About

Melissa Kalan is driven by a life philosophy centered on the principle of continuous learning. With this ethos, she empowers organisations to foster a revenue optimisation culture that resonates from the top down, positively impacting both profits and staff retention.

As a Founding Director and Lead Advisor of the industry membership organisation, Melissa, in collaboration with the company directors and industry Advisory Board, spearheads the charge. Together, they make the specialised yet vital commercial discipline of revenue and yield management accessible to all accommodation operators. They achieve this by creating quality and accessible education pathways for employees and employers, along with providing educational support tools for academia, networking opportunities and advocacy.

A published thought leader and a recognised expert in revenue and yield management, Melissa’s journey encompasses pivotal roles within Qantas Airways Limited and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Her expertise extends to consulting on diverse commercial projects, encompassing a wide-ranging portfolio of tourism operators. Her dedication to advancing education led to her appointment as an Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor by Taylors University, Malaysia’s top private university and a key Southeast Asian institution.

Melissa’s background features leadership roles at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, including assisting properties across the Asia Pacific. She developed and facilitated a groundbreaking postgraduate degree program, setting higher professional standards for commercial leaders within the sector. She achieved accreditation via ASQA for an online entry level course in revenue and yield management, designed a cutting-edge online training simulation, established industry professional certifications, and is the driving force behind the annual APAC Revenue Management Summit.

With a prolific presence as a speaker and moderator at over 55 industry conferences, Melissa is an ardent advocate for industry recognition. Her passion lies in upskilling, cultivating thriving communities, and driving member value and business growth. Under her guidance, ARMA has flourished into a rapidly expanding global network of revenue management-focused professionals, and she has been a strong advocate for the advancement of RM professionals into broader business leadership roles of General Managers and Commercial Leaders.

Melissa Kalan – Speaking Portfolio
  • VTIC – Victorian Tourism Industry Council, Geelong VIC 2014
  • Wyndham Hotel Group – Asia Pacific, GM conference, Sydney 2014
  • ARMA Checking in with RM , Adelaide SA Aug 2014
  • ARMA Checking in with RM , Melbourne VIC Nov 2014
  • Maximum Occupancy industry event – Brisbane, QLD Dec 2014
  • Grand Hotels – conference, Brisbane December 2014
  • Scoopon Travel Sales Managers Meeting – VIC Dec 2014
  • ARMA Checking in with RM , Western Australia – March 2015
  • ARMA Checking in with RM , Sydney – March 2015
  • YesBookIT National Conference – Rydges World Square, Sydney – May 2015
  • William Angliss Institute – 75th Anniversary day for industry – June 2015
  • Choice Hotels Australasia National Conference – August 2015
  • BIG4 National Conference, Canberra – October 2015
  • ARMA Checking in with RM, Brisbane – October 2015
  • Maximum Occupancy – Auckland & Sydney – November 2015
  • Direct is BEST Master Class – Sydney – April 2016
  • Marcus Evans Pricing Analytics Conference – Sydney, August 2016
  • Choice Hotels Australasia National Conference – Hobart, August 2016
  • APAC Revenue Management Summit host – November, Melbourne 2016
  • Scoopon Travel Sales Manager Meeting – September 2016
  • Maximum Occupancy industry event – Sydney, November 2016
  • Tasmanian Tourism Council Conference – Reimagine, May 2017
  • New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference- Auckland, July 2017
  • Top10 Holiday Parks Industry Conference- Christchurch, August 2017
  • APAC Revenue Management Summit host – Melbourne, August 2017
  • Maximum Occupancy New Zealand – Auckland, September 2017
  • Golden Chain Group Conference – Cairns, 2017
  • Maximum Occupancy Industry Conference – Sydney, October 2017
  • Expedia Sydney Summit – Sydney, November 2017
  • Accommodation Association of Australia Hotel Forum – Adelaide, May 2018
  • Expedia Partner Summit – Perth, June 2018
  • New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference – Auckland, July 2018
  • No Vacancy Accommodation Industry Trade Show – Sydney, July 2018
  • APAC Revenue Management Summit host – Melbourne, August 2018
  • VIC Parks National Conference – Victoria, August 2018
  • Sabre and Cendyn Sydney Forum – August 2018
  • AHA SA Industry Forum, Port Lincoln, October 2018
  • BIG4 Holiday Parks National Conference – Adelaide, October 2018
  • Maximum Occupancy – Sydney, October/November 2018
  • Maximum Occupancy New Zealand 2019
  • New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference 2019
  • NoVacancy 2019 – International Convention Centre Sydney , July 2019
  • Sabre DNA Forum – International Convention Centre Sydney, July 2019
  • APAC Revenue Management Summit 2019 – Melbourne, August 2019
  • Ted’s Technology Summit, CEO Panel – Sydney, September 2019
  • Maximum Occupancy Sydney, November 2019
  • ARMA Revenue Management Virtual Summit, July 2020
  • AHICE 2020 – Hyatt Regency Sydney, September 2020
  • BIG4 National Virtual Conference, October 2020
  • NoVacancy Exhibition and Conference, ICC Sydney, June 2021
  • ARMA Global Education Virtual Summit, August 2021
  • NoVacancy Conference and Exhibition, ICC Sydney September 2022
  • APAC Hotel Technology HUB Speaker, September 2022
  • The Book Direct Show, Short Term Rentals – Miami Florida October 2022
ARMA Advisory Board and Tourism Employee Ambassadors

Todd Simms – Regional Director Revenue – South East Asia and Pacific, Accor & ARMA Advisory Board President

Grace Keath – CEO East Coast Tasmania Tourism & ARMA Advisory Board member

Madhavi Nagarajan – Director of Revenue Performance, Ascott Australia & ARMA Advisory Board member

Emily McBride – General Manager Couran Cove Resort & ARMA Advisory Board member

Moana Heal – Senior Solution Engineer, Oracle Hospitality – JAPAC & ARMA Advisory Board member

Katrina Wallace – Manager, Revenue Management – NRMA Parks and Resorts

Melissa Kalan – Chair and CEO

en_USEnglish
en_USEnglish
Scroll to Top