Matt Taplin joined Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific in late-2012 as Senior Vice President of Resort Operations and Property Development, bringing with him more than 25 years of hotel industry experience. In his role with Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, Matt is located at Wyndham Corporate Centre on the Gold Coast in Australia, and is responsible for a team of approximately 540 employees who work in resort operations and property development across South East Asia and the South Pacific.

He joined the company after relocating from New Zealand and has extensive experience in a variety of roles across different locations, with a proven record of building and leading large and diverse hotel teams. In his previous role as Vice President of Operations at Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand Ltd, he was responsible for the overall operation and performance of 30 owned, managed or franchised hotels with more than 1,200 employees. Matt is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

How did you get into the hotels industry?

Not long after I finished school I secured a Trainee Management role with a Licensing Trust that operated multiple hospitality business.  It was a five-year course that was almost entirely practical-based so I was able to learn many different facets of the hotel business.  Fortunately, I loved every moment of my experience and am very grateful for the opportunity I was given. 

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

I think you never forget securing your first General Manager’s role – that’s always something special and I won’t forget that in a hurry.  Since then I’ve had some great experiences such as managing a hotel in Queenstown – this was another highlight as I saw how the Tourism Industry can align and achieve great things for not only their businesses but for the guests too. Leading the rebrand of a chain of hotels was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed – very stressful but highly rewarding.  

The 2011 Rugby World Cup was a highlight (and not just for the result on field) but more so to see how a country can be pulled together to achieve something very difficult and do it with passion – the hotel industry really pulled together to co-operate in a way I hadn’t experienced before. 

Further developing Wyndham’s mixed-use model across many more destinations has been a highlight – it’s so great to be able to bring a new model into the hotel business and see it provide win-win solutions.  Of course, the greatest highlight remains seeing the people you work with carry on and become positive leaders in the industry.

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

Challenges come and go and they can be situational to various markets however a universal challenge for the hotel industry remains attracting and retaining high-talent individuals into the industry.  Those of us involved are very aware what a hugely dynamic industry we have and that the opportunities are plentiful.  Unfortunately there are a lot of competing industries and we have to get better at fighting to secure those talented people.

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

Change is constant and there is no doubt that the hotel industry is ever-involving.  However, by far the biggest change in my time is how the distribution of rooms has changed (and we know it will continue to change).  When I managed my first hotel there was a very clear supply chain for receiving your business – and each of those markets comprised of very defined players in each market.

Fast forward and we see that this model has evolved into a different dynamic and the hoteliers have needed to learn different skills and apply new thought patterns to stay competitive in the game.  Thankfully, the art of hospitality has remained a key cornerstone that remains and those that have this at the heart of everything they do will always be amongst the most successful hotels.

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

It may be a tall ask but I’d love to see that the hotel industry can mount an effective campaign to publicise the opportunities that a career in hospitality offers and that it should not just be seen as a temporary job until you get a ‘real’ job.  

We have so many very skilled leaders in the industry who have very successful careers; I’d love to see their stories told as inspiration to young people.  Unfortunately, I’m not sure that the secondary school system has an accurate perception of how hospitality is a valid career choice. We should be working hard to change that.

What is your favourite hotel and holiday destination?

I struggle to name a favourite hotel as there are so many excellent options for different reasons to stay. One of the most enjoyable hotel stays I have experienced was with the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong; it was exceptional in many ways.  As for favourite holiday destination; it’s very hard to go past either Queenstown or Fiji – both are exceptionally welcoming to visitors and make you feel right at home.

See also:

Get to know David Wray, VP Acquisitions and Development at Wyndham Hotel Group

Ramada presence in Vanuatu welcomed at official opening of Port Vila Resort

Third Ramada Suites announced for Auckland next year