New senior additions appointed at Newmark to spearhead growth
Newmark Hotels & Reserves has appointed three new directors to spearhead growth for its portfolio of hotels and reserves. This three-pronged approach to commercial strategy will elevate the Cape Town-based hospitality management company’s heads of revenue, sales and marketing, facilitating a focused approach to strategic revenue growth.
Director of Marketing, Keaton Quarmby, brings 20 years of experience in senior marketing roles to this position. Working her way up to Marketing Manager in a short space of time, Keaton spent 10 years at international footwear and athletic brand, New Balance. She then moved into the hospitality industry, taking on the role of Director of Marketing for The Westin Cape Town Hotel and the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel. She spent five years at Falke as Group Marketing Executive before moving to Newmark as Head of Marketing two years ago. Keaton joined Newmark at a time of exponential growth for the group which saw its portfolio of hotels double in size, and Keaton’s marketing team triple in size. She has since restructured the department, bringing all marketing functions in-house to create an agile department offering each Newmark property a 360-degree marketing solution.
Newly appointed Director of Sales, Bianca Pontac, brings 12 years of senior sales management experience to her new role. Bianca started her hospitality career in Port Elizabeth, working her way through the ranks at Radisson into a Senior Sales Manager position. During her 8 years with the group, she moved to the Western Cape and later took on the role of Director of Corporate Sales at the newly opened Radisson Red Cape Town. She joined Newmark in 2020 and believes strongly in fostering respectful and nonjudgemental cultures to develop new industry leaders.
Stepping into the role of Director of Revenue, Andrea Fialkov brings 14 years of experience in revenue management to the new role. After completing a BSC in Genetic Engineering Andrea joined a cruise ship, falling in love with the hospitality industry while travelling the world. Returning to South Africa she joined the Westin Cape Town Hotel, working her way up from reception over the course of 12 years. In 2013 she took on a new role as a Revenue Executive and was later promoted to Multi-Property Revenue Manager within the group. Andrea joined Newmark in 2022 where she has been instrumental in identifying market trends and new revenue segments, introducing automated revenue systems and analytics tools and optimizing revenue for the group’s hotels.
“I am very proud and excited to announce the appointment of Keaton, Bianca and Andrea into their new roles. All 3 have proven track records in the hospitality industry and have brought extensive experience to Newmark. The wealth of knowledge that they bring to these roles will undoubtably will be invaluable as we continue to drive our strategic initiatives, commercial strategy and African growth. These appointments also reflect our continued commitment to retaining top talent and ensuring we have effective leadership in place to navigate the opportunities ahead,” commented COO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves, Mike Vroom.
Newmark strategically expands its operations department
In order to provide hotels within the Newmark portfolio with greater support, Newmark’s operational department has also expanded. Directors of Operations, Michael Liffmann and Janus Schoeman, will now be overseeing the operational management of all properties within South Africa and Africa respectively. Theunie Marais, bolsters this team as he takes on a Regional Operations Manager role. The team is also aided by Group Head Chef, Chris Erasmus, and Group Sommelier, Marlvin Gwese.
About Newmark Hotels and Reserves
Newmark Hotels & Reserves lives by the promise of “Experience Authentic”. It creates memorable and unique experiences for guests – authentic to the location, environs, and people of each of its properties.
From gracious boutique luxury hotels, vibrant city hotels, inspiring safari lodges, to blissful island getaways – Newmark is a curator of occasions that excite, serve, soothe, and take care of its guests. Occasions that are complemented by sensorial cuisine, directed by Newmark’s Group Head Chef, and enhanced by its Group Sommelier’s selected wine choices.
Established in 2007, Newmark Hotels & Reserves has its roots in Cape Town, and continues to expand throughout Africa. The hospitality management company’s South African footprint includes Cape Town’s iconic V&A Waterfront, the magnificent Cape Winelands, the open skies of the Karoo, the rolling green hills of the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere, and the vast Kruger National Park where lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard roam free. Further afield Newmark’s guests can experience West African golf experiences, the majesty of the Great Migration and the opulence of Mauritian and Zanzibar beach resorts.
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