Australia Hospitality Gains New Leadership as Craig Kelmar Takes Charge of Sydney Olympic Park Precinct

Australia Hospitality is entering a new leadership phase as Craig Kelmar Takes charge of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, with an experienced hotelier appointed to oversee Pullman, Novotel and ibis operations from 3 August 2026. The move matters because the appointment brings more than two decades of hospitality experience to a major hotel portfolio.

Craig Kelmar Takes this role after a long Accor career, returning to a location where his professional journey began. The appointment highlights continued focus on operational excellence, team development and guest experience across Australia’s Hospitality sector while strengthening the Sydney Olympic Park precinct with established expertise.

Experienced Hotelier Returns to Sydney Olympic Park Leadership Role

A new chapter has been opened for the Sydney Olympic Park hotel precinct following the appointment of Craig Kelmar as precinct general manager for Pullman, Novotel and ibis Sydney Olympic Park.

The appointment represents a return to a familiar location for Kelmar, who previously worked at the precinct in 2008 as assistant food and beverage manager at Novotel and ibis Sydney Olympic Park. His return has been supported by more than 22 years of experience across the hospitality industry.

Throughout his career with Accor, extensive operational knowledge has been developed across multiple areas of hotel management. His professional journey has included roles ranging from porter at Novotel Vines Resort to cluster general manager for Accor’s IRIS properties in Victoria.

The depth of experience gained across different hotel environments has positioned Kelmar to lead the Sydney Olympic Park portfolio, where responsibility has been placed on maintaining high standards across guest services, operations and team performance.

Craig Kelmar Takes Charge with Extensive Accor Experience

Craig Kelmar Takes charge of the precinct after most recently serving as general manager of Novotel and ibis Melbourne Central. During this period, both properties were guided through strong operational activity and community-focused initiatives.

His latest appointment reflects the continued importance of experienced leadership within Australia Hospitality, particularly as hotel groups focus on delivering consistent service standards and memorable guest experiences.

At Sydney Olympic Park, Kelmar will oversee the operations of three internationally recognised hotel brands: Pullman, Novotel and ibis. The role will involve managing the wider precinct approach while supporting teams and ensuring that operational objectives are achieved.

The appointment has also highlighted the value of career development within Accor, with Kelmar’s progression demonstrating a long-term pathway through various hospitality management positions.

Focus on Guest Experience and Operational Excellence

The Sydney Olympic Park precinct will now be led with a focus on operational excellence, team development and stakeholder returns. These priorities have been identified as central elements of Kelmar’s new responsibilities.

The role requires attention across multiple areas, including guest satisfaction, service delivery and the ongoing performance of the hotel portfolio. Through his background in different management positions, Kelmar brings experience that covers food and beverage operations, general hotel management and multi-property leadership.

The appointment is expected to support the continued delivery of experiences across Pullman, Novotel and ibis Sydney Olympic Park. The three properties form an important part of the precinct’s accommodation offering, with operations managed under one leadership structure.

For Australia Hospitality, the appointment demonstrates the importance of experienced professionals who understand both operational requirements and guest expectations. The leadership transition has been shaped by established industry knowledge rather than a new market entry.

Strengthening the Future of Sydney Olympic Park Hotels

Craig Kelmar Takes responsibility for a precinct where his previous connection provides a strong foundation for the next stage of leadership. Having started his Accor journey at Sydney Olympic Park, his return creates a connection between past experience and future responsibilities.

The appointment has been positioned around building on the strengths already established across the Pullman, Novotel and ibis properties. Team development will remain a key area of focus, with efforts directed towards supporting employees and maintaining service standards.

Kelmar’s leadership approach will be supported by experience gained from managing different hotel environments throughout his Accor career. His background across resort, city and multi-property operations provides broad exposure to the requirements of modern hotel management.

As Australia Hospitality continues to evolve, experienced leadership remains important in ensuring that hotel operations continue to meet guest expectations. The Sydney Olympic Park precinct will now move forward under Kelmar’s management, with attention centred on performance, service quality and stakeholder value.

Conclusion

The appointment of Craig Kelmar Takes a significant place in the ongoing development of Sydney Olympic Park hospitality operations. With more than 22 years of experience, Kelmar’s leadership background across Accor properties has been highlighted as a key strength for the precinct. The role will focus on operational excellence, team development and guest experiences across Pullman, Novotel and ibis.

Australia Hospitality will continue to see experienced professionals shaping hotel operations through strategic leadership. The appointment reflects a continued commitment to delivering memorable stays for visitors while supporting stakeholder returns through the established strengths of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and wider portfolio.