An executive with extensive experience in international hotels, the professional services industry and law has been appointed the new general manager of the Darwin Convention Centre.

Peter Savoff will fill the role following the recent promotion of previous general manager, Janet Hamilton, to lead the Cairns Convention Centre.

Announcing Savoff’s commencement, Geoff Donaghy, AEG Ogden group director for convention centres, said his proven record in a number of areas within the hotel business over more than 25 years made him the ideal fit for the Darwin Convention Centre.

He added Savoff possessed proven leadership skills in operations management, marketing and strategic planning, but more importantly, had a strong focus on customer service and was results driven.

Savoff joins the AEG Ogden Family from the Anthony John Property Group where he managed the Emporium Hotel since opening in 2007.

Before that, Savoff served as chief executive for McInnes Wilson Lawyers, was marketing director for the InterContinental Hotels Group for Queensland, Northern Territory, and Papua New Guinea after many years in senior management, and then general manager of IHG hotels in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Cairns.

“I look forward to building upon the strong platform laid down by Janet over the past five and a half years and taking the venue to the next level.

“The venue’s record and reputation for hosting successful conventions and conferences combined with the Territory’s uniqueness as a tourist destination makes Darwin irresistible to event planners.

“We’ll leave no stone unturned in promoting these strengths,” Savoff said.

The centre, located at the billion-dollar Darwin Waterfront precinct, opened in 2008 and is operated by AEG Ogden, the leading venue management company in Australasia.