W Brisbane announces three staff appointments across the hotel’s managerial, food and beverage and its spa teams. Continuing to evolve its offerings, W Brisbane will expand its partnerships and activations across the hotel in order to elevate the guest experience. The incoming talent will play a pivotal role in spearheading innovative initiatives for both their staff and guests alike.

“We’re thrilled to welcome a new wave of internationally experienced senior talent to the hotel. I look forward to witnessing them lead and cultivate a motivated and passionate team and continue to expand on our exceptional guest experiences" said Haldon Philp, General Manager at W Brisbane.

W Brisbane is dedicated to delivering elevated and impactful experiences to every hotel guest. Continuously at the forefront of emerging trends, the hotel’s fresh talents will enhance the services provided in their respective areas, solidifying its status as a leader in the hospitality industry across Queensland and Australia.

New appointments include:

Michael Clarke, Hotel Manager

John Kennedy, Executive Chef

Yumi Kwan, Spa Manager

Michael Clarke - Hotel Manager

Well established in the hospitality industry, Michael brings over 15 years experience to his new role as Hotel Manager of W Brisbane. Following his previous tenure as Hotel Manager at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas, in which he led them to win Hotel of the Year in 2021 for Marriott’s premium brands.

Michael will bring a fresh perspective to W Brisbane, with a strong focus on the guest experience while also being an influential support for his team, encouraging growth and a positive culture throughout.

Michael was also the recipient of “The Spirit To Serve” award at the Marriott International Excellence awards in which he received this for outstanding achievements and exemplary commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction.

John Kennedy - Executive Chef

John has been appointed as Executive Chef at W Brisbane, following his previous role as the Executive Chef at renowned 5-star resort qualia. John brings a multitude of national and international experience, having qualified as a chef in Dublin and trained throughout Las Vegas and in London with renowned chefs Marco Pierre White and Raymond Blanc.

In addition to his restaurant culinary experience, John has managed and executed a number of large-scale, high profile events such as Hamilton Island Race Week, the Paspaley White Luncheon and the Pas de Deux in Paradise gala dinner for The Australian Ballet. John brings this experience to the W Brisbane to curate fresh opportunities for future events.

John’s culinary motivation is centred around local produce. Passionate about the quality and diversity of Australian ingredients, striving to utilise local producers and suppliers where possible. His philosophy is to create dishes that reflect the seasons and let the ingredients be the hero. His menus are modern, fresh and light, made with a culmination of both classic and modern techniques, bringing a promising new trajectory to the hotel’s F&B space.

Yumi Kwan - Spa Manager

Having worked in the Spa and Beauty industry for over 21 years, with the last 15 years spent in Spa management, Yumi brings extensive global expertise to W Brisbane in her new role as Spa Manager. Her most recent role was Director of Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong in which Yumi led the spa to receive the highest score of Forbes Spa and Hong Kong’s Best Spa at both the World Spa Awards and SpaChina Awards in 2019.

Yumi's passion lies in elevating the offerings at AWAY Spa, with an emphasis on enriching customer satisfaction through the creation of innovative treatments, crafting holistic spa experiences at W Brisbane, and forging partnerships with retail brands. She actively explores the latest wellness trends to ensure guests receive unparalleled experiences, continuously enhancing her team's capabilities to drive the spa's success at W Brisbane.