Australia’s Star Entertainment Group Limited has announced the appointment of former Expedia Australia executive Daniel Finch as CEO of its Brisbane operations.
Pending receipt of regulatory approvals, Finch is expected to start in mid-February as the company prepares to open its AU$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project later this year.
“I’m delighted to welcome Daniel to the team as part of our organizational restructure.,” said Group CEO and Managing Director Robbie Cooke.
“We will have a CEO in each of our venues in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Daniel’s appointment is the second, following Jess Mellor’s promotion to CEO Gold Coast. We are also well advanced in our search for our Sydney CEO.
“Daniel brings exceptional leadership capability to The Star, having developed high performance teams while overseeing Expedia brands and businesses in Australia and New Zealand. He has a reputation and an exceptional background for building team culture through periods of significant organizational change.
“His experience in launching new hotels is also a considerable asset as we prepare to open The Star Brisbane and the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct – a transformative development almost 10 years in the making.”
Finch joins Star after nine years as Managing Director at Expedia Australia, while his career in the travel and hospitality industry, including a well-credentialled history with major hotel groups, spans more than 20 years and includes key executive positions with responsibilities across Australian, New Zealand, the UK and Asian markets.
“I am elated to be joining The Star Entertainment Group in what I believe is the most important and exciting time in the history of the business,” Finch said. “The opening of The Star Brisbane in 2024 will be significant not just for this business but for Queensland.
“We are excited to be taking on the responsibility of driving domestic and international tourism by delivering a world-class venue and experiences that locals will be proud to experience all year round.
“Together with the team, it will be my ambition to drive a high-performance culture, ensuring 5-star services and experiences for the millions who will visit us each year.”
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane had been slated to open in late 2023 before Star announced last year a four-month delay until April 2024.
