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Senior appointments equip Quest for the future

Dennis Tuan-Mu, General Counsel

The largest serviced apartment operator in Australasia and subsidiary of The Ascott Limited has welcomed two new members to its senior leadership appointments this month.

Change is afoot at Quest Apartment Hotels, with the company announcing a senior restructure that will galvanize the business ahead of ongoing innovation, aggressive global expansion, and a heightened commitment to franchisee success.

The largest serviced apartment operator in Australasia and subsidiary of The Ascott Limited has welcomed two new members to its senior leadership appointments this month, with Mr Dennis Tuan-Mu stepping into the role of General Counsel and Mr Kamal Atal moving in as Chief Financial and Commercial Officer.

Ascott Australia’s managing director, David Mansfield, says the new leaders bring a global perspective that will enable the company to assert itself both nationally and on the global stage.

“It’s fair to say that Quest Apartment Hotels is tracking a path of transformation; we are evolving, growing, and advancing at a rapid pace. To get us to where we need to be, in what remains a complex landscape, we must have the best operators at the helm. There is not a doubt in my mind we have found that in Dennis and Kamal”. 

Dennis brings over 20 years of legal expertise having advised some of the most renowned public and private companies in the world, coming to Quest following an eleven-year tenure with Delaware North – a global leader in hospitality and food service management. During this time, Dennis held the role of Head of Legal & Compliance APAC and was recently awarded the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Lawyer of the Year.

As General Counsel, Dennis will lead the legal function of the Quest business, providing strategic direction to support the growth and financial health of the company in line with commercial imperatives.

“Dennis is a highly experienced legal professional with tremendous intellect, capable of managing the intricacies of our unique business format franchise model and will further streamline and strengthen Quest’s legal function to deliver outcomes which empower us for ongoing, sustainable growth”, said Managing Director of The Ascott Limited Australia, David Mansfield.

Of his appointment, Dennis said: “It is a privilege to be joining the Quest team ahead of what is going to be a period of immense growth and innovation globally, under the wings of The Ascott Limited.

“I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a distinguished legal career with many years focused on the tourism, hospitality, and accommodation sectors. I’m incredibly passionate about this industry and confident I can help Quest navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead”. 

Kamal Atal joins Quest as Chief Financial and Commercial Officer, replacing Jason Vanderzam.

Kamal holds over two decades’ experience in the finance sector, having held senior positions for Hyatt in India, Vietnam and Dubai before joining Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours in 2018 as General Manager of Finance – APAC. 

“Kamal is an astute operator whom I have had the pleasure to work with in previous roles. His discerning nature, commercial insight, and eye for opportunity makes him a great asset, and someone who will be pivotal in helping us meet our aggressive growth targets”, said David Mansfield.

Kamal said: “My career has given me a diverse geographical exposure, whilst exposing me to various projects around acquiring, expanding, and maintaining high-performing hotels and luxury travel businesses. I look forward to applying this knowledge at Quest under the realm of Ascott, as we work towards the common goal of business growth and value creation for franchisees”.

Quest has recently announced it will open seven new hotels in New Zealand between June 2021 and July 2022. In addition, the company has a further nine agreements for lease signed in Australia, with construction due to commence in the next 12 months, totalling 715 rooms. 

David says Quest will reveal plans for new sites throughout the United Kingdom across the 2021 calendar year.

“Serviced apartment style accommodation comprises a significantly lower proportion of the overall accommodation market in the UK, and our maiden project in the UK, Quest Liverpool City Centre, highlights that the product has strong appeal.

“Working closely with the The Ascott Limited, which of course has an established footprint across Europe, Kamal and Dennis will create the legal and financial frameworks to incrementally put the Quest brand on the map”.

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Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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