5 Star Conversations

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with Tamer Habib, Chief Operating Officer at Amora Hotels and Resorts, to explore his remarkable 25-year journey from the intensely competitive luxury sector in Egypt to the heights of the Australian hospitality market. Rebuilding his career from the ground up during the 2009 financial crisis, Tamer shares the resilient mindset required to thriv...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with Raymond Faulkner, Vice President of Operations and Development for Swiss-Belhotel International. With over 35 years of global experience, Raymond shares his journey from part-time hotel cashier to international industry leader. He offers an inside look at how high-level financial acumen and operational empathy combined to help him navigate...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Olivier Berrivin, Vice President – Asia-Pacific at BWH Hotels, shares insights from his 35-year journey as a fourth-generation hotelier. Navigating through major industry shifts and global crises, Berrivin emphasizes a leadership philosophy grounded in the "rubber ball" theory: while work is resilient and bounces back, health and family are fragile like gla...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Julian Clark, CEO of Lancemore Group, reflects on an unexpected journey into hospitality leadership. Although he began his career in financial services and strategy roles in Australia and the UK, Julian shares how a love of travel, entrepreneurial roots and a desire to contribute eventually brought him back to the family business. He discusses taking on a l...

Dominic Egger’s episode of 5 Star Conversations is a wide-ranging look at what modern resort leadership really takes — from goal-setting and disciplined operations to guest experience, technology, and sustainability. Speaking from Phuket, Dominic shares his non-traditional path to senior leadership, starting in the kitchens of Switzerland with a clear aim to become an Executive Chef before 30, the...

For this Best Of 2025 edition of 5 Star Conversations, we asked a deceptively simple question: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received throughout your career? What emerged was not a list of neat soundbites, but a collection of lived moments—often unlabelled as “advice” at the time—that only revealed their meaning years later. Across the conversations, the most powerful guidance rarely came fro...

This compilation brings together one of the most consistent and heartfelt themes from 5 Star Conversations in 2025: advice for those entering, or considering, a career in hospitality. Across roles, regions and career stages, the message is clear. Hospitality is not a short-term play, but a deeply rewarding industry for those willing to learn, be patient and commit to the journey. The strongest adv...

Marcus Hanna , Chief Operating Officer at La Vie Hotels & Resorts, shares a 25-year journey from banquet waiter at Sydney’s Regent (now Four Seasons) to leading luxury assets across Australia and Singapore—including the 2,030-room Fairmont Singapore & Swissôtel The Stamford through a $200m transformation and COVID. He credits early discipline from rowing for teamwork and resilience, and hi...

Zoran Pejović, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at Lošinj Hotels & Villas, joins us from Croatia to unpack two decades across luxury development and operations (Aman, Silversea, Celebrity). He shares how a scholarship re-routed him from politics into hospitality, why “elevator-pitch clarity” matters for leaders, and how his near-Buddhist worldview shapes decision-making. From early bar shif...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations , I sat down with Wayne Taranto, the Chief Operating Officer of Ovolo Group. We talk about how Wayne's journey into hospitality started unexpectedly, despite initially considering a career in the building industry. A pivotal moment came when he secured a role at Bobby McGee's, a popular entertainment venue in the late 90s. This experience ignited his...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with international hotelier Mario Mendis, whose 26-year journey in hospitality began humbly as a kitchen hand in Brisbane. Mario shares how his early exposure to the industry through his father, combined with hands-on experiences in Sri Lanka and Dubai, shaped his deep-rooted passion for food and beverage. These formative years helped him build...

In this episode of Five Star Conversations , I sit down with Wayne Williams, CFO of the Minor Hotel Group. Over two decades, Wayne has played a key role in the group’s transformation—from 10 properties in Thailand to more than 560 hotels across 58 countries. We unpack the operational shifts, cultural adaptation, and leadership mindset that helped drive this global expansion, while staying true to...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Jason reflects on a career built on resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to take the harder path. Having spent two decades abroad, he shares how stepping outside his comfort zone led to growth in diverse roles and destinations, culminating in a leadership position he’s proud to return home for, much to his father’s eventual approval (and ongoing criti...

In this special international edition of 5 Star Conversations, filmed on location in Bangkok, we sit down with Rene Balmer, Group General Manager of Chatrium Hospitality. With nearly four decades in hospitality, Rene shares his fascinating journey from pastry chef in Switzerland to senior leadership in Thailand, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of Southeast Asia’s rising hotel brands....

In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Anthony Metcalfe, Hotel Manager at Capella Sydney, shares his journey through the luxury hospitality industry. With roots in a hospitality family, Anthony initially resisted following in his parents’ footsteps, but soon realised it was his calling. Starting his career in Food & Beverage and moving through roles at Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Sofitel Queen...

James Goodwin, CEO of Accommodation Australia, joined Brendon on 5 Star Conversations to discuss his transition into the accommodation sector, having previously worked in aviation, tourism, and public policy. While new to hotels, James highlighted his deep connections to related industries and his appreciation for the people-first nature of hospitality. He was particularly surprised by the evolvin...

In this episode of 5 Star Conversations , Brendon sits down with Dean Minett , a seasoned hospitality professional with over four decades of experience in hotel management, consultancy, and asset management. Dean shares how his career began unexpectedly when his love for cooking led him to the Southern Cross Hotel Melbourne , an industry icon at the time. By the age of 23 , he was already a Genera...

In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Brendon Granger sits down with Matt Tripolone, Managing Director for Australia and the Pacific at IHG, to explore his remarkable journey into hospitality and his vision for the industry. Although not formally educated in hospitality, Matt shared how his early experiences working in event management sparked a deep appreciation for the people and connectio...

In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Brendon Granger interviews Erin Pickering, who shares her incredible journey from a career in Australian media to managing luxury super yachts for the world’s elite. Starting with a leap of faith and a one-way ticket to France, Erin quickly climbed the ranks, learning the intricacies of yacht operations, guest service, and crew management. Her experience...

In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Brendon Granger interviews Rodger Powell, a highly regarded leader in the hospitality and tourism industry with a career spanning over three decades. Rodger shares insights from his journey, beginning with his unexpected entry into hospitality through a family business and early roles that ranged from management cadetships to running diverse establishmen...

In this interview, Brendon Granger speaks with Scott Bear, General Manager of Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah, whose rapid ascent in hospitality began as an event waiter at Park Hyatt, Sydney, in 2015. Scott has distinguished himself through community engagement, contributing to local charities and environmental initiatives, and fostering partnerships with teams like the Manly Sea Eagles. He is als...

In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Jürgen Baumhoff shares insights from his extensive 40-year career in hospitality, where he's held senior roles at globally renowned brands like Intercontinental, Emaar Hospitality, and Qatar Hospitality. He reflects on his early career inspiration, which came from reading Arthur Hailey's book Hotel, and how it sparked his passion for the industry. Jürgen...

In a recent interview on Five Star Conversations, Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director of International Operations for Travel + Leisure Co., shared his extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Robinson discussed his early introduction to the sector through his family's business and how his career evolved from traditional hotel operations to leading a global vacation ownership c...

In this episode of Five Star Conversations, host Brendon Granger interviews Peter Tudehope, the esteemed General Manager of Radisson Blu Plaza, Sydney. Peter, celebrating over 19 years with the hotel, has also served as the Regional Manager for Radisson Hotel Group, Australia Pacific, overseeing four properties. With a background in prominent roles at Radisson and Four Seasons, Peter's extensive e...

In the latest episode of '5 Star Conversations,' Brendon Granger speaks with Gavin Faull, a prominent figure in the hospitality industry. Gavin's extensive background includes 40 years in hotel management, operations, and corporate development with prestigious groups like the Peninsula Group in Hong Kong, Kingsgate International, and Swiss-Belhotel International. As a Chartered Accountant and a fe...