The Team
Bruce Garrett - Managing Director
Bruce caught the hotel bug while washing dishes at a local hotel as a part-time job while still at school. The other side of the pot-wash bench seemed so much more glamorous!
After studying hotel management he took on a trainee manager position with Hyatt, focussing on Food and Beverage services. Following this, a brief stint with IHG before embarking on his OE.
Bruce traveled extensively through the USA before basing himself in England for seven years, working for Forte, Marriot, and Thistle hotels, ranging in size from 50 to 800 rooms.
An opportunity to work at the world-renown Huka Lodge brought him back to New Zealand. This was followed up with his first general manager stint at Wharekauhau Country Estate, another luxury lodge. An opening at The George took him back to city life, and 16 years later he has steered the company to considerable success along with adding other hotels to the management company.
Georgina Torrington - Director of Sales and Marketing
Georgina, is a passionate expert with honed sales and marketing skills in the hotel, tourism, events and hospitality sectors. Her first job in the industry was as a duty manager and waitress at a restaurant and cocktail bar while studying at the University of Waikato.
After completing a B.Soc.Sci. (Hons) Georgina discovered she had become addicted to the hospitality sector and embarked on her first full-time role as functions manager at a privately owned hotel and function centre in Hamilton which is where she caught the ‘hotel bug’. Following this was a short stint with MCK hotels, a 6-year foray into larger function centres then the opening and operation of Castaways Restaurant & Function Centre before returning to the hotel sector working with Hilton Auckland and InterContinental Hotels Group.
Georgina brings a wealth of knowledge with a keen understanding of current trends. With a broad range of experience from front-of-house restaurants, event management, sales, marketing, and brand development she loves using data and insights to develop and sell the guest experience.
With a quick wit and inclusive management style, Georgina develops significant relationships to help grow the Brook Serene business. In her downtime you can usually find Georgina in her garden, fishing for trout in one of the many lakes and rivers of Canterbury or hiking the hills in pursuit of deer with her husband Andrew and her two faithful K9 companions.
Simon Ruri - Hotel Manager, The George
When Simon saw the Concierge (starring Michael J Fox) he knew then that Hospitality was where he belonged. On the surface, Simon is an accomplished Hotelier with over 20 years’ of experience.
Post-study at the Southern Institute of Technology, Simon was awarded a scholarship to Kyoto, Japan as a waiter. After returning home to New Zealand, it was in Housekeeping that Simon’s hospitality journey began. Not one to be kept back Simon pursued his passion for exemplary Customer Service which gave him exposure to all departments within hotels. In 2009 Simon was awarded HM Magazines Best Front Office Department Member in Australasia.
Simon has extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry in corporate and leisure Hotels. His passion and dedication to his craft has earned him roles with Millennium and Copthorne Hotels, Heritage Hotels, Outrigger, Mantra Group - Peppers and Mantra Hotels NZ & Australia, Distinction Group, Vbase, as well as with THC Group delivering world-class events.
Mike Eccles - Hotel Manager, Regent of Rotorua
Mike started his professional life in the public service overseeing Industry Training Programmes before taking a sideways shift in hospitality completing an Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management through PIHMS in 2000.
His initial career in hotels saw him involved in the opening of the Novotel & Ibis Ellerslie, where he was to meet his future wife. In 2007 they moved to Christchurch where Mike was first introduced to the Brook Serene Boutique Hotels portfolio in his role as Front Office Manager at The George.
Four years later, in 2011, Mike relocated to Auckland to assist in the care of his parents and was also involved with an inner city hotel while the Rugby World Cup erupted around us.
Fate intervened and saw Mike move to his birthplace (Hamilton) in 2013 where he married and they both settled in new hotel roles. Gifted with the miracle of a daughter Mike continued his journey as the Hotel Manager of Sudima Hamilton.
The family relocated to Rotorua in 2018 where they have been happily settled ever since, enjoying the many local activities and attractions on offer.
Mike enjoys being part of and leading a positive and guest-focused team. Mike has extensive knowledge of the tourism sector and enjoys sharing his experiences of overseas travel and tips for visitors having also explored just about every corner of New Zealand.