Nick Clarke appointed director of sales and marketing for Langham Hotel Gold Coast at Jewel development

A key new appointment has been made for the Langham Hotel at the Gold Coast’s Jewel development, and it’s a familiar face in the city’s hotel sector. DETAILS >>

• FIRST LOOK INSIDE JEWEL APARTMENTS
• JEWEL MARKETING CAMPAIGN GOES MISSING

A FAMILIAR face is set to take on the promotion of the Langham Gold Coast, with the Jewel-based hotel nabbing a top staffer from the Sheraton Grand Mirage.

Nick Clarke has been appointed director of sales and marketing at the Langham, which is set to open early next year.

Mr Clarke has worked for more than 10 years in high-end hotels on the Gold Coast, with his resume also featuring roles with Accor and Marriott International.

He was at the Sheraton from 2017 and helped guide the Main Beach resort through its Covid-19 recovery.

Langham Gold Coast and Jewel Residences general manager John O’Shea said Mr Clarke’s experience in the sector would be valuable for the new hotel.

“I am confident he will be an asset supporting the hotel in its pre-opening stage and driving The Langham’s sales and marketing success,” he said.

UK-born Mr Clarke has been on the Gold Coast since 2009.

EARLIER, MARCH 19:

THE newly-appointed general manager of the Langham Hotel at Gold Coast’s Jewel development says the property is well placed to be “the best Gold Coast hotel in a generation” and will create more than 350 new jobs for the city.

Hospitality veteran John O’Shea said the Langham would bring its luxury brands along for the ride, including its luxury Chuan day spa and its Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant T’ang Court.

Despite coming to the Coast in times of unprecedented challenge, Mr O’Shea is bullish about the hotel’s prospects.

“We have, in a way, benefited from not being open during Covid,” he said.

‘There are hotels abroad that have completely closed down and remain closed and have had to lay off employees.

“The domestic Australian market has always been very strong on the Gold Coast – luxury travellers from Melbourne, Sydney and other parts of Australia love to come to the Gold Coast.

“I’m very confident that, by the time we open in the first half of next year, there will be a bit more normality and it’s going to be very positive.

“People can only be trapped for so long, and they want to travel.”

T'ang Court restaurant at The Langham Hong Kong.

FIRST LOOK INSIDE JEWEL APARTMENTS

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Although the Jewel development has been plagued by controversy and delays, Mr O’Shea said the quality of the hotel would overshadow any doubts about the property.

“History is history, we’re very happy with the progress of the hotel,” he said.

“We’re working very closely with the new owners who are in complete alignment with us in terms of the quality and where we want to go.

“I don't think it's going to tarnish our brand in any way.

“When we open up, we will employ more than 350 people and very quickly history will be forgotten about.”

Mr O’Shea grew up in Toowoomba and went to the University of Queensland, graduating with an MBA from Bond University.

He spent his school holidays at his family’s Broadbeach holiday apartment.

“It’s just so much of a delight to return back home to be opening what’s going to be the best hotel on the Gold Coast in a generation,” he said.

“It’s a great sense of pride to be able to open this hotel on the Gold Coast.

“I feel very strongly that we want to be part of the community, but also want to bring the resort to a level that is not here at the moment and we feel very confident that we can do that.”

EARLIER:

VETERAN hotel manager John O’Shea has been named the first general manager of the Langham Hotel and The Jewel Residences.

In a statement on Thursday night, Langham Hotels revealed its anticipated pre-Christmas launch had been delayed to next year.

Brisbane-born Mr O’Shea has more than 40 years’ experience in pre-openings, hotel renovations, operations, rebranding and food and beverage within the hospitality industry.

In his diverse career, he was involved in six hotel openings and worked at five resorts in key travel destinations across Asia Pacific.

Mr O’Shea’s most recent role was managing director of Splash Beach Resort & Villas in Phuket, Thailand where he oversaw the resort’s renovation and rebranding, which comprised of 611 rooms, suites, penthouses and villas.

MAJOR PROBLEM WITH GOLD COAST JEWEL

Mr O’Shea first joined Langham Hospitality Group in 2012 as the general manager of The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi. Located in the heart of Shanghai’s entertainment hub, it is the flagship hotel of the group’s luxury brand, The Langham, in mainland China.

Under Mr O’Shea’s leadership, the hotel received numerous awards and accolades including Michelin stars for its Cantonese restaurant, T’ang Court.

Jewel

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He was subsequently promoted to managing director of Cordis Shanghai, Hongqiao where he also held the corporate role of vice-president, Cordis brand experience and operational standards.

Prior to that, O’Shea had held senior leadership roles in hotels and resorts across Australia, China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Fiji.

Langham Hospitality Group CEO Stefan Leser said Mr O’Shea was well placed to take on both the hotel and residences roles at Jewel.

“I am confident that John’s wealth of experience will not only continue to elevate The Langham brand in the region, but he will deliver the promise of impeccable service standards and luxury experiences for which the brand is renowned,” he said.

The hotel and residences are in the central and tallest of the three landmark towers of the Jewel development.

The news follows revelations last week that just 12 contracts had settled in tower one, six years after the sales launch.

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