The hotel is one of the properties recently acquired by Three Cities and, with 20 years experience as an hotelier, Desmond brings significant experience and panache to Shelley Point, which is set on a private peninsula 90 minutes from Cape Town.
O'Connor served his three-year management apprenticeship with the Karos Group, followed by stints at the Indaba Hotel and Conference Centre and the Theatre on Track conference centre in Johannesburg, after which he took on the demanding role of banqueting manager at Spier for two years.
His next position was that of assistant executive manager at Hôtel Le Vendôme, Sea Point, for two years, followed by a move to the Table Bay Hotel, in the V & A Waterfront, where he was F & B manager and deputy GM for five years before accepting a position as the first GM at the Cape Royal Luxury Hotel and Residence.
After a two-year period there, he opted for a more tranquil lifestyle in the country as GM at Shelley Point Hotel, Spa and Country Club.
“Shelley Point is a particularly exciting challenge because it is, as yet, “undiscovered” and little-known to the majority of Capetonians, up-country travellers and international tourists. Nevertheless, it has the facilities and service standards to satisfy the most demanding of clients.
“We are already the premier Cape West Coast hospitality destination and my job will be to see that a far wider market becomes aware of this. It's an exciting challenge in a spectacular environment.”
