Rydges Hotels & Resorts have announced that two of its key properties in New Zealand have welcomed new General Managers, elevating their people and celebrating internal talent.
Colin McClean has been appointed as GM of Rydges Auckland, as well as the Area General Manager for Rydges North Island. He was previously the GM of Rydges Wellington, and replaces Vini Belotti, who has taken up a new role with Rydges in Australia.
McClean has over two decades of experience in the hotel industry and has been with EVT since 2024, working across both the Rydges and QT brands. Under his leadership, QT Wellington launched its signature restaurant, Hippo, and Rydges Wellington commenced a pilot study with Hospitality New Zealand to establish initiatives to tackle food waste. Known for his commercial nous and bringing the best out in his teams, his new roles will see him lead the Rydges Auckland team as well as the wider strategy for Rydges properties in the North Island.
McClean says he’s excited to work with the new teams. “I’m looking forward to working closely with the Rydges Auckland team, as well as the General Managers across the North Island properties. We’ve got some exciting plans in the works and it’s going to be a great year for the Rydges brand.”
Mitch McLachlan steps into the role of General Manager Rydges Wellington, crossing the ditch from his previous appointment as General Manager Rydges North Sydney. It’s a homecoming of sorts, with McLachlan having worked at the Wellington property over a decade ago in his first hotel role. McLachlan has held several GM roles with the Rydges group and across his 15 years’ experience, earning a reputation for driving revenue growth and upholding guest-led brand experiences.
McLachlan is excited for this next challenge with Rydges, saying, “It’s a rare privilege to come full circle like this, to return to the very first hotel where my journey began. That’s thanks in part to the culture of Rydges – it’s built on a real, ongoing commitment to growing people – and the team, a vibrant mix of people from all over the world, bringing different perspectives, energy, and stories”.
Simon White, EVT General Manager for New Zealand Operations, says the new appointments are a testament to EVT’s investment and growth in talent. “It’s great to see Mitch return home to New Zealand, and to see Colin step up into the Area GM role. Colin brings a wealth of operational expertise and a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, and Mitch brings a fresh perspective to the Wellington market.
“A priority for us as a business is to foster career development and opportunities for growth for our people. It’s exciting to see our talent take on new challenges, while supporting and upskilling their own teams.”
Both McClean and McLachlan have commenced their new roles.
