Qualmark Specialists

Andrew Belsham, Service Delivery Manager
ACCOMMODATION - AUCKLAND

Andrew Belsham brings 20+ years of tourism and accommodation industry experience, including senior management and director roles with the Flight Centre Group UK, Ten Travel Lifestyle Management UK, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, BWH Hotel Group Australasia and Tomahawk, a digital company that specialises in Tourism. Andrew’s real passion is the people behind the business and partnering with them for a sustainable and prosperous future.

Andrew has broad international accommodation and tourism sector knowledge gained through consulting with over 300 accommodation properties worldwide, ranging from top-end luxury to economy-scaled accommodation.

Based in Auckland, Andrew is excited to be on this journey and recognises that there are many challenges ahead. However, there is positive momentum in the tourism industry at present, and he believes that by focusing on quality we can deliver experiences that are not only memorable but also contribute to a better future for the New Zealand visitor economy, which will also support local communities to thrive.

Angela Scott
ACCOMMODATION - LOWER NORTH ISLAND

Based in Martinborough, Angela has over 20 years’ experience working in the tourism industry for public and private enterprises and has her own tourism marketing consultancy which she set up in 2003. Angela’s experience includes areas such as inbound sales representation, strategic planning, product development, sponsorship, sustainability and more recently digital marketing. 

Angela brings experience mentoring small businesses as a Regional Business Partner provider with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, and is looking forward to working with and supporting the many accommodation providers she will be assessing within the Lower North Island.   

Dr Kate Averill
ACCOMMODATION - NELSON / MARLBOROUGH / KAIKŌURA / WELLINGTON

Kate is an experienced evaluator in tourism, environmental, social and governance sectors. She has lived and worked in many areas of the South Island of New Zealand, Wellington and internationally. Kate has studied and worked with a range of businesses in New Zealand and internationally in sustainable and community development.

Kate is based in Nelson and is the Qualmark Specialist for the West Coast, Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough Sounds, Blenheim, and Kaikōura regions. She is committed to supporting tourism businesses on their pathways, adding value, and enhancing sustainable practices and impacts.

Kevin Gough
ACCOMMODATION - CANTERBURY / DUNEDIN

Kevin Gough has 40 years’ experience of working across many sectors of New Zealand tourism.  He has a strong career profile in tourism management, leading teams in sales and marketing, with a recent focus on commercial accommodation.

For the past 20 years, Kevin has been General Manager of Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Golden Chain Motels and TOP 10 Holiday Parks. He is passionate about New Zealand tourism and has been a supporter of Qualmark since its inception.

Kylie Walker
ACCOMMODATION - QUEENSTOWN / WANAKA / FIORDLAND / SOUTHLAND

Kylie brings over 25 years of experience as a commercial manager in the tourism and travel industry. She has a proven track record of improving business operations and supporting both large and small-scale companies (SMEs) to achieve success. Her strengths lie in strategic planning, revenue generation, product development, key account management, distribution, mentoring, and marketing.

Kylie's previous roles include serving as the Director of Sales & Marketing at Pro Invest Group, where she supported the opening of the first-ever Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Queenstown during the challenging times of Covid. She has also worked with renowned hotel brands such as Intercontinental Hotels Group at Crowne Plaza Queenstown. Additionally, Kylie has held positions as a Store Manager for Air New Zealand Holidays, Regional Development Manager for a marketing and distribution company called Tourism Exchange, and International Sales Manager at Millbrook Resort. Throughout her career, she has also held various senior operational positions. In addition to mentorship/advisory board member appointments.

Based in Queenstown, Kylie will be responsible for overseeing our accommodation partners in Queenstown, Wanaka, Fiordland, and Southland. Her extensive experience and expertise make her well-equipped to support and collaborate with our partners in these regions.

Grant Ward, Senior Qualmark Specialist
EXPERIENCES - AUCKLAND

Grant has been a part of the Qualmark team for over 18 years, having first started in the role of a Sales and Account Manager for the experiences sector.

Previous to his employment with Qualmark, Grant gained experience with THL Rentals, Kiwi Experience/Fullers Northland, SKY Television, Turoa Skifields and managing the family farm in Northland.

Grant is based in the Auckland region and will be supporting members within the region in the experiences sector. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors - particularly hunting/fishing.

Ian Elliott
EXPERIENCES - LOWER SOUTH ISLAND

Based in the Waitaki Valley between Oamaru and Omarama, Ian has a background in startups and business development.  His experience ranges from owning a country pub and mountain biking business to being a chief executive and board chair.  He has a Post Graduate Diploma of Tourism from Otago University.  Ian spent two years as marketing manager for Tourism Waitaki.

Keri Edmonds
EXPERIENCES - LOWER NORTH ISLAND

Keri joins the Qualmark team bringing over 25 years of experience in private, public, and local government tourism organisations.  

Keri is an experienced, innovative marketing and product development professional with strong inbound and outbound tourism industry experience and networks in worldwide tourism markets. Keri has an in-depth knowledge of sales and multi-channel marketing, stakeholder and partnership management.  

Keri’s previous roles include Wine Tourism Manager at New Zealand Wine, Product Development Advisor at Auckland Unlimited (previously Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development), and 15 years of experience in Global Holiday Procurement and Product Management roles at Air New Zealand.   

Keri is delighted to be part of the Qualmark team and will be working closely with our members in the Wellington and Lower North Island regions.  

Peter Clinton-Baker
EXPERIENCES - NELSON / MARLBOROUGH / KAIKŌURA

Peter’s experience comes from over 20 years in the snow sports industry, a brief stint in food and beverage, and 11 years owning and running an adventure tourism business operating under concessions and licences from DOC, NZTA and Maritime New Zealand. Peter brings first-hand insights which can really assist small to medium tourism enterprises.

Samantha Miles
EXPERIENCES - BAY OF PLENTY / COROMANDEL / ROTORUA

Sam has 15 years’ experience in the hospitality, and events industries in sales, operations and training roles. Working for hotels and IT businesses from Queenstown to Ohakune, Coromandel, Italy and Chicago. For the past 6 years, she’s headed up the sales and operations of events and experiences for New Zealand’s largest hospitality group, focusing on partnerships and innovation.

In between she spent 14 years in the health sector as a rehabilitation teacher and Kinesiologist while operating a business, marketing wellbeing products throughout New Zealand and Australasia. Trained in several health science practices, Sam enjoys supporting business owners, utilising her sound understanding of the resilience required for business sustainability.

Sam’s dedicated to partnering with license holders to assist them with showcasing our land, culture and friendly hospitality. With a customer centric focus on processes, marketing and product delivery, she brings a holistic and pragmatic approach to tourism businesses.

Shelley Eastwood
EXPERIENCES - OTAGO / SOUTHLAND

With over 25 years of extensive experience in the hospitality and tourism sector both in New Zealand and overseas, Shelley Eastwood brings a wealth of knowledge to every interaction.

Shelley has been with Qualmark since 2022, serving as an Accommodation Specialist to our members in the Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and West Coast regions. In April this year, Shelley made the switch to the Experiences team and is now based in the Queenstown Lakes District, where she looks forward to meeting with and supporting operators across the region.