TIA Hotel Regional Chairs

TIA’s Hotel Sector represents the interests of more than150 members throughout New Zealand, including international chain, large independent and privately owned hotels. Our dedicated Hotel Sector Manager Sally Attfield and eight Regional Hotel Chairs ensure we provide strong support and advocacy on their behalf.

Paul Columbus Auckland
Auckland Region

Paul Columbus

General Manager, Novotel Auckland Airport

Paul Columbus has more than 35 years’ experience in the hotel sector, including 10 years in senior management roles in New Zealand with Millennium Copthorne Hotels and other groups in a variety of hotels. He returned to New Zealand from the UK in 2011 to pilot the launch of Novotel Auckland Airport. In 2012 he also became responsible for the ibis Budget hotel, overseeing a 73 room extension project to that hotel. He has always had a strong involvement with the local community, including a representative on local Chamber of Commerce groups and chairing the Sheffield hotel sector group. He won the Senior Hotel Executive Award in the 2015 New Zealand Hotel Industry Awards.

Blair Chalmers General Manager Copthorne Hotel Rotorua
Rotorua Region

Blair Chalmers

General Manager, Copthorne Hotel Rotorua

Almost 30 years, 14 hotels and many locations after starting his career in the hotel sector, Blair Chalmers now resides in Rotorua, one of the country’s top visitor destinations. As General Manager of the Copthorne Hotel Rotorua, he finds people and the ever-changing landscape of the hotel sector key motivators. Being able to share the many amazing activities the Rotorua region offers with friends and family provides a fantastic work-life balance.

Michele Cole Central Plateau
Central Park

Michele Cole

General Manager & Owner, Crown Hotel Napier

Michele Cole has more than 24 years’ experience in the travel and tourism industry, in both hotel and airline sectors. She is currently the General Manager  & Owner of the Crown Hotel Napier. Prior to moving to Hawke’s Bay, Michele worked with International Hotels as Director of Sales in Australia and the Pacific, including IHG and Starwood Hotels.  She is also a Director on the Hawke's Bay Tourism Ltd Board.

Anthony Dey cropped
Wellington Region

Anthony Dey

General Manager, Brentwood Hotel

Anthony Dey has been General Manager of the independently-owned Brentwood Hotel for the past seven years. Prior to that he was the hotel's Executive Assistant Manager for 13 years. 

Anthony has 25 years experience working in hotels in Wellington and Melbourne. He has been a member of the WelTec Industry Partnership Committee since 1999 and a Kilbirnie Business Improvement District Committee member since 2015. 

Travis Moriarty
Nelson/Marlborough Region

Travis Moriarty

General Manager, Marlborough Vintners Hotel

Born and raised in South Africa Travis immigrated to New Zealand in 2007 and continued his hotel career by working in one of Auckland top 5 star hotels. Deciding it was time to leave the big smoke Travis found himself in the sunny Hawke's Bay managing a small boutique hotel. Sun, white sand and a diverse culture lured Travis to Vanuatu where he spent 2 years as EAM of Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa. Having a soft spot for the South Island Travis returned to New Zealand to take up the General Manager role at the Marlborough Vintners Hotel.

Michael Patterson recropped2
Canterbury Region

Michael Patterson

General Manager, Commodore Airport Hotel, Christchurch

Michael Patterson grew up in the Commodore, which is owned by his family who started the business 45 years ago. For the last 20-plus years, he has run the Commodore with his brothers Ken and Thomas along with a very dedicated team. Most recently, the Patterson brothers bought the Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel.

In the early part of his career, Michael worked in various hotels in New Zealand, Australia and England.

Brian Howie photo
Queentown Region

Brian Howie

Director of Operations, Millbrook Resort, Queenstown

With 15 years working in senior HR roles in the UK, Brian Howie’s experience has been gained within a diverse range of industries including engineering, construction, manufacturing, and the FMCG sector.  Brian joined Millbrook Resort in 2008 as Human Resources Manager and subsequently took on the role of Operations and HR Manager in 2010. He was appointed Director of Operations in October 2015.

Richard de Graaf
Otago Region

Richard de Graaf

Area Manager for the Scenic Hotel Group

Richard is currently based at the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, Dunedin and prior to that at Franz Josef Glacier in the pristine Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

He has opened, rebranded and managed numerous New Zealand hotels, including the Ibis Hotel Wellington, Mercure Grand Puka Park Resort and Te Waonui Forest Retreat. A qualified chef by trade Richard spent his early career in fine dining kitchens in Europe. Time permitting, he explores the great outdoors of New Zealand.