TAA (Vic) strives to be the leading provider of advice
and advocacy on issues relevant to operators
international accommodation hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in Victoria.
Local focus with national reach
TAA (Vic) provides state specific advice and advocacy to Victorian hoteliers. Through our relationship with the Australian Hotels Association and Tourism Accommodation Australia, TAA (Vic) is also able is able to leverage joint lobbying efforts, resource support and influence on nationally significant issues and opportunities that impact both accommodation hotels and AHA’s increasingly diverse membership of pubs, hotels and related businesses.
TAA is an independent division of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA), with a national office based in Canberra and branches in each state and territory. TAA is a respondent to Federal Industry Awards and related legislation.
Overview of our members
TAA (Vic) has a diverse membership of accommodation
properties, including international accommodation hotels, resorts, apartment style hotels and similar businesses located across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
TAA (Vic) Council
A voluntary Council give their time and experience to assist in setting the future strategic direction
and determining priority issues for TAA (Vic). This strategy and priorities are reflected
in the TAA (Vic) Strategic Plan.
TAA (Vic) Chair – Shaun D’Cruz
Executive General Manager, Crown Hotels Melbourne
TAA (Vic) Deputy Chair – Lee Davey
General Manager –
QT Hotel Melbourne
Tracy Atherton
Group General Manager – Jackalope .
Ilan Weill
General Manager – Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Karl Unterfrauner
General Manager – Stamford Plaza Melbourne
Peter Minatsis
General Manager – Sheraton Melbourne Hotel
Justin Phillips
General Manager – Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne
Tim Bilston
General Manager, Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne
Our Team
Dougal Hollis
General Manager
Dougal has over fourteen years of experience working in senior roles within service based member centric businesses across the hospitality, self-storage and health sectors. Dougal’s career in the accommodation hotel sector included roles in five star hotel properties (Sheraton and Pan Pacific). He also spent time working for William Angliss Institute, Victoria’s specialist training centre for foods, tourism, hospitality and events.
Ajiah Harris
Membership and Events Coordinator
Ajiah has been a part of the hospitality and events industry for more than five years, and holds a strong passion for industry. Ajiah commenced her professional career at TAA (Vic) as a graduate of a Bachelors of Business Degree majoring in Event Management and Marketing at La Trobe University. She has worked at iconic Victorian events, including the Australian Open tennis tournament, Taste of Rutherglen and The Ability Festival.
John Sweetman AM
Senior Workplace Relations Advisor
John Sweetman continues to enjoy a long and distinguished career in the hotel industry. He held senior operational management roles with The Federal Hotels Group and Delaware North (Australia) prior to managing the tourism, hospitality and leisure advisory services division of the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI). Since December 2003, John has provided consultancy services to the hospitality industry, including in the capacity of Workplace Relations Advisor for members of the Australian Hotels Association and Tourism Accommodation Australia. John also holds a number of high profile Board positions and is a fellow of The Catering Institute of Australia, The Australian Institute of Hospitality Management and The Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Peter Wade
Manager of Workplace Relations and Culture
With over 30 years of experience in Hospitality specialising in generalist Human Resources roles Peter has worked in Australia and Asia managing the Human Resources function; managing recruitment, developing and establishing procedures and policies during pre-opening, learning and development, industrial relations, employee relations and culture development.
Peter has worked with industry as an adviser with Tourism Training, various International Hotel Schools, including William Angliss and Hotel and Management Institute in Sorenberg, Switzerland and as a judge for the Victorian Tourism Awards.
Working with Hyatt Hotels, IHG, Mirvac Hotels and World Congress Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Exhibition Centre Peter was a member of the preopening teams of WCCM, MEC, various Mirvac Hotels and Interwest Hotels and as Director of Recruitment – Asia Pacific for Hyatt Hotels Peter was actively involved in Hyatt’s expansion in China. Returning from Asia Peter joined IHG as Area Director of Human Resources for 7 properties in Victoria, ACT and NSW.
Ben Walker
Workplace Relatons Advisor
Ben Walker is an experienced HR/IR advisor who has provided HR support in a variety of settings including World Vision, Victorian Treasury, a Tasmanian mine, Master Builders Tasmania and Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA). His past THA experience gives him a helpful insight into the challenges, rewards and specific needs that accommodation properties face. Ben’s strong breadth of practical, cross-sector experience is complemented by his Masters in HR and he enjoys using his skills to assist members with their HR/IR queries whether big or small.
Commercial and Corporate Partners
TAA (Vic) and AHA (Vic) maintain commercial and corporate partnerships
with a wide cross section of key product and service providers to the hospitality industry.
We facilitate a number of opportunities for hoteliers and corporate partners to meet and discuss issues of common interest during the year, primarily through delivery of an extensive calendar of events.
We recognise and greatly value the support of our principal corporate partners.
