Accor Pacific appoints Rachael Nicholson as Commercial Director: New Zealand and Fiji

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Rachael Nicholson joins the regional commercial leadership team under Anne Gill, Vice President for Commercial Market Strategy & Performance – Pacific.

“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 for Commercial Market Strategy & Performance – Pacific.

Before joining Accor, Rachael Nicholson was Group General Manager of Operations at Heritage Hotel Management, where she successfully led the post-COVID recovery of a portfolio of ten properties. Her focus was on restoring operational performance, driving revenue growth, enhancing guest satisfaction, and accelerating digital transformation.

In addition to her time with Heritage Hotel Management, Nicholson spent 18 years with Air New Zealand, where she played a key role in the airline’s pandemic response and international relaunch. She contributed to the development of global sales strategies and managed critical international partnerships, including the introduction of ultra-long-haul services to Chicago and New York.

“The company’s scale, ambition, and commitment to excellence – from delivering outstanding guest experiences to its support for people, and its clear focus on performance – is genuinely impressive. I’ve been struck by the passion, calibre of leadership, and the depth of talent across the business. I’m looking forward to working with the industry to grow tourism and to help showcase this incredible country of ours to the world.” – Rachael Nicholson, Commercial Director, New Zealand and Fiji
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Nicholson’s appointment comes shortly after the 2025 Pacific Leaders Conference hosted by Accor, where over 350 senior leaders gathered to discuss the future of hospitality in the region.

Accor continues to enhance its leadership structure with strategic appointments aimed at reinforcing its brand strategy and expanding its presence across key market segments. More specifically, recently Accor Plus has appointed Emilie Couton as the new CEO, marking a further consolidation of leadership across the group’s various divisions.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence using official information.