Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, has announced the appointment of Mark Wernich as Director of Business Development for Africa.
Based in Cape Town, Wernich is tasked with the strategic expansion of the brand’s sub-Saharan African portfolio, specifically leading development efforts across the region with a focus on the continent’s biggest inbound travel markets and ensuring the engagement and retention of 26 existing member hotels in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Tanzania, Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Seychelles, such as Gondwana Game Reserve, Essque Zalu Zanzibar, and Banyan Tree Seychelles.
“Still largely untapped, African tourism is important to our brand’s continued growth trajectory, and, while expectations for the big development boom have not fully come to fruition, the continent is experiencing steady growth with many new business and leisure-focused hotel launches,” states Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President of South Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Australasia, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. “We are pleased to welcome Mark Wernich to the team, and I am confident that his influence will help us to create new partnerships with well-matched new build and established independent properties seeking to increase their market share.”
“It’s a truly exciting time to join Preferred Hotels & Resorts,” says Wernich. “Now, more than ever, African hotel owners and operators are realising the benefits of global marketing and sales-led partnerships to increase their revenue streams and broaden their international reach. My goal over the next 18 months will be to grow the brand’s presence in outward looking economies, notably, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, and Angola. ”
Prior to joining Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Wernich enjoyed an illustrious career in hotel management with some of the African hospitality industry’s biggest players including Faircity Hotels, Protea Hotel Group, and The Rezidor Hotel Group. His 15 years of industry experience encompasses luxury resort and city hotel management across South Africa, new property launches, marketing, distribution and F&B. Born in Cape Town, Wernich holds a diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management from the Cape Town Hotel School.
About Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest independent hotel brand, representing more than 650 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 85 countries. Through its five global collections, Preferred Hotels & Resorts connects travellers to the singular luxury hospitality experience that meets their life and style preferences for each occasion. Every property within the portfolio maintains the high-quality standards and unparalleled service levels required by the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Integrated Quality Assurance Programme. The iPrefer™ hotel rewards programme, Preferred Residences℠, Preferred Family℠, Preferred Pride℠, and Preferred Golf™ offer valuable benefits for travellers seeking a unique experience.
For more information, visit PreferredHotels.com.
