Accommodation Association of Australia

The ACES Award is a recognition of living the values of Attitude, Commitment, Enthusiasm and Service. The accommodation industry is strong and vibrant because of the dedication of these recipients who pave the way for the next generation.

Jenny Tonkin & Geoff Olho - Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort QLD

Geoff Olholm purchased vacant cane land in Cairns in 1984 and 3 years later opened the Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort to the public. From humble beginnings, Geoff has continued to grow the business with a very strong emphasis on excellence in customer service, quality facilities and excellence in cleanliness & maintenance of facilities. Jenny Tonkin began her career at the resort over 13 years ago and today is actively engaged as the General Manager working along side Geoff on the planning, marketing and running of the holiday resort. Geoff and Jenny both are both engaged with many tourism and industry boards in an effort to support the growth of the caravan and tourism industry and meet the challengers of today’s caravan park industry.

Joe Monti - Townsville Seaside Apartments QLD

Joe Monti purchased the Townsville Seaside Apartments with his parents, Jim & Ines Monti, in July 1992. As newcomers to the industry in 1992, they joined the Accommodation Association for assistance and soon became a thriving business. Joe has operated the family business for over 18 years with assistance from family and friends and has enjoyed much success. The Townsville Seaside Apartments has high occupancy rates all year round due to its many loyal guests. Joe, manager of the property, realises the importance of excellent customer service and has provided this with his ability to make a guest feel completely at home in his property. During those 18 years, Joe has been a loyal and committed accommodation operator and been involved in the local tourism industry in the Townsville region. The local business community appreciate Joe for his commitment and dedication in providing holiday accommodation for the city of Townsville.

Merv O'Neill - Southside Holiday Village QLD

Merv O’Neill, owner of the Southside Holiday Village, has been involved in the accommodation industry for over 50 years. First owning a pub, a caravan park, a motel and then finally building the Southside Holiday Village which he has owned for over 35 years. During those years he has dedicated his time to providing excellent standards in accommodation for the travelling public. Southside Holiday Village is a family-owned and operated business and is managed by his son Neville O’Neill and his wife Cindy and family. Merv is proud to see that is grand-children are also following in his footsteps. Merv is a role model for the next generation of accommodation operators and he is certainly a great example of the power of commitment, dedication and excellent work ethics. He has been a member of the Accommodation Association for 24 years and has been an active member in the the Accommodation Association regional meetings for much of this time, providing input on local and state issues. Merv is also a foundation member in the Top Tourist Park chain. Merv was strongly involved in the Rockhampton Regional Tourism promotions over many years and is still involved in the running of his Southside Holiday Village. Congratulations Merv, a job well done.

Darryl Courtney-O’Connor - Touraust Corporation

Darryl was born in a pub in Waitotara, a small town in New Zealand's North Island, raised a publican's son and very early developed passions for combining good wholesome hospitality with entrepreneurial business practices. After migrating to Australia in his early 20's Darryl joined the corporate world of property development and land division. Darryl's passion and determination meant he was able to raise funds from various willing investors and start building a chain of great Australian hotels from Melbourne and Adelaide along the north/south highways to Cairns to meet the increasing demands of Australian family road trips. This small group of motels was known as Country Comfort in 1986. Today the Constellation Hotels network stretches right across Australia from Perth to Adelaide, Melbourne to Sydney, Alice Springs to Cairns, and includes properties in New Zealand’s north and south islands. A chain of hotels, motels and resorts under the Grand Chifley, Chifley, Australis, Country Comfort and Sundowner brands, Constellation now has close to 70 properties.

Paul Constantinou - Quest Serviced Apartments

With more than 35 years in accommodation and hospitality, Quest chairman and CEO Paul Constantinou is a respected industry leader. Paul founded Quest 22 years ago and has built the business to be the largest serviced apartment group in Australasia. Today, Quest has more than 130 properties in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Paul’s next challenge is not only to grow the business, but to recognise and meet the future needs of its valued guests. In July 2009, Quest Serviced Apartments won the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Hotel Investment Conferences (ANZPHIC) Brand of the Year Award and in November 2009, Paul also received the prestigious Ernst and Young, Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Services.

Tony Sheer - Australian Pacific Inns

Tony's first years of life were spent at the family motel in Kew. He had a stint in the family business before turning his hospitality experience and accounting training to good effect with the Flag Motel chain, where he spent 3 years helping to develop the much acclaimed Super Sally computer booking system. Tony performed a major transformation of the Mitcham Hotel, then moved to the Wilton Hotel Group, before buying the Lamplighter Motel in Oakleigh 13 years ago. Tony's experience in the accommodation industry won the state government tender for the Cape Schanck Light station in 1998. Tony, his wife and four staff operate the museum and run tours of the historic tower and outbuildings every half hour. They have 4 cottages available for short term use, including the original 1859 cottage which has recently undergone a $70,000 renovation. Tony took over as Chairman of Mornington Peninsula Tourism during August 2002, to help oversee the area’s continuing renaissance as a quality holiday destination. Tony is the Managing Director of Australian Pacific Inns a chain of seven Victorian properties and restaurants.

Wayne Mawbey - The Accommodation Association Director, Matilda Motor Inn, Homestead Motel NSW

Wayne has been operating in the regional motel environment since 1985 and is the owner of Matilda Motor Inn and Homestead Motel in Dubbo, NSW. Wayne’s background includes 11 years serving with the Australian Army Reserve, before retiring at the rank of Captain. In addition to the the Accommodation Association Board, Wayne served several years as the Chairman for the Dubbo Tourist Association and is currently the Chairman of the ARRA Accommodation Group.

Carole Smith - The Accommodation Association Vice President, Classic Holidays

Carole is the Managing Director of Classic Holidays and has extensive experience in the day-to-day operations and management of timeshare schemes. Carole’s role includes financial and administrative management of Classic Leisure Pty Ltd along with the management of strategic alliances. Carol has over 20 years experience in the timeshare and tourism industry and has held managerial positions at RCI Asia Pacific, Mariner Shores Beach Resort on the Gold Coast and Port Pacific Resort at Port Macquarie. In addition to the Accommodation Association, Carol is Director of ATHOC and several other limited companies.

John Atkin - The Accommodation Association Director, The Falls Rainforest Cottages QLD

John has over 40 years experience working in the transport industry, holding senior management and executive positions with NSW State Rail, Carpentaria Transport and Queensland Rail. In 2001 John retired to take up ownership of the multi-tourism awards winning property, The Falls Rainforest Cottages on the Sunshine Coast in partnership with his wife, Denise Atkin. John is actively involved in the tourism industry through elected positions on a range of tourism bodies including Chairman of the Sunshine Coast the Accommodation Association, Deputy Chair of Tourism Sunshine Coast, Director of Queensland Tourism Industry Council and Vice President of Blackall Range Business & Tourism Association.

Ian Sandilands - The Accommodation Association Director, Best Western Gregory Terrace QLD & Henry Parkes NSW

Ian operates the Best Western Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland and the Best Western Henry Parkes (Tenterfield, NSW). Ian has over 20 years industry experience and is also a board member of Best Western Australasia, a member of the Hospitality Training Association of Australia (HTA) and the Principal of Sandilands Hospitality Consulting.

Barbara Derham - The Accommodation Association Director, Consultant SA

Barbara has 30 plus years of experience in the hospitality industry. She owned and ran Whyalla’s Alexander Motor Inn for 15 years, before moving on to Derham’s Foreshore Motor Inn, also in Whyalla, for a further 20 years. Barbara has also enjoyed a substantial career with the Flag International Chain, as the first woman to be appointed to the Board she served in the capacities of Deputy Chair and Chairperson. Barbara is passionate about training and is coach and mentor to many industry operators in South Australia. In addition to the Accommodation Association, Barbara participates in the Tourism Round Table and is Chair of the Area Consultative Committee for the electorate of Grey.

Wayne Kayler -Thomson - The Accommodation Association Director, VECCI

Wayne Kayler-Thomson is the Chief Executive Officer of VECCI, Australia’s largest state Chamber of Commerce. Wayne is a member of various government and non government boards, councils and committees and an Adjunct Professor to the Victoria University Centre for Tourism and Services Research. Prior to his current position, Wayne was the Deputy Chief Executive of Tourism Victoria. Wayne has extensive private and public sector senior executive management and business experience in tourism, regional economic development and the manufacturing industry.

Bruce Copland - The Accommodation Association Director, Toga Hospitality

Bruce Copland is a professional hotelier with over 37 years experience in the hospitality industry spanning Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Mexico, and Australia. Bruce graduated from the Scottish Hotel School at Strathclyde University, Glasgow in 1971 with one of the earliest specialist degrees in Hotel Management in the UK. His career has involved managing pub groups, scuba diving resorts and five star luxury island hotels. Bruce migrated to Australia in 1986 to work for Western Resorts in WA. He has since held senior group management positions with Quality Pacific, Country Comfort, Austotel and is currently a Director of Toga Hospitality. Bruce is an industry leader with a great depth of practical industry experience in all departments.

Jerry Bour - The Accommodation Association Director, ProActive Business Support

With more than 35 years experience in the Hospitality and Tourism SME sector, Jerry has worked with many organisations including the National Reservations Centre for Small Hotels in Holland, Country Comfort Motels, Jetset Tours Australia Pty Ltd, Jardine Matheson Pty Ltd, Killara Inn Hotel & Conference Centre and GNI Corporate Services. Jerry’s strong background in management, marketing, human resources and industrial relations has been essential in establishing his own consultancy and coaching business, ‘ProActive Business Support Pty Ltd’. In addition to serving on the the Accommodation Association Board, Jerry is a Board Member of the Tourism Industry Council for NSW and Chair of Judges for the NSW Tourism Awards and a Board member of the Hospitality Training Network.

Pam Hardgrave - The Accommodation Association Director, Lillydale Farmstay QLD

Pam is the owner and manager of Lillydale Farmstay. Pam opened the farmstay in 2000 and expanded her working cattle property into an ecologically sustainable retreat. Through Pam’s guidance Lillydale has obtained Advanced Ecotourism accreditation with Ecotourism Australia. In 2008, Lillydale was inducted into the Queensland Tourism Hall of Fame and Pam won the Queensland Westpac Business Owner Award in 2006. Pam is a graduate of AICD and has a Diploma in Management. In addition to the Accommodation Association, Pamela is President of the Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay Queensland, a board member of Tourism Queensland and a member of Scenic Rim Regional Council Tourism Advisory Committee.

ACES 2010 Winners