LyLo, part of the EVT group, is strengthening its leadership team as it scales its design-led accommodation offering in New Zealand and Australia.
Steve Kimi has been appointed as LyLo’s Operations Manager and Stephen Bradley as General Manager of LyLo Queenstown, which Managing Director Tim Alpe, says is a deliberate step to support the next phase of growth while protecting LyLo’s distinct, energetic identity.
“Proudly New Zealand founded, we’re building our team with high-quality talent in anticipation of our upcoming growth,” says Alpe.
“Our philosophy has always been to build design-led, budget-friendly properties with social experiences that bring travellers together, and our guests love the LyLo-effect so much that we’re taking LyLo to the world.”
The appointments pair deep EVT institutional knowledge with on-the-ground hospitality expertise. Kimi contributes two decades at EVT, having built his career from the cinema floor to lead the group’s New Zealand cinema network, bringing proven experience in delivering high-volume, customer-led operations.
“I started part-time in cinemas, and 22 years later I’m still at EVT, having had the opportunity to grow into leadership roles across the business. I had been sitting comfortably in my cinema world, but I’m forever telling my kids to be brave, set big goals and take chances, so I’m pumped to take on this next challenge at LyLo,” says Kimi.
“I’ve seen what it takes to build and scale brands. What stands out with LyLo is how clearly it resonates with today’s traveller, creating spaces people genuinely want to play and stay.”
Joining Kimi is southern hospitality leader Stephen Bradley, who brings more than 20 years of local tourism experience across well-known food and tourism attractions with earlier global experience in television.
“I was after a new challenge which offered career opportunities and excitement, and LyLo has this fun, high-energy vibe that drew me in instantly,” says Bradley.
“It’s the perfect mix. We have the backing and the opportunities of an ASX-listed company in EVT, and on the ground in Queenstown we stay agile, run local events and pour everything into our community while providing unforgettable stays for our guests. Tim is an inspiring leader, the expansion ahead is huge, and I’ve been welcomed in a way that frankly isn’t normal for a big corporate.”
Kimi and Bradley both agree, “We’re taking the energy of hospitality and the best of everything New Zealand has to offer and combining it at LyLo.”
The appointments follow the successful summer pop-up launch of LyLo Road Trips, campervans built on the same design-led philosophy, extending the LyLo experience on the road.
