Our Hotel EXPERTISE
Our executive team comprises career hotel experts from an operational, development and investment perspective with a wealth of hotel expertise and insight.
John Zeckendorf
John is a Chartered Accountant and serves as an Executive Chair at Mandala Hotels & Resorts. He plays a pivotal role in guiding investment decisions, acquisitions, and long-term asset performance. With a focus on disciplined financial management, robust governance, and proactive risk oversight, John is committed to delivering strong, sustainable returns for investors while building enduring partnerships and embedding responsible business practices across the organisation.
Ryan Shaw
Ryan is a Chartered Accountant and Executive Chair at Mandala Hotels & Resorts, playing a pivotal role in shaping the group’s strategic direction and delivering sustained returns. He drives profitability and enhances shareholder value through decisive operational leadership, optimising capital expenditure, streamlining procurement, and advancing long-term business strategy. Known for combining sharp commercial insight with a hands-on management style, Ryan ensures Mandala’s operations are efficient, innovative, and consistently performance driven.
Elena Martiniuc
Elena is the Director of Business Development with Mandala Management. She is a seasoned hospitality and travel professional having held travel and hospitality roles over three continents. In her current role, she blends senior-level hotel management experience with hotel development and design outcomes. Out of work, Elena enjoys some adventure with off-road driving.
Gemma McCourt
Gemma is a results-driven leader with 20+ years’ experience delivering sustained revenue growth, optimising profitability, and driving strategic market positioning. She oversees sales, marketing, revenue, brand and project management, transforming underperforming assets into high-performing operations through data-led strategies and stakeholder alignment. As President of SKAL International Brisbane, Gemma leverages influential networks to open new market opportunities and accelerate growth. Known for challenging the status quo, she combines strategic foresight with hands-on execution to achieve measurable commercial outcomes and operational excellence.
Murray Emerton
Murray is a seasoned hotelier with extensive experience driving operational performance across Mandala Hotels & Resorts. He oversees all aspects of property operations, including HR, risk management, guest reputation, wage and cost control, and service excellence, ensuring that each property delivers exceptional experiences while achieving strategic business objectives. Murray is a hands-on leader who fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, developing high-performing teams and optimising operational workflows. His focus on seamless execution and operational innovation ensures both guest satisfaction and sustainable commercial outcomes across the portfolio.
