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Rachael Nicholson (Left) & Anne Gill (Right) – Image Credit Accor
Accor Pacific has appointed Rachael Nicholson as Director, Commercial for New Zealand and Fiji, effective immediately.
Accor Pacific has announced the appointment of Rachael Nicholson as Director, Commercial for New Zealand and Fiji. Based in Auckland, Nicholson will join the company’s regional commercial leadership team.
Nicholson brings over 20 years of experience in the tourism sector, having worked in the hotel, airline, and cruise industries. Her previous role was Group General Manager of Operations at Heritage Hotel Management, where she managed a portfolio of ten properties. During her tenure, she focused on operational performance, revenue growth, guest satisfaction, and digital transformation.
Before her role at Heritage Hotel Management, Nicholson spent 18 years in senior positions at Air New Zealand. Her responsibilities included managing the airline’s pandemic response, international relaunch, and the introduction of ultra-long-haul services to Chicago and New York. She was also involved in developing global sales strategies and managing international partnerships.
Nicholson holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science (Hons) from the University of Canterbury. She has contributed to academic publications, including the Journal of Travel Research and the Journal of Vacation Marketing. Additionally, she is a mentor with the Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) program.
“Rachael brings a rare blend of strategic insight, commercial acumen, and deep industry expertise. Her appointment underscores Accor’s commitment to investing in exceptional leadership and reflects our ambitious growth plans in New Zealand and Fiji, with a continued focus on delivering strong commercial outcomes for our hotel owners.” Anne Gill, Vice President Commercial Market Strategy & Performance – Pacific
Nicholson’s appointment follows Accor’s 2025 Pacific Leaders Conference on the Gold Coast, which gathered over 350 senior leaders to discuss the future of hospitality in the region.
