First Contact
John Ortner has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning over several decades. John is the Founder and Chief Executive of First Contact, an independent real estate, facilities, and workplace specialist company. John also served as the Managing Director and Founder of Manhattan Group Recruitment, where they specialized in talent sourcing for Hospitality clients. In addition, John held various managerial roles in renowned hotels and resorts, such as The Hotel Windsor, InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, The Sherwood Taipei, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, The Connaught, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, and Hotel Des Bergues. Throughout their career, they focused on implementing customer service programs, improving customer experience, and achieving industry recognition for excellence.
John Ortner's education history is as follows:
John Ortner obtained a GAICD degree in Director duties, Corporate Governance, Risk & Strategy from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2019. Prior to that, they earned a DBA degree in Doctor of Business Administration from Swinburne University of Technology between 2001 and 2007. In 2001, they also completed an MBA degree in Business Administration from Monash Business School, as well as a CMA (Certified Management Accountant) degree from the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia. In 1997, they gained the CRDE (Certified Rooms Division Executive) certification from AHLEI - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. Before that, they obtained an Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management from Cornell University in 1990 and from Hotel School, Bad Gleichenberg in 1984. Additionally, John Ortner has obtained several certifications including Fellow Certified Management Accountant (FCMA) from the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia in 2022, Certified Management Accountant (CMA) in 2001 from the same institution, and Certified Rooms Division Executive from American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute in 1996.
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First Contact
First Contact is a business focused on others. Ours is a service culture. And we have made investments in our people and processes that add value for our clients in Corporate Real Estate, Facilities, and Workplace. We recognise that thinking about engaging spaces as a built-form issue, rather than a community of people, is a thing of the past. And we also know that getting people back to the office is hard, so, when they return, we have got to ensure workplace experiences are right. First Contact helps curate spaces that optimise choice, support people and help them achieve their goals. We create and operate spaces where people thrive. Our product is delivering excellence in service and customer experience. First Contact was founded by Lausanne and Cornell trained hoteliers. In 2006, we pioneered the concept of the office as a hotel. Since then, we’ve continued to invest, learn, improve, and grow our business underpinned by excellent people, and streamlined, well-designed, regularly maintained processes. We combine the skills of running the office as a corporate hotel with crafting occupancy solutions that create financial and social value. Delivering our objectives by curating spaces with the synchronised skills of a premium hotel is key to us. We see Customer Experience Management, Concierge Services, Building Management and Management, Lease Management, Property Management, Portfolio Management, and Technology holistically. So, we understand the skillsets and handoff points for the roles to be delivered as an extension of your brand in the marketplace. Underpinning all of this is good environmental and social practices, which are infused into the way we work, everyday. Each of our people are empowered with sustainability thinking to support our client’s sustainability vision. Good ideas are precious, but flawless delivery on the promises they create is essential. First Contact operates great workplaces.