Accor has revealed the appointment of Rachael Nicholson as its new Commercial Director for New Zealand and Fiji as of July 21. Nicholson will join the Accor Pacific commercial team, headed by Anne Gill, who emphasized her strategic insight and extensive industry expertise as vital assets to Accor’s objectives in these regions.

Nicholson expressed her enthusiasm about the company’s ambition, stating, “The scale, ambition, and commitment to excellence at Accor, particularly in enhancing guest experiences, are genuinely impressive. I look forward to collaborating with the industry to elevate tourism and showcase our wonderful country to a global audience.”

This announcement coincides with Accor’s 2025 Pacific Leaders Conference in Gold Coast, which gathered over 350 senior leaders to discuss the future of hospitality in the region.

Meet Rachael Nicholson

Nicholson, with over 20 years of experience in the hotel, airline, and cruise sectors, previously worked as the Group General Manager of Operations at Heritage Hotel Management, successfully leading their post-COVID recovery efforts. She has also held several senior roles at Air New Zealand during her 18-year tenure there, crucial to the airline’s pandemic response and international relaunch, which included expanding ultra-long-haul services to major cities.

Holding both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Canterbury, Nicholson has contributed to recognized academic publications such as the Journal of Travel Research and Journal of Vacation Marketing. Additionally, she actively mentors emerging talents in the tourism sector through the Travel Industry Mentor Experience (TIME) program.