Pro-invest Group has announced a suite of new management appointments for their growing portfolio of luxury, lifestyle and midscale hotels in Sydney and Melbourne. 

Experienced hotelier, Bruce Ryde has been promoted to Cluster General Manager – Pro-invest Hotels. In this expanded role, he will oversee operations for the soon to open Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point and the recently unveiled Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders, in addition to his position as General Manager of Kimpton Margot Sydney.

Bruce has been instrumental in the success of Australia’s first Kimpton hotel since he joined Pro-invest Group to open Kimpton Margot Sydney in 2021. His wealth of expertise operating luxury hotels and leading brand strategy across Asia Pacific for global hospitality giants IHG and Marriott his leadership and experience – including launching Hotel Indigo properties in Asia - will be drawn on as Pro-invest Group establishes the boutique lifestyle hotel brand in Australia.

Within their Holiday Inn Express portfolio, Pro-invest Group has also promoted talented leaders:

Shihalini Rajaratnam has been appointed Cluster Hotel Manager – Holiday Inn Express Melbourne and in her new role, is responsible for two Melbourne properties owned and operated by the company – Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Little Collins and Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Southbank.  With a strong hotel operations background, Shihalini is an advocate for developing next generation hoteliers and female leaders in the hospitality industry.

It paves the way for Klarisa Dzambo to be promoted to Hotel Manger – Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Southbank. Identified as a rising star, Klarisa first started at the property in the pre-opening team as a Food & Beverage Supervisor before progressing to Food & Beverage Duty Manager, Front Desk roles, Duty Manager and Assistant Hotel Manager.

Pro-invest Group’s Chief Operating Officer for Hotels, Shantha de Silva said of the new appointments: “It’s particularly rewarding to nurture talent and promote from within – and with Shihalini and Klarisa’s well-deserved moves we are expanding our leadership cadre and paving the way for those working with them too. Bruce is an industry veteran and these broader responsibilities put our two newest hotels in the very best hands. His luxury and lifestyle expertise is an incredible asset to the company and he will ensure our luxury and lifestyle portfolio delivers on both guest needs and investor returns.”

Pro-invest Group operates 32 hotels across Australia and New Zealand. Opening its doors in August, Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders is the second Hotel Indigo in the company’s portfolio, joining Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre. The company will open its third - Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point - later this year. As IHG’s largest franchise partner across Australasia, the company has an extensive estate of Holiday Inn Express hotels, as well as recent openings under the Kimpton and voco brands.