Our Alumni

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  David Utschink

  Customer Experience Manager at Wing, Australia.

  “ICHM provided me with a range of opportunities throughout my studies, which improved both my communication and business management skills. I was fortunate to have established many positive interpersonal relationships within my hotel career that lead me to a career change.”

  Now a Customer Experience Manager with Wing, David is responsible for managing the support team, developing and building the company’s global customer support procedures, and enhancing the overall end-to-end customer experience.

• 

  Bodelle Francis

  GM of Oval Hotel, Adelaide Oval, SA, Australia

  "ICHM was the perfect way to open doors into the industry and allow me to continue to grow my career. I enrolled at ICHM to broaden my skill-set and have the potential to work nationally and internationally."

  Bodelle’s first industry placement was at Hyatt Regency, and her second was at Sofitel, which she describes as, ‘her foot in the door’. She went on to hold various management positions at The Sebel, and with the Francis Group of companies.

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  Amy McWaters

  Chief Operating Officer, SOL Group

  "My work ethic, problem solving, perseverance and self-belief all stem from my time at ICHM. ICHM taught me that academic achievement is important, but it needs to be matched with hard work and determination in industry."

  Today SOL Group is Australia’s largest online gift provider with websites The Hamper Emporium and Gifts Australia. SOL Group proudly lays claim to more than one and a half million users accessing their websites annually across more than two million sessions, with growth over the past two years at an impressive 72 per cent. With an annual turnover of $17.5 million.

• 

  Benjamin Krieg

  Area General Manager, Accor Hotels Novotel, Thailand

  "ICHM gave me the foundation of knowledge and skills that got me to where I am today, managing eight hotels. ICHM was totally worth it as my career progression has been a lot faster in comparison. As a student at ICHM I quickly aspired to the role of General Manager and aligned my career path to achieve this ambition."

  Benjamin is General Manager at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 and he has area responsibility for seven other properties. The 244 - room Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 is the largest conferencing Novotel in Bangkok, with nine conference rooms, a Junior Ballroom and Grand Ballroom.

• 

  Hazel Toutounji

  Business Owner, Organic Tea Brand Saha Botanica Adelaide

  “ICHM taught me key business skills, such as accounting, marketing, communications and IT. But more importantly, ICHM taught me how to network and the importance of making the customer feel looked after and introduced me to my love of boutique hotel brands and accommodation groups with a focus on wellness. It was during a presentation by the Jumeirah group that my interest was sparked in the health and wellbeing industry’.

  Hazel Toutounji is another graduate who has succeeded in a completely different field, as a clinical nutritionist and owner of an organic tea brand Sacha Botanica known for hand-blended health-focused herbal tisanes and sourcing high-quality traditional teas from around the world. 

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  Sachi Fletcher

  Restaurant Manager, Hentley Farm in Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley

  “I chose hospitality as a career because I love connecting with people. I was always a front desk advocate, but wanted to learn something new so put my hand up for an opportunity to run a hotel/restaurant with my partner Charles Adams (also an ICHM graduate). What better way to get back into the industry than to run a hotel together in my home country!”

  Sachi Fletcher is the Restaurant Manager at Hentley Farm. In 2019 the restaurant picked up the Readers Choice - Regional Award in the Australian Good Food & Travel Guide. Hentley Farm Restaurant also won the Best Restaurant in South Australian - Restaurant & Catering’s Awards for Excellence.

• 

  Justin McConnel

  General Manager Next Hotels & Resorts, Adelaide

  “I’ve worked in arguably some of the best hotels in Australia and see my job as achieving the best outcomes for the owners’. I clearly remember the value ICHM placed on thinking outside the box, which has proven invaluable to advancing my career.’

  Justin MConnell joined ICHM as a mature-age student in 1994, having previously been a Chef. He says the college provided him with the shot in the arm he needed to broaden his thinking. His placements while studying at ICHM were at The Beaufort Heritage in Brisbane, Brown’s Hotel in London, and Grand Hyatt in Melbourne. Justin is now General Manager at Next Hotels & Resorts in Adelaide, specifically for the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Sage properties on South Terrace.

• 

  Charmaine Turne

  Director of Employee Experience, Rocky Mountaineer, Vancouver, Canada

  'ICHM ignites a passion for the hotel industry that never leaves you and ICHM truly does set you up for success. This passion, the world-class education, and the strong network of fellow ICHM graduates, has taken me on an exciting international journey where I started providing front line service to our guests and where I am now at the executive table as a key decision maker...'