Dean Humphries is responsible for running the Colliers New Zealand National Hotel Division, the largest team of hotel consultants in the country. Over the last 18 months he has been responsible for the sale of over $340m in hotel assets and was recently awarded the New Zealand Commercial and Industrial Salesperson of the Year by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. 

Dean also provides advice to many institutional and private entities including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Host Hotels and Resorts, CP Group, Colwall Investments, Distinction Hotels Group, Reddy Group, Scenic Hotel Group, AccorHotels, Auckland International Airport, Infratil, Russell Group of Companies and M&L Investments. 

Between 2015 and year to date October 2016, Dean was responsible for fifteen hotel transactions totalling $428 million completed equating to almost 90% of all hotel transactions (in excess of $5 million) recorded throughout New Zealand over this period. 

How did you get into the hotels industry?

I was brought up in a motel in the Bay of Islands then completed a Masters in Property at the University of Auckland, specialising in the valuation of tourism assets. I then joined Jones Lang Wootton as a valuer and started from there.  

What are some of your career highlights from your time in the industry? 

Contributing for 12 years as a part time senior lecturer in property at the University of Auckland, Valuing Vomo Island Fiji for the first time, Selling my first large scale hotel (Hyatt Regency Auckland), setting up a new hotel division at Colliers International New Zealand and being awarded the commercial salesperson of the year in 2015 by the Real Estate of New Zealand.  

What are the biggest issues facing the hotel industry at the moment? 

In New Zealand it is the ability to deliver new inventory to our booming tourism market. The many challenges facing new development means we have very few investors willing to commit  capital to new projects which has culminated in a critical shortage of rooms in some of our key tourist destinations.  

How has the industry changed in the time you have been involved with it? 

Tourism is fast becoming one of the largest sectors/industries in the global economy and is now high on the political agenda of many countries as a major contributor to GDP. Travel is no longer confined to the wealthy and has become a global phenomenon through increased and cost effective airline capacity, marketing through social media and more affordable accommodation options including AirBnB.  

What changes would you like to see over the next two to five years in the industry? 

The evolution of hotel accommodation/experiences where hotels and hotel operators meet the changing needs of travellers and help create unique experiences. The advent of lifestyle/boutique hotels, roof top bars and interactive technology are examples of this.     

What is your favourite hotel and holiday destination?

It is hard to go past Marina Bay Sands and Singapore catering for a warm climate, great food, safe environment and great shopping.  However, a close second is Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, a must for anyone travelling to New Zealand.   

See also:

Get to know Trudy Crooks of Resort Brokers Australia

Get to know John Musca of JLL

Novotel and Ibis Hotel Christchurch Sold for NZ$43 mil