A ‘homegrown’ hotel brand deserves a homegrown General Manager – and that’s just what TFE Hotels has provided with the appointment of Katie Obst at its new-build Vibe Hotel Adelaide.
Continuing her ten-year career trajectory with the TFE Hotel Group, Katie Obst’s appointment comes as the Group celebrates its expansion into South Australia with the opening of the new-build 123-room hotel earlier this month (March 1st).
Katie’s appointment – her first pre-opening General Manager role – comes after four successful years at the helm of the beautifully restored Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury. Here, Katie honed her craft to become a South Australian hospitality specialist. She is credited for consistently maintaining the hotel’s position on the TripAdvisor leader board in first and second place during her tenure – testament to her focus and passion for delivering outstanding guest experiences.
Speaking on her Vibe appointment Katie said, “It’s been exciting to launch our homegrown Vibe brand to the Adelaide market and welcome our first guests at the hotel in recent weeks. This project proudly completes the long-term vision for the Flinders East Precinct, by our developers GuavaLime, and is the final development in what has been a 20-year project. I am so honoured to help bring it to life and invite people to experience it for themselves. From our incredible location which affords views across to the Adelaide Hills, to our thoughtful design – not least of all a suspended swimming pool and stunning open plan bathrooms. I know people will be charmed by Vibe Adelaide’s sophisticated urban appeal and inherently local character at every turn.”
Originally a country girl from South Australia, Katie moved to the ‘big smoke’ to complete her final year of schooling after securing a hospitality scholarship with Le Cordon Bleu Australia. She completed a Bachelor of Business and, during that time, she embraced interstate placements – working at Hayman Island and the iconic Menzies Hotel Sydney, before embarking on her long tenure with TFE Hotels. She has built up vast experience across the group’s Victorian, Tasmanian and South Australian portfolio, working in a variety of roles over the past decade including reservations Manager, Duty Manager and Hotel Manager positions. Highlights include a pivotal leadership role at Melbourne’s Savoy Hotel on Little Collins; being part of the successful launch team at Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport; and leading the full refurbishment program at Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Northbank.
Joining Katie at Vibe Adelaide is Brad Wells as the Assistant Hotel Manager; Ross Downing as Food & Beverage Manager; and Head Chef, Kam McManamey.