Marriott International has announced the appointment of four General Managers across their Sydney and Melbourne portfolio, including three first-time General Managers. Effective from September, Bennath Evea joins Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde and Sudhir Yadav joins AC by Marriott Melbourne Southbank as first time General Managers, while Scott MacDonald makes the move from Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde to Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Central Park, and Michelle Scott joins Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel from October as a first time General Manager.

Sean Hunt, Area Vice President, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International, commented: “I congratulate our talented associates Bennath Evea, Sudhir Yadav, Scott MacDonald and Michelle Scott on their new appointments and look forward to seeing them grow and thrive in their new roles within the organisation. All four associates have been part of Marriott’s internal training and development program that allows us to develop the skills of our high-performing team members as they move through to senior management positions.”

Bennath and Michelle’s appointments add to the growing number of female Marriott General Managers across the region. Diversity and inclusion programs, as well as representation of women in senior management roles are all key focus areas at Marriott International. Currently, 42% of Marriott’s hotel on-property leaders in ANZP are female. Globally, Marriott International aims to achieve gender parity for all executive positions worldwide by 2023 – two years earlier than when it first established this goal.

Marriott International also operates under a ‘people-first’ culture, investing heavily in people and culture to ensure they are ready to lead and thrive. This includes the launch of an Australia-wide program: ‘Life With the Works’ in February 2022, bringing 2,500 Associates flexible access to personal and professional development opportunities, and offering unmatched training hours and opportunities for career progression. Similarly, the Marriott Development Academy is an integrated program that adopts a blended learning technique that allows participants to take charge of their career development through a self-paced learning approach.

About the associates:

Bennath Evea, General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde

Bennath began her career with Marriott International in 2008, at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel as Assistant Banquet Manager. Bennath proceeded to hold a variety of senior Event Management roles within the Marriott portfolio since, across locations in London, Doha, Hanoi and Bangkok, and more recently as Director of F&B at The Stones Hotel, Legian Bali, Autograph Collection. During this time Bennath worked on the opening of two halo hotels in the Asia Pacific region, JW Marriott Hanoi and Bangkok Marriott Marquis.

Bennath will take on the role of General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde from late September, joining from her most recent role as Director of Operations at Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection where she managed the property through historic pier restorations. In her new role Bennath looks forward to continuing to contribute to the development and career progression of associates she works with.

Sudhir Yadav, General Manger at AC by Marriott Melbourne Southbank

Sudhir has made the move from Fiji to Melbourne to join the team at AC by Marriott Melbourne Southbank as General Manager. Most recently Sudhir was Complex Hotel Manager for Sheraton Denarau Villas, Fiji and Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort where he played an instrumental role in the resort’s re-opening in March 2022 after a $55 million renovation.

His journey with Marriott began in 2007 as a Front Office Guest Service Agent at Sydney Harbour Marriott. In 2011, he was promoted to Front Office Manager at Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde Sydney and then to Director of Rooms at JW Marriott Gold Coast in 2014 before moving to Fiji. During his time in Fiji Sudhir launched the Marriott Training Academy to help grow local talent, as well as bringing to life a partnership with Mananuca Environment Society to spread the joy of good travel via Good Travel by Marriott Bonvoy initiatives.

Sudhir has been the recipient of two Manager of the Year awards through Marriott International in 2013 and 2017, and has recently completed the Marriott Development Academy GM Certificate.

Scott MacDonald, General Manager at Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park

Scott began his Marriott International career in 1999, at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast as Banquet Manager. He has since worked in a number of roles with Marriott including Food and Beverage Manager of Sheraton Grand Sydney, Hyde Park; Complex Director of Food & Beverage at Sheraton Fiji Resort and Golf Club, Sheraton Denarau Villas and The Westin Resort & Spa Denarau Island; and Hotel Manager of the Sheraton Resorts in Fiji.

Scott joins Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park from his most recent role as General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott, North Ryde - where he took the hotel to new heights while navigating pandemic challenges and refurbished the food and beverage product offering.

Michelle Scott, General Manager at Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry across both operational and commercial disciplines, Michelle has an extensive background working across hotels in their pre-opening and opening stages. Michelle first joined Marriott International in 2007 and has since been a key driver of commercial strategy and sales team leader across Courtyard by Marriott Surfers Paradise, Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa and Brisbane Marriott Hotel.

In 2017 Michelle opened the highly acclaimed Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay. She then returned to Brisbane in 2018 to successfully open The Westin Brisbane while also overseeing the Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane in a Complex Director of Sales and Marketing Role, during which time the brands integrated from Starwood legacy into Marriott systems. In that same year she was awarded the Asia Pacific Brand, Marketing, Loyalty and PR Special Achievement Leader of the Year Award for Marriott International.

Michelle brings her expertise now to the team at Moxy Sydney Airport hotel as it prepares for opening in 2023, joining from her most recent role as Executive Assistant Manager – Sales & Marketing at The Westin Brisbane and Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane. Having mentored and developed associates across multiple disciplines throughout her career, Michelle brings her passion for people and multi-disciplinary leadership experience to Moxy Sydney Airport to lead the team in driving innovation and guest experiences.