Steamships have announced the appointment of Damian Cooper as Head of Division for Steamships Hospitality.
According to a statement, Managing Director Chris Daniells said cooper has joined the company at an exciting time as it continues to strengthen and grow its hospitality portfolio.
He said Cooper’s strong operational expertise, development background, and strategic vision will play a critical role in supporting Steamships’ long-term growth ambitions and reinforcing its position as a market leader in Papua New Guinea.
An accomplished hospitality executive, Daniells added that Cooper brings more than 20 years of global leadership experience across luxury, upper-upscale, and mixed-use hospitality operations throughout Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
His career includes senior leadership positions with leading international brands such as Marriott, Starwood, Westin, Sheraton, InterContinental, Radisson Blu, Anantara, and Swiss-Belhotel.
Daniells affirmed that Cooper is widely recognised for his ability to lead complex operations, drive commercial outcomes, and build resilient teams in challenging environments. He has managed some of the region’s largest hospitality assets, including properties with more than 600 rooms, extensive MICE facilities, and workforces exceeding 500 employees.
His career highlights include overseeing Michelin-starred operations, receiving multiple Marriott awards, serving in board-level roles, and holding regional leadership positions across APAC, Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
Cooper’s expertise spans full hotel operations, post-COVID repositioning, major refurbishments, rebranding, crisis management, and large-scale development projects. Under his leadership, operations have consistently delivered above-market and record gross operating profit performance while building high-performing teams.
Prior to joining Steamships, Cooper served as General Manager – Hotel and Development at The Stanley Hotel & Suites, where he led the flagship five-star hotel and mixed-use precinct.
Steamships welcomed Cooper to its executive leadership team and said it looks forward to the positive impact he will bring to the company and its hospitality division.
