With more than 15 years in luxury hospitality and wellness marketing, Kate Leff has brought a wealth of experience to her new role as Cluster Director of Marketing for Sheridan Grand Sydney Hyde Park and Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Central Park.
After completing hotel school in Cape Town, Kate Leff set out to explore the world and immerse herself in as many facets of hospitality as she could. Her career began in London with a fast‑paced restaurant group, followed by a memorable chapter as a private chef aboard superyachts in the Mediterranean. That experience sparked a desire to combine her love of hospitality with adventure, which led her to Africa to help launch the first luxury houseboat on the Chobe River in Botswana, The Zambezi Queen.
From there, Asia called. She moved to Thailand, where she stepped into a sales and marketing role at Kamalaya, one of the world’s most awarded holistic wellness resorts. This was a pivotal moment for Leff, ushering her into the wellness hospitality sector. She went on to contribute to several incredible wellness projects across India, Bali, and Thailand, launching new concepts and helping shape meaningful guest experiences.
One of her proudest career milestones was leading a brand new wellness resort concept in Bali, created by converting one of the original Amanusa villa estates. At REVIVO, she worked closely with the owners across sales, marketing, and business development, and had the privilege of watching the brand grow from the ground up.
This role allowed Leff not only to help shape the brand’s vision but also to build and nurture a team that became like family. Watching individuals grow into their roles, supporting one another, and remaining deeply committed to the guest experience was one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey.
“Working in the fast‑evolving world of wellness meant we were constantly exploring new ideas, adapting to emerging trends, and challenging ourselves to think differently. That dynamic environment kept us inspired and innovative, and it pushed me professionally in the best possible way. The years at REVĪVŌ shaped me both as a leader and as a human, and they remain the most defining chapter of my career so far,” she said.
One of the most important pieces of advice she has ever received is that it’s absolutely okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Early in her career, Leff felt enormous pressure to get everything right, especially in fast‑paced environments with high expectations.
She quickly realised that growth doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from being willing to try, stumble, reassess, and try again. That advice shifted the way she has approached both leadership and creative decision‑making. It has allowed her to foster teams where people felt safe to experiment, share ideas, and push boundaries without fear of failure.
She said mistakes became moments of clarity rather than setbacks, and they often led to breakthroughs that might not have discovered otherwise.
“It’s a reminder I still carry with me: progress is built on curiosity, humility, and the courage to keep learning.”
One of the most influential mentors in Leff’s career was the first female leader she worked closely with at Kamalaya, who was the Director of Sales and Marketing.
She invested in Leff with a genuine desire to help her grow, both personally and professionally, and her guidance came at a time when she was still shaping her understanding of her own potential.
“What made her mentorship so powerful was the way she encouraged me to think long‑term. We often had conversations about where I wanted to be in ten years, and those discussions helped me build clarity, confidence, and direction. She pushed me to think beyond the day‑to‑day and to truly envision the future I wanted to create. In many ways, she helped me manifest my career by holding that vision with me, and by showing me what strong, compassionate, and inspiring leadership looks like.”
Leff said the industry has changed significantly since she first started, and not always in the ways she’d hoped. One of the biggest shifts has been a noticeable decline in the number of young people who view hospitality as a long‑term career. She said that with so many industries now offering remote work and more flexible lifestyles; hospitality, which is inherently operational, hands‑on, and service‑driven, can feel demanding in comparison.
As a result, Leff said personal and professional service standards have become harder to maintain, simply because the talent pool is shrinking. She believed that fewer people are entering the industry, and those who do often see it as a stepping stone rather than a true career path. This has made it more challenging to find that next generation of passionate hoteliers.
However, what has given Leff hope has been the way companies are actively addressing this.
“I think Marriott is doing a fantastic job of creating clearer pathways for young talent, whether through internships, training programs, or meaningful HR initiatives that showcase hospitality as a vibrant, global, and rewarding career choice. These efforts are crucial, and I believe they’re making a real difference in inspiring future leaders to join and stay in the industry.”
Looking ahead, Leff would love to see the industry continue moving toward more creative, collaborative, and community‑driven partnerships. She said hospitality thrives when brands, venues, and teams come together with a shared purpose, and she believed there’s so much potential in joining forces rather than working in silos.
Whether it’s innovative bar takeovers, cross‑property activations, or meaningful brand collaborations, Leff said these kinds of initiatives bring fresh energy into hotel spaces and create memorable experiences for guests. They also help amplify each brand’s strengths while showcasing the incredible talent within the industry.
“Ultimately, I’d like to see us work together more intentionally to drive common goals; celebrating creativity, supporting one another’s success, and building experiences that feel exciting, relevant, and truly connected. When we collaborate, everyone wins: our teams, our partners, and most importantly, our guests.”
Leff said that Hospitality, at its core, was about genuine human connection, and it’s that emotional impact that continues to energise her.
She is also deeply inspired by the creativity of the industry.
“No two days ever look the same, and there’s always an opportunity to craft new experiences, reimagine how we serve our guests, and bring innovative ideas to life. That constant evolution keeps me curious, motivated, and fully engaged in what I do.”
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