TEAM
GADI HASSIN
FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Gadi Hassin is a hospitality professional and a global nomad with over 25 years’ experience in hotel management, acquisition and development from design led boutique hostels to upscale and luxury hotels.
Over his career he has worked 20 years for international brands such as Hyatt and The Ritz Carlton hotels in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia where he has had the opportunity to work, manage and open hotels in Jerusalem, Berlin, Johannesburg, Perth, Kathmandu, Pune (India) and Tel Aviv.
Since 2015 Hassin has joined forces with developers and investors who look at future hospitality trends targeting ‘Millennial Travellers’. During this time he was involved with Generator- designed led Hotels; which sparked his passion and imagination for the new millennial way to travel and stay.
Between 2017 and 2020 Hassin worked for Ovolo Hotels, an independent hospitality group headquartered in Hong Kong who own and operate a collection of individually designed lifestyle hotels. He was responsible for looking after the strategic growth of the group under the Ovolo brand and the newly created Mojo Nomad brand initiated and lead by him.
Most recently Hassin was appointed by Selina group to lead the group into South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands with plans to open over 10,000 rooms in the next few years.
Hassin is currently serving on various advisory boards roles for hospitality groups such as Mad Monkey Hostels in Asia, TwoSpace Co-working and is a principal partner in hostels and bars in Sydney.
A natural leader and experienced manager (recognised and awarded with 2014 Marriott Mustang Award for Europe), Hassin is a strategic thinker with strong business and financial acumen. Hassin has his bachelor’s degree in political science and foreign affairs and his Master degree majoring in diplomacy and international law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Ilan
Managing Partner
Ilan, a global hotel professional, has impressive experience spanning 35 years in the hospitality industry. He has established himself as a distinguished General Manager within Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. His extensive experience, coupled with a robust leadership background, has propelled him to the forefront of the luxury hotel management realm, ensuring the delivery of unparalleled service excellence. Ilan’s passion for hospitality blossomed early on as he pursued his business studies.
Eager to broaden his horizons, he embarked on a global career journey, working in six countries across four continents. This diverse exposure provided him with a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of international hospitality practices. Ilan’s career has seen him take on leadership assignments in Israel, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, India and Australia. Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in successfully launching several Hyatt Hotel brands.
What sets Ilan apart is his innate ability to seamlessly blend strategic and operational leadership. This unique skill set has garnered him numerous accolades, both locally and internationally, solidifying his reputation as a trailblazer in the industry. Among his many honours are the ‘Jay Pritzker Leadership Award’, a coveted recognition bestowed upon exceptional leaders within Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, naming him Global General Manager of the Year in 2019.
His unwavering dedication to service, coupled with his visionary leadership, has become the hallmark of his illustrious career. Ilan’s global experience across various size properties helped in shaping him to be an expert in managing profitable and effective hotel operations. Ilan’s years of experience would be of high value to hotel developers, owners and Asset Management Companies, providing high level of expertise in hotel operation, hotel marketing and operational efficiency
RAPHAEL ANTONINI
STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Raphael Antonini has over 15 years’ experience as a Hospitality and Real Estate professional. Raphael’s experience includes Hospitality Real Estate development and acquisitions, consulting, feasibility studies, market entry strategy, operational evaluations, contract negotiations, revenue and asset management.
Throughout his career he has worked for large organizations such as Hilton and Investec Bank in London, Jones Lang LaSalle throughout Latin America and most recently CBRE, Ovolo Hotels and Crystalbrook Collection in Australia.
Antonini is International educated with a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, a Revenue Management certificate from Cornell University and a Real Estate finance certificate from Secovi University.
Antonini is French-Brazilian and is fluent in four languages including English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
MAY PENDRAAT KREDNER
BRAND MANAGEMENT & COMMERCIAL STRATEGIES
May Pendraat Kredner is a progressive and well-rounded senior business leader with international, strategic outlook and demonstrated track record of success. May is adept at strategic planning, business development, change management and organisational structuring to maximize brand and revenue performance.
Although May’s expertise is grounded in the luxury sector, she has managed and led brand development, optimisation of bottom line and ROI metrics across multiple brand tiers from lead-in to high-end assets. Apart from managing properties in operation, she has also opened and rebranded numerous hotels.
She has held vice president positions in Rosewood Hotel Group, Wharf Hotels and most recently a boutique start-up management company, Artyzen Hospitality Group. Her earlier 20 years with Hyatt International formed a foundation for her career growth.
Having lived and worked in three continents, North America, Australia and Asia, and with a strong tie to Europe due to her heritage, May effortlessly adapts to changing business markets and thrives on immersing into different cultures. In recent years, May has worked in Shanghai and is now based out of Hong Kong. With fluency in English, Putonghua and Cantonese, she has developed a deep understanding of the Chinese consumer behaviour and marketing implications.
May has also been involved with hotel development from the stages of acquisition to design, stakeholder relationship management, operational organisation, to food and beverage conceptualisation. She is passionate about the industry and is a constant learner.
KRISTY BAKER
MARKETING & OPERATIONS
Kristy has a wealth of marketing and operations experience garnered across her career which includes working for Hyatt International for over 8 years in various roles from Operations to Sales and Marketing.
She is a founding member of the team at Mad Monkey Coogee Beach and is responsible for the overall operation of the Hostel and Bar, Revenue Management, Sales and Marketing, HR and Accounting.
Kristy studied hospitality management in Switzerland and has lived in various countries including Singapore, India, Austria, Switzerland and Israel. She speaks English, French and German and holds Australia citizenship.
EREZ BENOVICH
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Erez Benovich has spent the last 28 years working in management roles in Sales, Marketing and Business Development at large organisations in the high-tech market. In this time, he has gained invaluable experience in sales negotiation and business development.
Erez has built a great network within the Israeli high-tech ecosystem, including VC’s and angel investors. He is a thoughtful leader with experience in digital transformation, structuring innovative business models, scaling company’s businesses, and M&A.
In the last three years, Erez has made AI and machine learning solutions a special focus and has gained tremendous expertise. His vast array of experiences over the course of his career have allowed him to bring maximum value to the companies he works with.
Erez is also an innovative real estate and hospitality investor who brings a mature and realistic perspective to companies he invests in.
Erez holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Economics from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem.