Former Waldorf Astoria GM chosen to lead the Conrad New York

Conrad New York appointed Marlene Poynder as GM. In her role, Poynder will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 463 all-suite luxury hotel located in lower Manhattan's Battery Park City neighborhood. She brings 30 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality fields to Conrad New York, having managed luxury hotels in Australia, Asia and the U.S. Most recently, Poynder served as the GM at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago.

“It is an exciting time to be appointed general manager at Conrad New York, given the recent renaissance and redevelopment of lower Manhattan,” Poynder said in a statement. “I am thrilled for this next adventure in my career and having the chance to work with such a dynamic team in the thriving downtown community. I look forward to playing an integral role in the continued success of the property.”

Poynder joined Hilton in 2010, serving as the preopening and opening GM of the Hilton Queenstown and Kawarau Hotel in New Zealand. From 2012 to 2013 she held roles in the Australasia corporate regional office and in Dalian, China, on behalf of Conrad Hotels & Resorts. In 2013 she became GM of Waldorf Astoria Beijing, overseeing the hotel opening. Poynder also served as GM of Conrad and DoubleTree by Hilton hotels in Haitang Bay Sanya, China, before taking on the GM position at Waldorf Astoria Chicago and relocating to the United States.

Prior to joining Hilton, Poynder held a variety of executive roles with Hyatt Hotels in Asia and Australia covering sales, marketing as well as hotel and spa openings across the region. She holds many qualifications and certifications in selling skills and leadership, including Hilton's excellence in leadership.