submission deadline for the next issue:
team’s significant events and achievements. Send your stories 15th June 2019
and photos to: news@nextstory.com
08
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