Hilton has appointed four new commercial leaders to its Australasia team, reinforcing the company’s commitment to growth, innovation, and performance across the region.
The new appointments bring together an accomplished group of industry experts, each with deep global experience and proven success in driving commercial excellence. The appointments include:
- Rebecca Williams, Regional Director, Hilton Worldwide Sales, Australasia
- Elena Fragasso, Director of International Sales, Australasia
- Ivy Zhang, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hilton Sydney
- Mahasin Balfour, Commercial Director Cairns Cluster, Australasia
Together, these leaders will spearhead Hilton’s strategic commercial initiatives, strengthen partnerships across key markets, and accelerate revenue growth through enhanced sales, distribution, and marketing strategies.
“Hilton’s growth trajectory in Australasia continues to be incredibly strong, and these appointments will enable us to further accelerate our commercial performance,” said Daniella Tonetto, senior regional commercial director, Australasia. “Each of these leaders brings deep expertise, global perspective, and a forward-thinking mindset that will help us unlock new opportunities, strengthen our market position, and drive sustainable, long-term growth.”
Rebecca Williams returns to Australia after nearly a decade in the United States, where she served as Senior Sales Director, Global Airline Partnerships with Hilton’s Global Travel Partners team in Chicago. Her extensive career includes senior commercial roles across both the airline and hotel industries. In her new role, she will lead Hilton Worldwide Sales across Australasia, driving strategic partnerships and corporate account growth throughout the region.
Elena Fragasso joins as Director of International Sales, Australasia, bringing over 15 years of global hospitality experience. She will focus on connecting Hilton’s Australasian properties with key international markets, driving inbound business, MICE growth, and strategic partnerships to elevate Hilton’s growth across key source markets.
Ivy Zhang has been appointed Director of Sales & Marketing, Hilton Sydney. With more than a decade of commercial experience leading regional teams across Asia and the Pacific, Ivy brings a proven track record in driving revenue growth and market performance. Based in Sydney, she will spearhead strategies to enhance Hilton Sydney’s commercial results, expand market share, and strengthen the hotel’s position as a leading destination for both business and leisure travellers.
Mahasin Balfour, newly appointed Commercial Director, Cairns Cluster, brings over a decade of international experience leading high-performing commercial teams across Hilton’s European portfolio, including Hilton Munich and DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station. Mahasin will lead the commercial strategy for Hilton’s Cairns hotels, including the soon-to-open Hilton Palm Cove, with a focus on driving revenue growth, enhancing brand positioning, and building high-performing teams to strengthen Hilton’s presence in Far North Queensland
These new appointments further strengthen the company’s leadership bench as it continues to expand its portfolio and invest in talent and innovation. Recently recognised as the number one Great Places to Work® in Australia, Hilton continues to cultivate a culture that empowers its people to deliver exceptional results and drive sustainable growth.
