About

Dan Bisa

Dan at work

In 1998 I swapped my ‘banking, finance and long-lunching’ career in Sydney, for a pair of gloves, a shovel and a wheelbarrow in Canberra.  Never wanting to miss an opportunity, I saw fantastic upside in the property market and thus joined my Dad and the family business, starting as it were, right at the bottom!

Taking the reins in the early 2000’s has been a journey. We now have a great team and I love that my role allows me to drive them into new avenues and adventures. My passion continues to be in creating design driven and uncompromising developments, through Bisa Property, alongside curating memorable and unique experiences at all of Bisa Hospitality’s venues. As my Dad says though… “the rules are, there are no rules”! So nothing is off the table.

Dan outside of work

I live to ski. I love playing tennis especially with my family (currently ranked 4^th… out of 4), I am continually trying to crash my MTB, I indulge in good red wine and have a passion for all things Italian (of course). Most importantly, I have a firm commitment to always erring on the side of #attacklife.

Favourite Hot Beverage

Negroni sans ice…

Favourite Cold Beverage

Negroni

Dion Bisa

Dion at work

In 2011, I decided to move back home to Canberra after 15 years in Sydney to join my brother, Dan in his endeavours to build, open and operate East Hotel.  Finally, I saw an opportunity to give back to my family’s business, which was transitioning from construction to property development and hospitality. Prior to this move, I had a successful career in Sydney as a psychologist, working in various areas including alcohol and other drugs, workplace stress, working with children and many years in private practice.

I was heavily involved in the interior finishes of East Hotel, detailing rooms, conferences spaces and the lobby.  This then continued to the staff service, culture and presentation.  I have played many roles in my time at East Hotel, learning everything I know from my fearless leader, Todd Handy, but once a psychologist, always a psychologist and I continue to use my old skills on a daily basis to help my managers manage their teams!  I also played my part in the development of Joe’s Bar, Agostinis & Café Sosta, and really enjoyed the design and planning stage and then the lights, camera, action, doors open stage! It’s an incredible experience seeing a concept come alive and then be embraced by travellers and locals alike.

I love seeing individuals grab onto their passion for hospitality and thrive.  I see my role as not only fostering these people but giving them the extra bit of self-belief they lack, so they can achieve what they strive to and more!  Hospitality is a tough gig. It’s long hours, it’s people facing, it’s knowing you can’t always please everyone, but you can try, and all of this is supposed to happen with a smile on your face!  But it’s addictive!  It’s magical.  It’s so much fun!

Dion outside of work

When I’m not at work I love being at home with my husband and kids.   I love cooking together, sitting outside with a glass of wine and relaxing. I love planning my next couple of holidays, I always like having a few lined up!  I love Pilates, walking my crazy dogs and skiing… I should really say après skiing!

Favourite Hot Beverage

English Breakfast Tea.

Favourite Cold Beverage

Dirty Martini.

Todd Handy

Todd at work

While my affinity for hotels started young on family holidays (think the great American road trip), gaining employment in food service was easier at a young age than in a hotel.  My first real job in the industry was at 15 years old at an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet “restaurant” as a bus boy.  I was excited when I was promoted to work the register.  It was more about being able to talk to the customers because the register basically had two buttons: “Adult Buffet” and “Child Buffet”!

There are so many aspects I love about my job: building, leading and being part of dynamic teams, problem-solving, kicking goals (and helping others do the same), creating experiences for our guests, the extremes of (un)predictability and hearing peoples stories no matter how simple or extraordinary.

Working in hotels and with the Bisa family provides all of that and more.  Working with, and for, a passionate family (they are Italian after all!) means there is a level of love, intensity and integrity that goes into everything we do.  It’s part of what shapes our decisions as a business and why I’m still proud to be here after 12 years and counting – a rarity for hotel GM’s! I’m still waiting for honorary nationalisation as an Italian!

Todd outside of work

I was born and spent my earlier years growing up in an American city known for automotive factories, brown town water, a number of digs from The Simpsons and a whole movie from controversial filmmaker Michael Moore just to name a few claims to fame. I’ve lived in a few other cities in the US (with much better reputations than my aforementioned birthplace) and Australia, although I have resided in Canberra for the better part of the last 20 years.  It’s a great place to call home!

I believe you must “move it or you’ll lose it” so I like to wake up early to squeeze in some exercise before the day ahead.  After work and a hefty kid’s sports calendar, I try to enjoy good food, a good drink, a bike ride or walk, explore places old and new and hopefully all while connecting with my wife and kids.

Favourite hot beverage

Americano. Of course.

Favourite cold beverage

Old fashioned on rye.

Kylie Murdoch

Kylie at work

Kylie joined the team in 2013 as our Sales and Marketing Manager.  With a background in Travel Consulting and Sales, East presented the perfect opportunity to combine these 2 loves in a hotel environment.

Over the past 11 years she has worked her way through the business from Director of Sales to Director of Rooms and now as our Director of Happy People, People and Culture, and moonlighting as our Front Office Manager, supporting the Guest Experience Team.

Now looking after our every growing team across Bisa Hospitality, Kylie is passionate about people, culture and ensuring that we support our people both professionally and personally, to learn and challenge them as they continue to grow with the business.

Kylie really enjoys the diversity that working in HR delivers and working closely with the front office team on our guest experience.  Every day is different and presents a new opportunity for her to learn and grow professionally as well.

We have a great team of passionate people and working as part of this team is hugely rewarding.  There is never a dull day, and just when you think you’ve heard it and seen it all, you are handed a new scenario and opportunity to have a really good laugh or workshop a challenging scenario.

Kylie outside of work

Born in Griffith NSW, moved to Canberra in 2001.  Love a good gym session and some weight training.  Married Tim – a diehard Victorian Carlton Supporter, so there is no other team, and I do love the Blues!

Would love to have a beautiful little Country or seaside retreat one day!

When not working, Kylie enjoys camping, kayaking, a good walk, and playing her saxophone!

Favourite hot beverage

Love a good skinny Flat white!

Favourite cold beverage

Prosecco/Champagne although a good G&T comes a close second.

Despina Cramer

Despina at work

Despina built a successful 16-year career in Event Management, running corporate events across Australia and internationally. Having spent much of her career as a client immersed in the hotel industry, she decided to take on a new challenge by stepping into the hotel side of the business. With her deep understanding of events and client needs, Despina joined East Hotel as the Conference and Events Manager. In this role, she quickly transformed the department by streamlining systems and processes, building a strong team, and elevating operational efficiency.

After four years of success in that role, Despina transitioned to the position of Director of Relationships, where she now oversees the sales and events teams and develops the hotel’s sales and marketing strategies. Drawing on her expertise in team leadership, relationship management, event management, training facilitation, and operations management, Despina continues to drive the hotel’s growth and foster exceptional client experiences.

I love that no two days at the hotel are ever the same—there’s always something happening! The fast-paced environment keeps me on my toes, and having the ability to develop, implement, and adapt quickly is both exciting and essential. It’s what helps us stay ahead of the game. The dynamic nature of the hotel, constantly evolving and changing, makes every day an adventure. But most of all, what I truly love is the people I work with—East is my family.

Despina outside of work

Despina grew up in Canberra surrounded by her big, fat Greek family. In her 20s, she swapped the quiet capital for the buzz of big city living but returned in 2012 with her husband, two kids, and a lot more appreciation for good parking. These days, she loves Pilates, walking her cavoodle Nala, and reminiscing about the time she danced on Broadway (okay, just once, but it still counts!). Her ultimate dream? Living by the ocean, ideally with a cocktail in hand and no emails in sight.

Favourite hot beverage

Flat White.

Favourite cold beverage

G&T.

Francesco Balestrieri

Francesco at work

Francesco’s culinary journey is a story of passion, dedication, and growth. Born in Rome and moving to Canberra in 2008, he brought with him a deep love for food, honed through years of running his own restaurant in Italy. His travels and diverse global experiences shaped his approach to cooking, but it was at East Hotel, starting in 2015, where his culinary career truly flourished.

From the opening of Joe’s Bar to overseeing the kitchens at Agostini’s and Joe’s, Francesco’s leadership, creativity, and unwavering passion for food propelled him from Executive Chef to Culinary Director. His focus has always been on delivering exceptional dining experiences, blending innovation with classic flavors. Today, Francesco leads the culinary team at East Hotel with a vision that’s both ambitious and inspired by his lifelong dedication to food.

Francesco outside of work

When he’s not cooking up a storm, Francesco loves to ride his bike through nature, soak up quality family time, and seek out new dining experiences. Whether it’s indulging in global cuisines or sipping on a fine glass of wine, Francesco is always on the lookout for his next great food adventure. In short, food isn’t just his career—it’s his life.

Favourite hot beverage

Doppio espresso.

Favourite cold beverage

Negroni.

Junho Luffy Koh

Luffy at work

I start this Career in 2007 as a casual kitchen attendant. I moved to Australian in 2013 and started to work at East Hotel from 2017 and I became an Executive Chef 2024. Mostly my career has been focused on Italian cuisine and I love to cook Italian food.

There is a tattoo on my left arm, it says, “Cooking is passion made visible.” A chef is the person who shows their passion and spreads their love.  I really love to work in the Bisa Hospitality group because it is always full of love adventure. We never stop to advance and walk forward. I enjoy cooking, managing, planning, caring and sharing in our company. I love how the company continues to grow up together with all the staff.

Luffy outside of work

I was born in the Republic of Korea (South) in 1991 and moved to Australia in 2013. I love to play Soccer, basketball, table tennis and pretty much all sports. My current project is to grow my daughters healthy. My dream job is to travel the whole of Australia by food truck with my wife. When I am not working, I normally spend time with family. We ride bikes and swim. When I am alone, I like to read cookbooks and magazines. 

Favourite hot beverage

Hot Sake.

Favourite cold beverage

Original Coca Cola.

Clara Presti

Clara at work

My journey in hospitality all started back in 2018 when I took my first step into the world of hospitality as a waiter at Agostinis. What I thought would be a temporary gig turned into an obsession with creating unforgettable moments for guests. From taking orders to building connections, I quickly realised that hospitality was more than just a job, it was my passion.

My love for the industry only grew stronger, and before I knew it, I was learning new skills and building incredible relationships along the way. Now, as a director, I’m lucky enough to help shape the guest experience from a whole new perspective. But no matter what title I hold, my passion for connecting with people and creating those “wow” moments remain at the heart of everything I do.

Clara outside of work

I’m originally from Northern Italy, but in 2015, I packed my bags and moved to Australia to follow my partner and our shared dream. We landed in Canberra and instantly fell in love with the place! Now, I’m busy being a mum to a little girl who’s always keeping me on my toes. When I’m not running behind her, I love enjoying nature, enjoying good food, and making the most of life with friends and family. And as for work? I’m lucky enough to be living my dream job in hospitality, connecting with incredible people every single day.

Favourite hot beverage

Espresso (because I’m Italian…and why not start the day right?).

Favourite cold beverage

Negroni (everyone needs a good Negroni at some point of the week).

Polly Foley

Polly at work

At 17 I was one of the youngest registrars in the UK touring the Devon countryside registering marriage ceremonies.  This lead me wanting to explore the other side of the event’s industry, soon becoming an event manager at an award winning wedding venue in the UK. After moving to Australia nearly 7 years ago, I landed my role at East Hotel very quickly as Conference and Event Coordinator which developed to Event Manager and now Director of Events, overseeing and working alongside the event, sales and event operations to create seamless event execution.

Spearheading occasioni by Agostinis, Bisa Hospitality’s catering business, has been my proudest achievement to date. Watching it grow into the successful catering business it has become and being partnered with beautiful venues like Red Shed, has taken a lot of hard work and has been immensely rewarding. We have and continue to deliver wonderful offsite events and memorable occasions for so many people in Canberra.

The fast-paced nature of the events industry is what I thrive on—no two days are ever the same, and that’s exactly what keeps me motivated! There is never a dull moment! My passion and drive is delivering exceptional events that go above and beyond expectations, creating unforgettable experiences for clients. This is my daily goal and what I instil in my talented team – setting the standard high!

Working for a family business is so rewarding.  The East family culture is real – they have become family!

Polly outside of work

When I’m not working, you’ll find me at Huskisson on the beach with my partner and dog or camping with friends.

Favourite hot drink

Has to be an English Breakfast tea!

Favourite cold drink

Anything cold, alcoholic and contains ice!

Tim Murdoch

Tim at work

Tim joined team EAST in 2015, coming from a procurement background though within the Hotel Industry.  East Hotel gave Tim the opportunity to change the direction of his career & expand his skill set by heading up the Maintenance & Risk Department of the hotel.

Tim started straight away to bring scheduling & cohesion to a sometimes-manic sometimes chaotic Maintenance Position.

He quickly became the man you could not root, shoot or electrocute (has electrocuted himself three times) never rooted though!

Tim understands that our apartments & suites are our most treasured asset & from a maintenance point of view, strives to ensure they remain of intended highest standard. The goal: that no guest is negatively impacted by preventable malfunctions, glitches or bumps in the night.

Tim loves the multeity of tasks that comes across his desk & just loves refreshing his schedule to accommodate. Tim relies on a trusted Maintenance officer in Rabgay to compliment the team & enhance the Maintenance operation here at East. You may see him around; he is the Man in Black.  Tim will always use we in the good times though I in the bad times showing how he respects & leads his team.

Tim is also passionate about working to lean principles, being innovative with not only technologies but the way we work, finding efficiencies in all aspects of his Asset Management responsibilities without compromising guest experience.  We have had many big, small, unusual & sometimes WOW projects (and the odd catastrophe) across the years & the Maintenance team with Tim at the helm have meet all with aplomb.

Time outside of work

A country lad at heart, Tim is from the Murray Border region, a small town called Mulwala. Like most country boys was a sports fanatic. A good to middling water skier and keen Aussie Rules player. Aussie Rules Football being the mainstay. Tim is married to Kylie & they do love their trips to Melbourne to watch the Blues.

Other little get aways they dream of might be just a nice quiet camping spot by a cool stream or river.

Tim has a green thumb & loves growing vegetables with chilli plants being the go-to crop. (Might have seen himself as a Farmer one day) Loves a good book, generally non-fiction, genre; Military History.

Favourite hot drink

Starts my day with a flat white or dirty white coffee.

Favourite cold drink

Winds down with a cold beer.

Helen Qian

Helen at work

I am an Executive Housekeeping Manager with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Known for attention to detail and commitment to guest satisfaction, and has led teams in prestigious hotels, including in China, where I’ve started my career in the industry. At East Hotel in Canberra, I continue to excel, creating a welcoming atmosphere and ensuring immaculate guest experiences. I also enjoy implementing innovative ideas that boost operational efficiency and consistently achieving high guest satisfaction. Throughout my career, I’ve earned high reputation in leadership, professionalism and effective collaboration across departments.

Helen outside of work

I was born in China and moved to Australia in 1998. When I’m not working, you will find me either on a shopping spree or deep into cleaning marathon in my own home. It’s oddly satisfying about turning my house into a sparkling haven! My retirement job is BBQing in Bunnings on the weekend!

Favourite hot beverage

Hot chocolate.

Favourite cold beverage

Orange juice.