Sales role 'a perfect fit' for experienced tourism professional

A tourism professional with international experience and a strong hospitality background has joined the team at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, the largest hotel in Queenstown.

Brazilian-born Diana (pronounced Giana) Mendes has been appointed Sales Manager at the 273-room property, which boasts an unrivalled in-town location, just steps away from Queenstown’s bars, restaurants and shops, and an absolute lakefront position.

Diana is now responsible for overseeing sales and marketing activity for the hotel across all segments including FIT (free independent travelers), MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events) and wholesale.

Living in the Queenstown region for the past four years, Diana has gained extensive knowledge of the Queenstown market and hospitality industry, including sales and marketing experience at Crowne Plaza Queenstown and Millbrook Resort.

In Brazil she was Marketing Executive for the Brazilian Beverage Association, and a marketing trainee with Nestlé Brasil, winning one of only two trainee positions against 4,000 applicants.

Jim Moore, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside General Manager, said he was very pleased to have Diana as part of the team.

“Diana is a passionate and dynamic professional who will help us build on the current success of our hotel with her strong industry knowledge and marketing background from major corporates,” he said.

Diana is also excited about the move, which will enable her to be in direct contact once again with industry operators and clients, after a year solely involved in marketing and communications.

“I’m thrilled to be moving to the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside because it’s such a fantastic product, recently refurbished and in an unmatched location, and to be working with the Accor brand,” she said.

“As well as modern guest rooms we’re delighted to offer our ‘@Meetingz’ conference room with capacity for up to 80 delegates and a restaurant that can cater for up to 200. We have a renewed focus on the MICE market, working with unique offsite venues to cater for larger conference groups.”