LETTER FROM MACQUARIE LEISURE MANAGEMENT LIMITED
Macquarie Leisure Trust, an investor in the leisure sector and theme
parks, today announced that Omni Leisure Operations Limited, which
operates the Trust's assets, has appointed a chief executive officer
for the Trust's key asset, the Dreamworld theme park.
Effective from August 1st 2000, Mr Tony Braxton-Smith will be the new
chief executive officer of Dreamworld.
Mr Braxton-Smith brings over 22 years experience in the hospitality
and tourism industry and joins Dreamworld from the Compass Group PLC
where he was Regional Director, Latin America and Managing Director
of Eurest, Chile, managing a staff of 2,200.
Mr Braxton-Smith commenced his career in the tourism industry with
the Sheraton Hotel Group and in 1993 completed his Mister of Business
Administration at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Following the appointment of Mr Braxton-Smith, Dreamworld's present
General Manager, Mr Len Shaw, will continue working with both
Dreamworld and Omni Leisure as a consultant on special projects
utilising his vast expertise in the tourism and theme park industry.
Mr Shaw will be based at Omni Leisure's office in Surfers Paradise.
He will also continue his work with both AALARA (Australian
Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association) & IAAPA (International
Association of Amusements Parks and Attractions), of which he is a
Board Member.
Omni Leisure is one of Australia's leading managers of leisure
businesses, providing specialist leisure management expertise to
Australia's sports, entertainment, tourism and leisure sectors.
In addition to Dreamworld, Omni manages Macquarie Leisure's other
assets including the d'Albora a Marinas Group in NSW and Antarctic
Adventure in Hobart. Omni Leisure also manages other assets such as
Adventure World in Perth, the Australian Tour Desk nationally, and
Ice City on the Gold Coast.
Macquarie Leisure, which listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in
July 1998, is one of a number of sector specific listed property
trusts managed by Macquarie Bank's Property Investment Management
Division. The Division manages approximately $1.9 billion in property
through nine sector specific listed trusts and property syndications.
