Hospitality & Travel Skilled Migrant Talent

Browse profiles of motivated new migrants ready to contribute across sectors. Each candidate brings unique experience, resilience, and a fresh perspective. Search for industry, and skill set and take the first step toward inclusive hiring.

 

Candidate Name:  Piyal B (316IN)

Industry: Management | Hospitality Executive | Strategic Hospitality Leader | Luxury Asset Expert | Pre-Opening Specialist

Immigration Status: Waiting on offer of employment for Visa application

  • General Manager – Hospitality / Hotels
  • Head of Operations – Hospitality & Lifestyle Assets
  • Cluster General Manager
  • Vice President / Director – Hospitality Operations
  • CEO / Head of Hospitality (Luxury / Clubs / Resorts)

Professional Summary

Piyal is a senior hospitality and luxury asset leader with 29+ years of international experience across 5-star hotels, private members’ clubs, luxury malls, large-format F&B operations, boutique resorts, and cruise hospitality. Highly regarded pre-opening specialist with a proven record of launching, transforming, and scaling premium hospitality assets for global and regional brands including ITC Hotels, Best Western, Phoenix Malls, P&O Cruises, and Yum Brands (Pizza Hut).

Currently serving as Senior General Manager – Head of Club & Hospitality Business Vertical for K Raheja Corp, leading the strategy, design, and operations of next-generation luxury clubs and hospitality platforms. Known for strong commercial acumen, people-first leadership, and the ability to translate vision into profitable, sustainable operations. Seeking a senior leadership role in New Zealand to contribute to the growth of luxury hospitality, tourism, and lifestyle portfolios.

Core Skills & Expertise

Luxury Hospitality & Asset Leadership

  • Pre-opening and turnaround leadership (hotels, clubs, malls, resorts)
  • Brand architecture and positioning for luxury assets
  • Guest experience design and service excellence

Operations & Commercial Management

  • Full P&L responsibility, budgeting, forecasting, cost optimisation
  • Leasing, contract negotiation, procurement and vendor management
  • SOP design, QA, EHS and compliance frameworks

Food & Beverage Leadership

  • Fine dining, QSR, food courts, banquet operations
  • Large-scale outlet rollouts (25+ outlets launched)
  • HACCP, food safety and hygiene systems

Strategic & People Leadership

  • Organisation design and senior team leadership
  • Investment planning and expansion strategy
  • Culture building, performance management, and talent development

International & Multicultural Experience

  • Extensive exposure across India, UK, and international cruise operations
  • Proven ability to lead diverse, multicultural teams

Career Highlights

  • Led multiple high-profile pre-openings, including ITC WelcomHotel The Savoy, Fortune Park Pushpanjali, Phoenix Palassio Mall, and Best Western Boutique Hotel
  • Successfully launched and scaled 25 F&B outlets across India
  • Architected luxury club and hospitality verticals for large real estate groups
  • Delivered consistent improvements in profitability, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency

Employment History

  • Senior General Manager – Head of Club & Hospitality Business Vertical
  • General Manager – Operations & Sales (Clubs, Hotels & Mall)
  • General Manager
  • General Manager – 5 Star Luxury Hotel

Education

  • Diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology
    National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (1997)
    NZQA assessed at Level 6 of the NZQF
  • OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership
    Awarded by OFQUAL, United Kingdom (2025)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Strategic Management & Leadership
    University of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
    (In progress – expected completion Aug/Sept 2026)

Certifications & Professional Training

  • HACCP Certification – Highfield Qualifications, UK (2018)
  • Leadership Development Programme – Fortune Park Hotels Ltd (2015)
  • Food Hygiene Certification – Environmental Health Department, London (2000)
  • Safety & Survival Certifications – P&O Cruises, London (1999)

Candidate Name: Merline F (323BH)

Industry: Hospitality & Travel: Travel Consulting | Corporate Travel | Customer Support | Ticketing (GDS/LCC)

Immigration Status: Visa currently waiting on confirmation of a job offer to complete Visa

Professional Summary

Merline is an experienced Travel Consultant and Customer Care Specialist with 6+ years’ experience in the travel and tourism sector supporting both corporate and retail clients. She is highly capable across end-to-end travel bookings and servicing managing complex itineraries, group travel, schedule changes, refunds, and reissues while maintaining a strong focus on service quality and customer satisfaction.

She has hands-on expertise using Amadeus and Sabre (GDS), coordinating flights, hotels, transfers, car hire, travel insurance, and providing visa advisory support. Merline is known for her calm and efficient problem-solving, strong communication, and ability to manage high-volume travel requests accurately.

Key Strengths

  • GDS systems: Amadeus, Sabre
  • Corporate travel management & travel policy adherence
  • Complex itineraries, reissues, cancellations & refunds
  • Group travel coordination (events, meetings, conferences)
  • Strong customer service (phone & email) and issue resolution
  • Fare sourcing, booking accuracy, and queue management
  • Visa advisory & travel insurance support
  • Multilingual: English, Hindi, Konkani

Recent Experience

Senior Travel Consultant – Akbar Travels Online GCC (Bahrain)

  • Manages domestic and international travel for corporate clients
  • Ticketing, amendments, cancellations and refunds using Amadeus/Sabre
  • Coordinates corporate group travel logistics and communicates schedule/policy changes
  • Delivers consistent, high-quality customer support

Education & Certifications

  • Bachelor of Arts (NZQA Level 7 equivalent)
  • IATA Diplomas (Travel Business Management; Travel & Tourism Foundation)
  • Diplomas in Travel & Tourism Management and Computer Reservation Systems

Ideal Roles in New Zealand

  • Corporate Travel Consultant
  • Travel Consultant (Retail or Corporate)
  • Reservations / Ticketing Consultant (Amadeus/Sabre)
  • Customer Care / Customer Service Specialist (Travel)
  • Group Travel Coordinator / Conference Travel Support

Candidate Name: Prashant S (340IN)

Industry: Hospitality: Restaurant General Manager | Hospitality Operations Leader
Experience: 15+ years + international experience

Qualification Level: Bachelor of Science (Hospitality & Hotel Administration) – NZQA assessed Level 7

Immigration Status: Waiting on confirmation of a job offer to complete Visa

Professional Summary

Prashant is an experienced Hospitality Operations Leader and Restaurant General Manager with over 15 years of hands-on experience across restaurants, luxury hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and banqueting operations. He has managed high-volume, fast-paced hospitality environments in India, the United States, and Italy, delivering consistent service excellence while maintaining strong control over costs, compliance, and team performance.

His background includes full responsibility for restaurant operations, staff scheduling and training, food and labour cost control, HACCP-aligned hygiene standards, and guest experience management. He is known for building reliable, customer-focused teams and ensuring smooth front-of-house and back-of-house coordination in demanding service environments.

Prashant is seeking Restaurant Manager, Assistant Manager, Duty Manager, or F&B Supervisor roles in New Zealand under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) pathway, where he can contribute immediately to operational stability, service quality, and team leadership.

Core Hospitality Skills

  • Restaurant & Hospitality Operations Management
  • Staff Scheduling, Rostering & Workforce Planning
  • Team Leadership, Training & Performance Management
  • Menu Planning & Food Cost Control
  • Guest Service Excellence & Service Recovery
  • Health, Safety & HACCP Compliance
  • Inventory, Procurement & Stock Control
  • Front-of-House Service Standards
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Multicultural & International Hospitality Experience

Key Strengths for New Zealand Employers

  • Proven leadership in high-volume restaurants and resorts
  • Strong cost control and operational efficiency focus
  • Experience meeting international food safety and hygiene standards
  • Ability to train, mentor, and retain hospitality staff
  • Calm, organised approach to peak service periods
  • International exposure aligned with New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality sector

Professional Experience Highlights

  • Restaurant General Manager – Multiple venues across India and the USA
  • Managed end-to-end restaurant operations including FOH/BOH coordination, staffing, cost control, and compliance
  • Delivered service excellence in resort, cruise line, and luxury hotel environments
  • Improved profitability through structured food, beverage, and labour cost management
  • Maintained high guest satisfaction through proactive service leadership

Education & Recognition

  • Bachelor of Science – Hospitality & Hotel Administration
    Indira Gandhi National Open University
    NZQA assessed at Level 7 (NZQF)

 

Why Prashant is a strong fit for New Zealand

  • Extensive experience in hospitality leadership roles aligned with skill shortages
  • International work history in regulated, high-standard service environments
  • Proven ability to manage teams, costs, and compliance simultaneously
  • Customer-focused leader who understands the importance of service quality in tourism-driven economies
  • Motivated to contribute long-term to New Zealand’s hospitality industry