AICR Australia

Recently, Melbourne hoteliers came together for a memorable evening at The StandardX Melbourne in Fitzroy ✨

A big thank you to Craig Ryan, General Manager The StandardX, Melbourne and Lucie Lucie Hartmann Next Gen Hotelier for organising such an incredible evening and welcoming us into a space that truly stands out — from the rooftop views to the bold, design-led interiors, it’s a hotel that perfectly captures Melbourne’s creative spirit.

It was a fantastic night of connection, great conversations, and bringing together the next generation of hospitality professionals 🤝

Grateful to everyone who joined us and made the evening so special — already looking forward to the next one.


AICR International Sevag Keroghlian Yvette Chantal Mildenberger Bracamonte Kalil Matos Maddie Edward Peterson Craig Ryan Lindsay Guy Patrick Tanpeng Catherine Stevens

Dear Passionate Hoteliers, You are invited!

We’re delighted to once again be collaborating with our friends at NextGen Hoteliers for our next industry catch-up. 

This time, we’ll be gathering at The StandardX Melbourne in Fitzroy for what promises to be an evening of connection and conversation.
Join us on Thursday, 26 March, from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm as we bring together emerging hospitality professionals for a relaxed networking evening to enjoy the rooftop at

Spaces are limited, RSVP by Monday, the 23rd of March.

See you then!

Melbourne’s hoteliers recently came together for an exclusive site inspection at — and what an incredible showcase of design and innovation ✨
Officially opened in December 2025, this $150 million boutique gem has already injected fresh energy into Southbank’s vibrant arts and entertainment precinct. Developed by Time & Place in partnership with TFE Hotels, the 188-room property has been beautifully designed by Melbourne’s acclaimed Flack Studio.

Part of the prestigious Collection by TFE Hotels portfolio, the hotel occupies a striking triangular landmark site and sets a new benchmark for next-generation luxury.
Highlights? A stunning 20-metre indoor pool, a vibrant rooftop terrace with sweeping city views, thoughtfully designed co-working spaces, and five distinctive dining venues operated by The Mulberry Group — each bringing its own personality and flair.

From tactile materials and curated artwork to warm, residential-style finishes, every detail reflects a refined yet welcoming approach to contemporary luxury.

A big thank you to
Executive Assistant Manager, for the insightful tour and wonderful hospitality, and to Peter Minatsis & Sergio Morales Aguilera for being such generous hosts.

Gatherings like this truly reflect what AICR stands for — camaraderie, inspiration, and a shared passion for exceptional guest experiences.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the next event!

Industry Mixer Invitation –

We’re pleased to share an invitation from W Melbourne for their upcoming Industry Mixer on Wednesday, 19th November 2025.

This casual and fun evening is a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues from Marriott International and other hospitality brands across the Melbourne market.

A warm thank-you to David Do, Learning & Development Manager at W Melbourne, for extending the invitation and bringing our industry community together to celebrate a busy and successful 2025.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 19th November 2025
📍 Venue: W Melbourne at 6pm
📎 Please see the attached details for registration.

A huge congratulations to Maddie Heffernan, crowned AICR Australia Champion 2025! 🇦🇺

Today we proudly presented Maddie with her very own engraved trophy to celebrate this amazing milestone.

Her passion, professionalism, and dedication to creating unforgettable guest experiences have truly set her apart.

Next stop: Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪, where Maddie will represent Australia on the world stage at the AICR World’s Best Receptionist Competition! 🌍

We couldn’t be prouder — go Maddie! 💖

🌸Welcome to The Langham Sydney 🌸

A friendly reminder for our hospitality professionals — don’t miss this exclusive site inspection and networking evening at the elegant Langham Sydney, graciously hosted by Marie-Claire Ranasinghe, Front Office Manager.

📅 Tuesday, 28 October | 5:00 PM
📍 The Langham, Sydney

Discover one of Sydney’s most iconic luxury hotels, connect with fellow hoteliers, and be inspired by timeless hospitality in a truly exceptional setting.

📧 Please RSVP via DM to secure your place.

We look forward to seeing you there!

💫 Melbourne’s Hospitality Community – It’s Almost Time! 💫

Get ready for the All-Concierge & Hoteliers Meeting, proudly hosted by the & on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 4:30 pm at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall.

This special gathering is all about elevating the Melbourne visitor experience — with exciting updates from City of Melbourne and Melbourne Airport, plus the perfect opportunity to connect, collaborate and celebrate our city’s vibrant hospitality scene.

Enjoy great conversations, delicious food and drinks, and the chance to strengthen the connections that make Melbourne shine for every visitor. ✨

📍 Entry via Town Hall Administration Building, 90–120 Swanston Street, Melbourne

📧 RSVP to Andy Byrne [email protected]

See you there 🙌

✨ AICR Australia Championship 2025 – Thank You ✨

This year’s candidates were pushed to think on their feet, balancing guest satisfaction with professionalism and creativity. From managing the privacy concerns of General Marcus Hall, to handling an interview mix-up with a nervous job seeker Emily Tran who arrived on the wrong day, to welcoming VIPs like documentary filmmaker Arjun Mehta – our future leaders proved they could handle anything a reception desk throws at them.

A huge thank you to our judges and actors, who brought these scenarios to life with such dedication and passion:

Judges
• Edward Peterson – Chief Judge, 2024 Champion, 1st Runner-Up at the Athens WBR & AICR International Future Leader Award winner, Duty Manager at Hotel Realm & Burbury Hotels and Apartments

• Catherine Stevens – AICR Australia Secretary and Where To Guide Australia

• William Kay – Director of Sales, Hyatt House South Melbourne

• Shehbaz Gulamkader – 2022 AICR New Zealand Champion & Human Resources Officer, The Langham Melbourne

• Lucie Hartmann – NextGen Hoteliers Founder, RiiSE Committee Member Accor Pacific and Operations Manager, Novotel Melbourne Central & Ibis Melbourne Central

Actors
• Kerrie Fox – Stakeholder Engagement Consultant, The Hotel School Melbourne

• Gilberto Gatdula – Concierge, QT Melbourne

• Kalil Matos – AICR Australia Champion 2023 and the Worlds Best Receptionist 2024 “The Spirit of Amicale” Award winner. Assistant Manager / Training & Development Manager, Front Office Pullman Melbourne City Centre

• Tracey Maung – Duty Manager, Mercure Melbourne Southbank

And of course, a special thank you to our AICR Australia President Sevag Keroghlian, whose tireless effort and countless hours behind the scenes made this event possible.

👏 To all of you – thank you for inspiring, mentoring, and challenging our candidates to rise to the occasion.

Finally, a big thank you to Crown Hotels for their outstanding hospitality in hosting the 2025 Championship.

✨ AICR Australia Championship 2025 ✨

What an unforgettable weekend celebrating hospitality excellence! 🎉 We crowned our 2025 champions and marked AICR Australia’s 10th Anniversary – a decade of recognising and developing the very best in front office talent.

🏆 Champion: Maddie Heffernan – W Melbourne Hotel

🥇 1st Runner-Up: Praveen Venkatesh – Crowne Plaza Adelaide Mawson Lakes

🥈 2nd Runner-Up: Christopher Castillo – Grand Hyatt Melbourne

🥉 3rd Runner-Up: Samita Maharjan – Crowne Plaza Adelaide

🌟 Future Leader Award: Celia Vasseur – Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Our finalists showed exceptional skill, dedication and passion – proving the future of our industry is in excellent hands.

👏 Huge thanks to our candidates, their managers & hotels, our jury panel, role-play actors, and everyone who made this championship and our 10th anniversary such an inspiring success.

A special thank you to Crown Towers Melbourne for hosting this unforgettable event. ❤️

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Introducing Juninamay Valeriano from Pullman Melbourne City Centre, one of our candidates for the 2025 Championship!

We asked Junina: “If money were no object, where in the world would you travel — and which luxury hotel or resort would you choose to stay in, and why?”

Her answer: “If money were no object, I would choose to return to The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaʻanapali with my Family. This property holds a special place in my life, as it was the first hotel, I worked at during my on-the-job training in 2017. Spending three months there was not only an important step in my professional journey, but also an unforgettable personal experience.

I would love the chance to go back, this time as a guest, to appreciate the resort’s beauty from a different perspective. Relaxing by the ocean, enjoying the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and revisiting the place where so many wonderful memories were made would be truly meaningful.

More than anything, returning there would not just be a vacation, I would want to share this experience with my family—to show them the magic of Maui and the charm of the resort that shaped an important chapter in my life”.

Stay tuned for more introductions coming soon!

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