Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group with nearly 60 hotels in operation or under development across Australasia, is delighted to announce its fifth franchised hotel in Australia, Oaks Redcliffe Mon Komo Suites, as well as the appointment of Russell Cool as its new Director of Franchising to spearhead its expansion plans in the region.

These developments come at a pivotal time for Minor Hotels Australasia, which has leveraged its strong market presence to create a world-class platform to take advantage of the anticipated boom in franchising in Australasia and seamlessly collaborate with owners and third-party operators. The company aims to reach 850 properties globally by the end of 2027.

Located on Brisbane’s north side, the addition of Oaks Redcliffe Mon Komo Suites further strengthens Minor Hotels’ Australasian franchise portfolio, which has already achieved significant success with recently franchised properties including Oaks Toowoomba Hotel, Oaks Townsville Metropole Hotel, Oaks Melbourne on William Suites, as well as the soon-to-open Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel on the Sunshine Coast.

Craig Hooley, Minor Hotels Australasia’s Chief Operating Officer, commented, "Franchising is a key priority for us, and we are delighted to welcome Russell to this newly appointed position to drive our dynamic plans in this space. Savvy hotel owners are increasingly discovering the myriad benefits of partnering with an established brand like Minor Hotels – global reach, comprehensive training, dedicated local support – whilst retaining control of their assets. Russell will be responsible for expanding our franchise network across the Australasia region, and his expertise will prove invaluable as he supports our growing portfolio of Minor Hotels franchisees.”.

Russell is well-acquainted with Minor Hotels, having previously led operations for the company’s portfolio in Victoria and South Australia. Throughout his career, Russell has held senior positions with Onyx Hospitality and Langham Hotels, in addition to Minor Hotels. Most recently, he was the Head of Operations for a third-party hotel management company, where he oversaw multiple franchised hotels across various brands in both Australia and South Asia.

Russell Cool added, “I am thrilled to return to the Minor Hotels family at such a crucial time, and I look forward to helping grow the brand’s franchising footprint in the region. Our partner, Lewis Land Group, Australia’s oldest private property developer, has a strong history of quality and excellence, and we are excited to collaborate on this project.”

Lewis Land Group’s Queensland Regional Manager, Chris Alison, added: “Minor Hotels truly embodies the principle of ‘thing global, act local’. With their strong brand presence and dedicated local team, we are excited to see continued success together’.

All Minor Hotels’ franchise operators receive extensive training and on-the-ground assistance in areas such as operations, marketing and head office support to drive strong occupancy rates and boost profitability.

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