Frederic Brohez is the General Manager of InterContinental Hotel Group’s newest addition, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay scheduled to open in November, 2014. The 140-room hotel will be the fifth InterContinental Hotel for Australia.

Belgium-born, Frederic joined IHG in 1999. He brings 20 years’ experience (15 of which with IHG) in the hotel and hospitality industries, holding executive roles at several of the group’s flagship hotels across the Middle East and Europe. Here we get to know this world traveller a little....

The InterContinental Double Bay is opening in an iconic property for Sydney. What can the public expect from this new incarnation?

InterContinental Sydney Double Bay will be Sydney’s newest luxury hotel, and the only five-star property outside the CBD, located just 5km from the city centre. The hotel will provide an intimate offering within its 140 guest rooms – all with private balconies and a majority with views of the village or bay.

The refurbishment of the hotel will see the reinstatement of key features including a pillarless Grand Ballroom for up to 360 banquet style. There will also be flexible meeting spaces as well as the creation of new spaces - the rooftop infinity pool and lounge, a destination concept bar and restaurant and the only separate kosher kitchen in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.

I’m also being joined by a dynamic and experienced team to ensure that InterContinental Sydney Double Bay opens its doors delivering the same excellence in service and facilities for which InterContinental is renowned.

Sydney has a great selection of five star properties – what makes InterContinental Sydney Double Bay different?

People travel to experience difference - to make their own memories and take those memories home to share with their friends and family. This is an important focus for InterContinental and is further highlighted with its iconic location of Double Bay.

The hotel offers guests the opportunity to retreat in an exclusive bayside sanctuary. It allows them to still be close to the city (particularly with the hotel located a short walk from Double Bay Marina for water transfers) but just far enough to remove themselves from the hustle and bustle of the CBD.

Double Bay lends itself to a fantastic village atmosphere and reminds me of some parts of Europe. It has a wonderful vibrant retail environment with its alfresco dining, art galleries and boutique retail shopping – home to a number of Australian and internationally renowned designers.

How did growing up in Indonesia as an expatriate influence your career choice?

Growing up and living abroad as an ex-patriot was a wonderful experience and provided me with the opportunity to be exposed to a range of cultures and its people. As a young adult, hotel school was a great platform to be part of an industry so focused on people and to immerse myself into a wide range of cultures and to learn from its people. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in Indonesia, France, Spain and most recently, the Middle East and Australia.

What can you tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career?

This is an industry built on its people and their relationships which is fundamental to success. When I look back on my career to date, I think of all the great people I have worked with and connections I have made. This has helped me to learn from, develop and implement tools and programs in hotels to ensure that its people continue to deliver excellence at every level.

Also, I take great pride in having played an integral role in six hotel openings and refurbishments as part of IHG’s network in the Middle East and Europe. Most recently that involved the management of the extensive renovation plan, and re-organisation of the hotel structure, for the boutique style InterContinental Le Vendome Beirut in Lebanon.

After having studied at the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, this is your first appointment back to Australia. How is it moving down under once again?

I am really enjoying it. It has been fantastic reconnecting with old colleagues and friends like it was yesterday. Sydney as a destination really appeals to me – I love the eclectic nature of the city. From north to south, InterContinental Sydney Double Bayeast to west, it’s like being in 15 different countries in one day. Sydney and Australia truly are multicultural.

When you are not running hotels, how do you unwind?

I love to play golf and am impressed with how accessible the sport is to play in Australia, and Sydney in particular. Australia has some of the best golf courses in the world so many of which are right here on our doorstep in Double Bay. We also have some of the best beaches along Sydney’s coastline, and I plan to make the most of them with my family in the summer.

If you could choose, what would you be doing ten years from now?

Apart from travelling and working in this great industry, it would have to be to channel my ‘inner geek’ and open and run an apple retail store – I love the products and my house is full of them!

About the author

Timothy Millett's training roles have seen him deliver programs across Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa and America ensuring cultural sensitivity as well as a broad base of experience in lecturing, teaching and training.

A graduate of the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland, his hospitality career spans management and director positions in Front Office, Guest Relations, Public Relations, Food & Beverage and Training with organisations including the Regent of Melbourne, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Mövenpick Gastronomy. He was also a founding staff member of the internationally renowned Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School in Australia.