Your Business Success Is Our Mission
Nobody knows your business like you do and we wont pretend like we know more. It’s our mission to provide exception and innovative services to our clients. We focus on delivering personalised solutions to our clients that enhance your guests experience, drive growth and maximise profitability. Our team of experienced professionals is committed to excellence in all aspects of hotel operations, from Revenue Management to Customer Service. At Switch Hotel Solutions, we strive to exceed expectations and build long-lasting partnerships with our clients, while always upholding our core values of integrity, transparency and respect.
Our Values
Client Focus
We recognise that each client has unique needs, preferences and goals. We work closely with them to understand their specific requirements and challenges. Our team of experts collaborates with clients to develop customised solutions that meet their needs and exceed their expectations.
Integrity
We believe that integrity is fundamental to building and maintaining trust with our clients, partners, and stakeholders. Our commitment to integrity means that we always act with honesty and transparency. We prioritise open communication, accountability, and confidentiality to ensure that we uphold the highest standards of integrity. We build strong, long-lasting relationships with our clients and partners, earn their trust and respect, and ultimately contribute to their success.
Excellence
We believe that excellence is achieved by consistently going above and beyond for our clients and partners. We strive to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional service and results in everything we do. Our team is committed to continuous learning and improvement, staying up-to-date with the latest trends, and applying best practices to all our projects.
Get To Know Us Better
chris de closey (MBA, Bbus int tour mgt)
Founder and Director
Chris is a hospitality industry specialist through and through. Completing a school based traineeship at Outrigger Twin Towns (now Mantra), he went on to study a Bachelors of Business in International Tourism Management. Continuing to work in the hotels, he moved to Surfers Paradise to continue to ply his trade.
Through this time he also completed his Masters of Business Administration. After almost 10 years in hotels, he made the move to Expedia, where the idea for Switch was born. After 2 and a half years at Expedia, he took the leap to start Switch Hotel Solutions in 2019.
Possessing a sharp business mind, Chris can develop a strategy support any business – large or small.
In his spare time you’ll find Chris hanging out with his beautiful young family and wife Lisa or watching the NRL.
Luke Shore
General manager
Luke has hotel management running through his DNA, he is all things people and operations. After completing his Bachelors degree in Business in International Tourism Management on the Gold Coast, he moved to the United Kingdom where he cut his teeth with a large international hotel group.
Key achievements in his time working in the UK include working as a apart of the management team that opened a new 288 room hotel for the chain in London St Pancras, becoming one of the flagship properties for the group.
Upon returning to Australia, Luke worked with Mantra Group across various properties, where he learnt the ins and outs of the unique and every-changing world that is Strata. Working through the ranks, property to property, Luke quickly moved into a General Manager position for a BreakFree (Accor Hotels) property in Broadbeach.
In 2021, Luke joined the Switch family, bringing with him 12 years of industry knowledge and experience.
In his spare time, you’ll find Luke surfing, camping with his mates or spending time with his partner Chelsea and their two dogs, Della & Kevin.
Emily Arrow
Operations Manager
Emily started in the hospitality industry late in 2018, where she began working for Gold Coast Holiday Services. From them, Emily progressed in the industry and joined Switch in September 2022. She serves as the Operations Manager at Switch Hotel Solutions, where she oversees the day to day operations of multiple hotel properties.
Emily graduated from Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Business in Management, where she gained a strong foundation in business principles and leadership skills, as well as the ability to develop and implement long-term plans that align with the organisation’s objectives.
In her spare time, you will find Emily enjoying a Strawberry Daq with her friends or hanging with her dog Louis.
Juanita de Closey
Administration
Juanita has spent her working career in various Administration roles across different industries, including Childcare, an NDIS service provider and now with the Switch team in travel and tourism.
Juanita joined Switch to work with the team in 2022 and support in the administration side of the various hotel properties we support, including Payroll, Accounts Payable and more.
Juanita has 3 boys (yes – Chris is one of them!) and 3 beautiful Grandchildren.
In her spare time she loves to read and cook with a glass of Savvy B, hang with her grandkids. She is looking forward to ticking off more of her bucket list with some overseas travel in future.
Her family are desperately waiting for her to get a new puppy – so if you are talking to her make sure to put the pressure on!
Portia Poblador
REVENUE ANALYST
Portia is a passionate traveller and experienced professional in the travel industry, with over 10 years under her belt and a background in Revenue Analysis, product coordination and sales consulting.
Portia’s journey in the travel industry led her to work with renowned companies both overseas and domestically, including TUI Travel and Play Travel by Afterpay which has honed her skills in revenue management and strategic thinking.
When she’s not immersed in analysing data or exploring new destinations, you’ll find Portia indulging in new activities like cooking, having picnics by the beach and taking her little dog Cookie for walks.
Jamie-Leigh Burrage
Revenue Analyst
Jamie-Leigh is a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry with over 7 years of experience in hotels. She began her journey when she joined the reservations team at Sea World Resort, later transitioning to the team at QT Gold Coast advancing her experience across multiple positions within the front office team.
She then ventured into the Auditing world to gain an understanding into financial operations of the business, trust accounting and insights into Strata Management.
Early in 2023, Jamie-Leigh joined the Switch team as a Revenue Analyst, utilising her previous experience and new knowledge gained working alongside the team to deliver optimised revenue strategies.
Outside of work, Jamie-Leigh enjoys seeking out new experiences including travelling to new destinations, immersing herself in culture, art and adventure.
Ella Sloan
Marketing Assistant
Born & Bred Melbourne Girl, Ella followed her passion for travel to complete an Advanced Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management landing her an internship that sparked an interest in Marketing.
Following her curiosity for Marketing & Social Media, she dived back into study and completed a Bachelors in Business (Marketing) at RMIT. This led her to a role as a Trade Sales Executive in a Large attractions company where she found herself loving connecting with Trade Partners and gaining an intrinsic knowledge in the industry.
Now as a Marketing Assistant at Switch, Ella enjoys tapping into her creative side and developing unique and innovative strategies for our amazing clients.
Inspired by the easy-going GC lifestyle, you will find Ella enjoying a sunny day on the beach or exploring the Hinterlands for a new hiking track.
Terry Koorockin
Operational Consultant
Terry started his career as a professional footballer, playing alongside the great Wally Lewis in the Brisbane league.
He started in the industry over 25 years ago, creating Gold Coast Holiday Services (now Coastal Letting Co) as a holiday letting company focused on generating superior returns for his owners.
Terry works with Switch to provide clients a unique view into their operations and help to streamline where possible. His ability to set up and redevelop business systems is second to none, driven by his years of experience.
Terry has lived on the Coast for over 40 years, you’ll find him cycling on weekends or enjoying a day at the Races with his family.
Jorden Penter
Personal Assistant to Chris de Closey
Meet Jorden, a seasoned Personal Assistant who hails from the beautiful shores of New Zealand and has embraced Australia as her home for over seven years now. With a passion for organisation and a commitment to excellence, Jorden brings a unique blend of experience to her role.
Jorden’s professionalism and local knowledge make her an ideal partner in supporting Chris. Her ability to manage his schedule, coordinate his meetings and provide general administrative support enables Chris to operate more efficiently and effectively in his professional endeavours.
In her spare time, you’ll find Jorden making the most of the coastal lifestyle with nature walks, surfing, Pilates or hanging with her Dachshund Archie.
Ela Iezzi
Social Media Content Creator
Ela is our social media powerhouse who looks after all things content creation and social media management.
Ela firmly believes in the power of a well-crafted post or a mesmerising video to transform a businesses’ online presence. She has a meticulous eye for detail, ensuring that every frame, every shot, and every social media post is nothing short of perfection.
In her past life, Ela spent several years in the hospitality industry, providing delightful experiences and ensuring every customer left with a smile. It’s this love for customer service that she brings to her creative endeavours, understanding the clients’ needs and creating content for the exact demographic each time.
Even outside of work you’ll most likely find Ela still behind the
camera, capturing the beauty of the Gold Coast, or simply enjoying the markets
and soaking in the sun on the beach!
Rahul Rajiv
Revenue analyst
Rahul is a passionate individual with a deep love for hospitality and a natural affinity for numbers, traits inherited from his parents. His foray into the hospitality world commenced at the tender age of 13 when he eagerly undertook an internship to gain hands-on experience. This initial spark fueled his academic journey, leading him to pursue a BBA in Hospitality in Switzerland, where he honed his skills and immersed himself in the intricacies of the industry.
Rahul’s professional journey has taken him across various corners of the globe, accumulating work experience in Kuwait, Switzerland, Spain, Hong Kong, and Australia. A pivotal moment in his career occurred when he landed in Australia to pursue a Masters in Data Analytics, showcasing his commitment to blending his passion for hospitality with a proficiency in analytics.
Currently, Rahul thrives as a Revenue Analyst at Switch Hotel Solutions, where he applies his analytical skills to the dynamic field of hospitality.
Beyond the professional sphere, he finds joy in cooking, unwinding at the beach, and enthusiastically embracing new adventures and experiences life has to offer or just rocking up the guitar!
claire binch
operations assistant
Claire began her journey within the tourism industry in 2006 in housekeeping on Hamilton Island before moving to Gold Coast Holiday Services where she worked for over 10 years. With a breadth of industry experience, she has worked in and overseen all aspects of holiday property management. She is currently an Operations Assistant for Switch Hotel Solutions.
Alongside her time within the tourism sector, Claire is also very involved in the fitness industry, working as a Crossfit Coach, Olympic Weightlifting coach and operating her own Personal Training Business for many years. In 2023 Claire graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Exercise Science/ Bachelor of Psychological Science. She is passionate about all things health and well-being and has a keen interest in sports, social and occupational psychology.
During the completion of her dual degree, Claire also gave birth to her first child and has spent the last 10 months enjoying being a mum. She hopes in the future to return to her studies and complete her Masters in a relevant field of Psychology.
Prior to becoming a mum, Claire also competed in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting and is looking forward finding more spare moments to train and compete again.