12 Aug 2021
Media Release
Following a record year with over $100 million invested into 14 new properties, the G’day Group has appointed Amanda Baldwin as Chief Investment Officer to further its growth strategy.
G’day Group CEO and Founder Grant Wilckens said Amanda Baldwin, has been integral to the company’s rapid growth, and her promotion to Chief Investment Officer will see her lead the Group’s ambitious acquisitions and capital works strategy.
The G’day Group is Australia’s largest regional accommodation network with over 300 properties across two brands, Discovery Holiday Parks and G’day Parks.
“Amanda’s appointment reflects our ambition to continue to grow both our regional accommodation footprint, and the quality of the accommodation within our portfolio,” said Grant.
“Over the past year we’ve acquired 14 properties including some of Australia’s most iconic tourism properties – El Questro in Western Australia and Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory. We’ve also expanded into golf resort tourism with our new McCracken and Glenview properties.”
“We’re making significant investments to upgrade our portfolio with luxurious cabins, glamping and waterparks and we have ambitious targets to invest around $200 million in acquisitions and capital works projects over the next 12 months. That’s a massive boost for regional tourism,” he said.
Having led these initiatives in her role as General Manager, Investments, Amanda was perfectly positioned to support the G’day Group in its commitment to accelerate capital works and mergers and acquisitions, Grant said.
Last year, Amanda won a South Australian Industry Leaders Fund grant and a Future Leader Award from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia to study innovative business negotiation and decision-making skills at the prestigious Harvard University in the US.
As Chief Investment Officer, Amanda will lead mergers, acquisitions and lease extensions, the development team, business strategy, and establishment of iconic journeys to drive unique customer experiences.
“I’m privileged to have such an exciting role in a growing Adelaide-based, national business in such a dynamic sector – it’s great to be part of a company that is making a real contribution to regional communities after all the challenges they have experienced over the past couple of years,’”said Amanda.
“As a company, we have so much on the horizon. We’ve recently reached our goal of being a $1 billion company in terms of enterprise value and we’re committed to becoming a $2 billion company in the near future,” she said.
ENDS
For more information contact Jessica Playford
jplayford@discoveryparks.com.au on 0478 346 504
About G’day Group
Founded by Grant Wilckens in 2004 with three properties in WA, the G’Day Group is now Australia’s largest regional accommodation provider with around 300 properties across Australia.
G’day reached $1bn company status in 2020, and is home to three brands; Discovery Parks (owned and managed parks), G’day Parks (independently owned licensed parks) and G’day Rewards (membership program).
G’day is majority owned by Sunsuper. Founder and CEO Grant Wilckens is also the Chair of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and Board Director of the South Australian Tourism Commission.
