Mike Vroom steps into key new COO position at Newmark Hotels & Reserves

South Africa, Cape Town, 18 January 2024; SEASONED hospitality EXCO director, Mike Vroom has stepped into a new role at Newmark Hotels & Reserves as its Chief Operating Officer. The appointment will see Vroom working side by side with the CEO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves, Neil Markovitz.

“Mike Vroom’s long history with Newmark, his many career achievements and his ongoing commitment to operational excellence meant that he was front of mind when this new leadership position was created. As a respected and well-known leader in the hospitality sector, his proven record in leading business units to success aligns perfectly with Newmark’s vision for sustainable expansion,” commented Neil Markovitz.

Career Path

Vroom brings more than 20 years of global leadership experience to the new role. After studying Hospitality Management at The International Hotel School, he began his career managing restaurants at several of Cape Town’s best hotels. He then moved to Johannesburg to take on a managerial role at The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, one of Africa’s top five-star hotels.

In 2014 he joined Newmark Hotels & Reserves as Hotel Manager at The Queen Victoria Hotel. Two years later he headed to Dubai to open a new property which was voted as “The World’s Leading New Hotel” by World Travel Awards in 2017. Returning to South Africa in 2018 Mike took on the role of Group Operations Manager for Newmark Hotels & Reserves. Two years ago, he was promoted to the key position of Executive Director of Africa for the group.

“Having grown up working in the hospitality industry and having been part of Newmark’s exceptional growth, I am delighted to have the opportunity to further engage in the strategic management of our global businesses. Newmark is a trusted name in the hospitality industry, known for operating properties in iconic African locations that celebrate their unique characteristics and individualism. Looking at our pipeline of growth for 2024 and beyond, which includes the addition of many new destinations and hotels, I am extremely excited to take on this new role,” said Vroom.

“As we move into 2024 some of my first tasks will be to identify ways for our businesses to embrace AI in a way that does not detract from our personal service levels.  A key focus alongside our commercial drive will be to work with our integrated HR teams to attract more talent and to invest in the development of our people. This will be key to successfully growing each of our individual business units. Driving memorable and unique guest experiences will also be at the forefront as the hotel teams ensure we meet guest requirements and exceed client expectations by experimenting with innovative ideas and new avenues of thought,” he added.