ACCOMMODATION provider, Mantra Group, has appointed Richard Crawford as development manager.
Director of acquisitions Michael Moret-Lalli said is inline with Mantra Group’s strategy to expand on its portfolio of 112 Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree properties, as well as 17 projects in the pipeline across the Asia Pacific.
“Richard’s extensive experience in tourism developments will prove invaluable as more and more projects come online,” he added.
A native of Tasmania, Richard Crawford cofounded Hobart’s internationally acclaimed Henry Jones Art Hotel, and is a former director of the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania. Since 2007, he has delivered a range of commercial consulting services to private and public sector clients, being engaged by some of Tasmania’s largest and most high profile organisations, including the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Federal Group, Tourism Tasmania, and Hobart City Council.
“I’m delighted to join Mantra Group at such an exciting time for the company. Like others in our industry, I have observed Mantra Group’s impressive success and expansion with great interest and I look forward to playing my part in executing our ongoing plans for growth,” Crawford said.
The development team will capitalise on the solid growth achieved in 2012 which saw seven properties join the Peppers portfolio in Australia and New Zealand to bring the total number to 31 retreats and resorts.
The Group’s first hotel in Asia – Mantra Nusa Dua in Bali – was opened in March 2013, with plans for a Peppers resort to open in Lombok, Indonesia in 2014. Another brand new Peppers development – Peppers Naisoso Island Resort – is due to commence construction in Fiji mid-year.
In an exciting evolution for the brand, the first Peppers in a CBD location will open in 2014 in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley – Peppers Dunmore Brisbane.
Expansion also continues for the Mantra brand with a brand new hotel development to open in Townsville in 2015 as well as recent property acquisitions in regional locations such as Broome, WA and Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Property Review
