By Ian Neubauer

Hilton Cairns’ $5 million event floor refurbishment has seen talent flock from across Australia to join the hotel in launching its exciting new event space.

Recent additions to the 200-plus team include executive chef, Thomas Pirker, and director of operations, Carey Osborne.
Hilton Cairns general manager, David Kelly, said new event space, scheduled to open in October, was proving to be a draw card for talented staff.

“When a hotel shows confidence in its capabilities and plays to its strengths, the results are very positive, people are attracted to confidence,” he said.

“We’re very fortunate to have witnessed this pattern before opening the doors to our new space. Thomas and Carey are two very skilled employees who have a lot to offer Hilton and the wider community.”

Austrian-born Pirker started with a three-year apprenticeship at the Hotel Arlberg Hospiz in Austria.  After five years of climbing the kitchen ladder, he moved to Ireland and was appointed sous chef at The Berkeley Court in Dublin. 

After 12 months he returned to Mainland Europe, joining Hilton Basel as chef saucier and within three years had ascended rank to executive sous chef. In 2005, he moved again, this time to Australia, joining Hilton Sydney as sous chef.

He is joined by Osborne, the new director of operations, who this year moved to Cairns from Fiji Beach Resort and Spa, where she oversaw human resources and operations departments.  

“Hilton is an amazing company to work for—its global presence ensures that you’ll find a cross-section of culture and talent in every one of its hotels. Cairns is certainly no exception,” she said.

With a career spanning 20 years, Osborne has comfortably taken the reins at Hilton Cairns and is overseeing a range of guest services, from F&B, to housekeeping and engineering.

“As a team we are situated in a truly world-class destination with the latest and most up-to-date facilities at our fingertips,” she said. “Hilton has always been a market leader and it’s exciting to witness a leap forward in Far North Queensland.”