New team at Outrigger

Following last week’s announcement that Outrigger Enterprises would rebuild its presence in the region after selling the management rights for its Australian and New Zealand portfolio, the company has formalised its growth strategy by appointing three executives to drive its market re-entry.

Vice President Operations – Oceania, Clifford Olson who is already forging strong inroads throughout the development industry heads up the team, and he expects to formally announce several new hotel and resort ventures this year.

Mr Olson joined Outrigger Enterprises eight years ago and formerly ran the group’s Western Pacific operations in Guam. He most recently headed Outrigger’s Australian and New Zealand operations and provided consultation for Outrigger’s new projects under development.

“We are delighted to be back in the market. The sale was a strategic business move which did not include the sale of the Outrigger brand or contain any anti-competition clauses,” Mr Olson said.

“The sale has not stalled our overall goal to maintain a solid hotel presence throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific…..and the recent sale of our management rights enables us to look at larger hotel projects from a cashed up equity-base.”

On the hunt for new hotels in the region’s premier gateway cities and leisure centres, Mr Olson said Outrigger would also evaluate larger joint-venture (JV) partnerships.  

“We already have a number of JV’s throughout the Pacific, including Fiji, and are keen to partner with a party here or in South East Asia to have long-term equity in a hotel product that fits Outrigger’s personality,” Mr Olson said.

New Zealand and South East Asia are also on the company’s radar and Mr Olson expects Outrigger’s new resort in Bali to spearhead its drive into Asia, including destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia and China.           

Joining Mr Olson is Director of Sales – Oceania, Narelle Eichorn who has worked with Outrigger since 1998 and was instrumental in growing the brand throughout its core travel trade and wholesalers networks globally.

Based at Outrigger’s South Pacific headquarters on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Ms Eichorn will also play a pivotal role in launching the group’s new resort scheduled to open at Legian Beach, Bali in mid-2007, while also maintaining a regular presence among the travel trade networks locally and internationally. 

Completing the line-up of industry specialists is recognised tourism marketing expert and Certified Practising Marketer, Lisa Tzanetopoulos as Director for Brand Marketing – Oceania.

Ms Tzanetopoulos has held senior roles at Tourism Queensland, Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast Tourism Bureau and will play a central role in maintaining Outrigger’s brand awareness throughout the region, together with supporting Outrigger’s Hawaii-based headquarters’ greater Pacific marketing function.

Already a number of developers have approached Outrigger Enterprises since the sale of its management rights.

“It is really just a matter of time before we secure hotels that fit with our next phase of growth,” Mr Olson added.

“Our main criteria at present is to source full-scale hotel accommodation in Australia and New Zealand’s key gateway cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Perth, Auckland and key tourism centres…and of course, a greater presence in the Asia Pacific.”

Report by The Mole