Appointments

 Park Hyatt
Zanzibar has
appointed
Garry Friend
as its new gm.
Garry has more
than 25 years
of experience
in the luxury hospitality
management and tourism
industries in six countries,
including extensive knowledge
of the Middle East. Garry
joined Hyatt International in
1988 as a food and beverage
team leader and has risen
through the ranks during his
more than 26-year career with
the global brand. Most recently,
Australian-born Garry served
as the gm of the Grand Hyatt
Muscat in Oman, one of the
Sultanate’s leading five-star
hotels.
 Michelle Hinrichsen is
the new sales manager for
Fairmont Zimbali. In her new
position, Michelle will focus
on servicing the PCO market,
especially in Johannesburg,
where she will be based.
“I have been in the industry
for 10 years and believe
my relationships built over
the years with clients in the
industry will help me make a
success of my new position,”
she says. Michelle previously
worked at African Sun Hotels
and is the VP of Travelbags SA.
 Gondwana Private Game
Reserve has announced the
appointments of gm Dean
Pitt, Gerhard van Niekerk as
executive chef and Natalie
Berry as Lodge Manager.
Dean has been in the
hospitality industry since 1986,
working in diverse positions
from assistant restaurant
manager and F&B manager to
hotel operations and general
manager. Gerhard completed
a four-year apprenticeship
through Kopanong Hotel and
HTA. “I like infusing classical
dishes with South African
influences. I love combining
different flavours and using
as much local produce as
possible, to create something
amazing,” he says.
Before moving to the Western
Cape and taking up her
position at Gondwana, Natalie
and her family were living in
Mozambique. “What a journey
the last six months have
been,” she says. “I have really
had to pull on my 17 years
of experience in this industry
to make this a successful
transition.”