A cross-property role spanning three lodges
Rosewood New Zealand has appointed Jason Viljoen as Cluster Director of Talent & Culture. His remit covers the group’s three properties in the country: Rosewood Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs in Northland and Rosewood Matakauri in Queenstown.
Based at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, he is responsible for designing and rolling out Talent & Culture strategies across the entire New Zealand portfolio. He works alongside the leadership teams of all three lodges to strengthen the employee experience and support the growth of the region’s luxury lodge portfolio.
The appointment comes in a year of significant leadership changes at the lodges. In March, André Miethig was appointed Director of Operations at Rosewood Kauri Cliffs. Over the summer, Fiona Winger, General Manager of Rosewood Cape Kidnappers since 2023, moved to Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa.
Twenty-five years in hospitality, from South Africa to New Zealand
Jason Viljoen brings more than two decades of hospitality experience. He began his career in 1999 on the front desk of the Road Lodge Carnival City in South Africa, part of City Lodge Hotel Group, where he went on to progress over fifteen years.
After Assistant General Manager roles at the Road Lodge Rivonia and then the Town Lodge Sandton, he became Senior Assistant General Manager of the City Lodge Bryanston. He then oversaw the construction, team recruitment and opening of the Road Lodge Richards Bay, which he ran as General Manager from 2007 to 2009.
From 2009 to 2015, he led the City Lodge Bryanston. His responsibilities spanned human resources, financial controls, revenue management and sales, as well as project management of the refurbishment of the hotel’s 122 rooms.
From hotel management to human resources
After settling in New Zealand, he joined Sudima Hotels at Christchurch Airport in 2015, first as Duty Manager, then as Human Resources Advisor and Human Resources Manager. There, he took charge of the full HR cycle, from recruitment to payroll, as well as the health and safety management system.
In 2018, he joined Accor as Talent & Culture Manager for the Novotel and ibis hotels in Christchurch. From June 2023, he served as Precinct Director of Talent & Culture for the three hotels in the Auckland Airport precinct: Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport, Novotel Auckland Airport and ibis Budget Auckland Airport.
In a farewell message posted on LinkedIn, he closed the chapter on more than eight years with Accor, thanking his Auckland Airport Precinct teams for the journey they had shared.
A background in psychology and employment law
Jason Viljoen holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Massey University (2017–2020). He also earned a diploma in Accommodation Services in 2007 and an N6 Certificate in hospitality and catering from Bloemfontein College.
He highlights his command of New Zealand employment law and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, as well as a flair for implementing new systems and processes. He also notes that he spent four years as a volunteer counsellor with Lifeline.
Our analysis – For remote lodges such as Cape Kidnappers, Kauri Cliffs and Matakauri, recruiting and retaining staff are major operational challenges. Bringing the Talent & Culture function together at national level allows Rosewood to pool HR expertise and harmonise its practices across the entire portfolio.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Rosewood New Zealand appoints Jason Viljoen as Cluster Director of Talent & Culture
Scope: Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs and Rosewood Matakauri
Based at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay, since September 2026
Previously Precinct Director of Talent & Culture, Pullman, Novotel and ibis Budget Auckland Airport (Accor)
20+ years in hospitality, from receptionist to General Manager with City Lodge Hotel Group in South Africa
BSc Psychology, Massey University
