MANDY Higgins, Vanessa Russell and Justin Pang have joined the team at The Celtic Manor Resort and Carl Johnson joins the corporate relations team.

Taking on the newly created role of head of membership, Cardiff-born Mandy Higgins brings to the resort a wealth of experience in the leisure and health club industry, having spent the past three years as sales and marketing manager at David Lloyd Leisure in Cardiff.

Prior to that, Mandy spent time in Australia working for health clubs in Erina, New South Wales and then Fitness First, Sydney.

Mandy will lead the newly formed membership sales team, driving forward golf and leisure membership at Celtic Manor, as part of its continuing development leading up to hosting the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Vanessa Russell joins the resort in the position of marketing communications manager, responsible for promoting conference and banqueting, weddings, golf and leisure membership, as well as special events including The Celtic Manor Wales Open and The Invitational Trophy, Celtic Manor's annual tennis tournament featuring the likes of Pat Cash and Henri Leconte.

Formerly sales and marketing manager at the Cardiff International Arena, Vanessa also has an Australian connection having been the European sales representative for the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, based in London.

Prior to that she spent several years as an account manager at the QEII Conference Centre, London, where she gained her grounding in both the national and international conference industry, with frequent visits to North America.

Justin Pang has been appointed as front office manager overseeing a team of 60 receptionists, concierge and switchboard operators.

Justin joins the resort from the Thistle Kensington Palace and Park Hotels in London. Originally from Singapore, Justin has a long background in the hotel industry, including five years at Raffles Hotel, Singapore where he was assistant front office manager. He also spent time in Australia on a university hotel internship at the Marriott Gold Coast Hotel during his time studying hotel management at Griffith University. Carl Johnson has been promoted to corporate relations executive responsible for looking after and building relationships with locally-based companies in the South Wales region.

Carl has been with the resort for ten years, most recently in the role of golf day co-ordinator, looking after corporate groups, golf societies and members during their golf events.

Celtic Manor's chief executive, Dylan Matthews, said: "We are delighted to welcome Mandy, Vanessa and Justin to The Celtic Manor Resort and to congratulate Carl on his promotion. "The depth of knowledge and experience that they have gained in their respective fields will be a great asset to the resort's management team and we look forward to working with them."