Richard Dodds – Head of Convention Sales
Richard has a wealth of experience across the conventions and hotel industry and has had a long connection with our organisation, partners, and people, including working across conventions activities, hotel partnerships, technical sales through to leveraging performing arts partnerships with Auckland Live and our city’s key resident companies and festivals.
Previously, Richard was the Director of Sales – New Zealand with Pro Invest Hotel Group with hotel properties located in Auckland and Queenstown. Prior to this role he had local roles with Marriott International (Four Points by Sheraton Auckland), assisted in the launch of SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre where he held the role as Director of Sales, TFE Hotels and Tourism Rotorua. International positions have included sales for the convention arm of Wonderful Copenhagen, World Event Management Limited in London, and Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Thailand.
Charmaine Hylla - Business Development Manager
Charmaine has a Bachelor of International Hospitality Management from Auckland University of Technology. Nearing the end of her degree, she worked in reservations at a hotel and then took over the event bookings. This is where her passion for events started. Charmaine loves turning a client’s dream into a reality. With her extensive background in the tourism and business events industry, knowledge of the conventions market and her strategic focus to achieve business goals, Charmaine is an invaluable asset to the ACVE’s Sales Team. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling and exploring new places, both above and below the water as a keen scuba diver. These days she is more land-based than sea-based with a young family in tow.
Vincent Park - Business Development Manager
Vincent has a strong background in the business events industry and has worked in operations and sales for multiple years in luxury hotels and convention centres around New Zealand. Passionate about building excellent relationships with clients, he is a skilled listener and ensures to understand his client’s needs before suggesting venue spaces for their events. To relax, Vincent is a gifted tennis player and loves his board games too. Reach out to Vincent to discuss your next event and to learn more about our venues across the city of Auckland.
Lee King - Business Development Executive
Lee is the Business Development Executive for Auckland Zoo, Go Media Stadium and North Harbour Stadium. Lee has had a very successful sales career in the conferencing and events sector. She believes that the difference between a good conference and a great conference - having attended countless over the years - is picking an environment that reflects the company’s messaging and leaves participants ultimately feeling engaged and valued. A great venue, she notes, sets the tone to achieve all your company’s goals. Outside of the office, Lee loves spending quality time with her family and friends. A recent achievement was braving a 12,000ft skydive, one of many goals she has been able to tick off her bucket list.
Tanya Bhatia - Business Development Executive
Tanya is an experienced Business Development Executive with a proven track record in driving growth and achieving results. She holds an MBA with a focus on International Business and Marketing, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in International Tourism Management. Tanya is drawn to the field of sales as it is a dynamic and challenging field where no two days are the same. With a keen interest in problem solving, Tanya enjoys the satisfaction of helping her clients find the perfect space for their events. Curious and persistent, Tanya enjoys travelling, learning new skills, and building relationships within the industry. Get in touch with Tanya to learn more about what venues Auckland Conventions has to offer.
Rebecca Chen - Business Development Executive
Rebecca is a Business Development Executive for events at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. While Rebecca has a background in hotels, she has always had a soft spot for event coordination. For her, there's nothing quite like seeing an event come to fruition after building a relationship with a client. Rebecca's trick to closing deals is anticipating clients’ needs, researching information from their previous events and one-on-one interaction. Another philosophy she employs is not being afraid to recommend and upsell what you feel would be beneficial for the event. Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys cooking, travelling, and trying new cuisines.
Arati Ravindran-Vetal - Business Development Executive
Arati is a hospitality and events professional with over 15 years of industry experience. Starting as a Food & Beverage Supervisor across various prestigious hotels, she eventually moved into Event Coordination and Sales at Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour and then Urban Gourmet. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in coordinating and managing a wide array of events and client accounts. Whether managing small gatherings or large conferences and dinners, Arati thrives in fast-paced environments and takes pride in creating memorable experiences for clients. Beyond work, she is passionate about music, travel, and exploring new cuisines through cooking.
