Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts has announced seven senior appointments across its Sales and Marketing teams, recognising three internal leaders with promotions and welcoming four experienced hospitality professionals as the group strengthens its commercial leadership ahead of two new hotel openings in Adelaide and Canberra.
Virginia Hamilton has been promoted to Director, Global Sales, following two years as Account Director, Strategic Partnerships. Since joining Crystalbrook Collection in 2024, Hamilton has been instrumental in growing the group’s leisure business into one of its strongest-performing commercial segments. She will now lead the group’s Global Sales function, overseeing strategic account development across all segments, international market growth, preferred partner performance and portfolio-wide business development. Hamilton has more than 20 years of hospitality sales experience, including senior roles with Accor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Travelocity.
Sharon Cauldwell has been promoted to Area Director of Sales, leading sales strategy and commercial performance across Crystalbrook Collection’s Queensland portfolio and Crystalbrook Byron. Having successfully led multi-property sales and distribution across Byron Bay, Newcastle and Brisbane, Cauldwell now takes on a broader remit spanning the group’s three Cairns hotels and resorts and Crystalbrook Vincent. With five years at Crystalbrook Collection and more than 30 years’ experience in hospitality and tourism, she brings extensive expertise in multi-property sales leadership, commercial strategy and business development.
Emily Pearl has been promoted to Director of Sales at Crystalbrook Vincent in Brisbane, marking a welcome return to the property where she previously served as Director of Sales and Marketing when it operated as The Fantauzzo. Most recently Account Director, Strategic Partnerships within Crystalbrook Collection’s Global Sales Organisation, Pearl has spent almost five years with the group, driving corporate and entertainment partnerships across the portfolio. Her experience also spans senior sales roles with Accor and IHG, positioning her strongly to lead Crystalbrook Vincent’s next chapter of commercial growth.
Cameron McKenzie has joined Crystalbrook Sam as Director of Sales, leading the Adelaide hotel’s sales strategy ahead of its opening in December 2026. McKenzie brings more than a decade of experience in luxury hospitality sales, including almost ten years with The Langham Melbourne, where he was most recently Director of Sales. His background spans business events, entertainment, luxury leisure, and corporate sales, with extensive experience in building teams and driving commercial performance.
Karyn Harte has been appointed Director of Marketing at Crystalbrook Sam, bringing more than 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality, tourism and lifestyle marketing. Most recently Partnerships & Collaborations Manager at Lancemore Hotels Group, Harte has also run her own consultancy specialising in hospitality brand strategy, public relations, digital marketing and partnerships. Her experience includes overseeing pre-opening marketing for Hotel Marvell in Byron Bay, bringing valuable hotel launch expertise to Crystalbrook’s first South Australian hotel.
Anita Biziak has joined Crystalbrook Aurora as Director of Sales, having most recently served as National Director of Sales at DOMA Hotels, where she oversaw a portfolio spanning Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney and Adelaide. A Canberra local with 20 years of experience across corporate, government, events and consortia markets, Biziak will lead Crystalbrook Aurora’s pre-opening sales strategy, developing key commercial relationships ahead of the hotel’s planned 2027 opening.
Kate Mason has joined Crystalbrook Aurora as Director of Marketing, following her role as Group Marketing Manager in the licensed clubs industry, where she led brand, marketing strategy and implementation across a hospitality portfolio. Previously Head of Marketing at Threesides Marketing, Mason worked with hospitality and tourism clients developing campaigns focused on brand positioning, customer engagement and revenue growth. She will oversee Crystalbrook Aurora’s marketing strategy and pre-opening campaigns, establishing the hotel’s presence in the Canberra market.
Commenting on the appointments, Crystalbrook Collection CEO Geoff York said:
“As Crystalbrook Collection continues to grow, investing in the right people and leadership is fundamental to our success. We’re proud to recognise the contributions of Virginia, Sharon and Emily, whose experience and commitment have helped shape the business we are today.”
“With Crystalbrook Sam preparing to open in Adelaide, and Crystalbrook Aurora to follow in Canberra, we’re also bringing exceptional industry talent into the group. Cameron, Karyn, Anita and Kate bring the valuable experience, market knowledge and relationships that will help establish these hotels and strengthen Crystalbrook’s presence in two important new markets.”
The appointments come as Crystalbrook Collection prepares to open Adelaide’s Crystalbrook Sam in December 2026 and Canberra’s Crystalbrook Aurora in 2027.
