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Clinton Farley^[1] is a New Zealand-born hospitality executive, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate. He is the General Manager/Chief Executive of The Hotel Britomart in Auckland ^[2] – New Zealand’s first and only 5 Green Star-rated hotel ^[3]. With nearly three decades of experience across New Zealand and Australia, Farley is known for his leadership in luxury, design-led hospitality and for pioneering sustainable tourism initiatives that blend environmental responsibility with authentic guest experiences.

Clinton Farley was born and raised on Auckland’s North Shore, New Zealand. He attended Willow Park Primary School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate School, and Takapuna Grammar School. His early jobs included delivering newspapers and working at a local fruit and vegetable shop that specialised in organic produce – experiences that nurtured his sense of responsibility and appreciation for community.

Farley studied at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), earning diplomas in Travel and Tourism and Hospitality Management. He later obtained a Diploma in Information Systems and Technology from the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, as well as professional qualifications through the Institute of Directors New Zealand, including the Company Directors Course and Chartered Member Assessment Qualification.

Early career

Farley began his hospitality career in 1998 as a porter at the Carlton Hotel Auckland, then the largest hotel in New Zealand. Over six years, he advanced through various operational and management roles including concierge, duty manager, reservations, sales, and marketing. This early experience provided a comprehensive grounding in hotel operations that shaped his leadership style.

Following his time at Carlton, Farley worked in luxury lodges and hotels in Queenstown and Taupō, where he built a reputation for operational excellence and guest service as well as a few years with Accor hotels.^[4]

Hilton Hotels

From 2009 to 2013, Farley served as the opening Hotel Manager at Hilton Lake Taupō^[5], leading Hilton Worldwide’s second property in New Zealand. Under his management, the hotel achieved multiple Hilton Connie Awards and several national and international accolades. He was later Regional Sustainability Champion for Hilton Australasia and the Pacific, a role that allowed him to advance corporate responsibility initiatives across the region. ^[6]

Farley held senior executive roles in Australia, including:

• General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs^{[7] [8]}
• General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne^{[9] [10]}
• General Manager, Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne^[11]

While in Australia, he was recognized as Australian General Manager of the Year (2017) by the HM Awards ^[12][13], honoring excellence across the hotel industry in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. He also collaborated with Indigenous organizations in Alice Springs to promote cultural awareness, employment, and local engagement in the hospitality sector. During his time in Melbourne, he championed Indigenous inclusion by leading the first hotel in Victoria to publicly recognize the Traditional Owners of the land, marked by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque acknowledging their enduring connection to Country.

In 2019, Farley returned to Auckland to become General Manager and Managing Director of Stamford Plaza Auckland^[14], one of the city’s most prominent five-star hotels ^[15]. In 2020, he was appointed General Manager of The Hotel Britomart ^[16][17], where he has been instrumental in shaping its identity as a model of sustainable luxury. ^[18]

Under his leadership, The Hotel Britomart became New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star-rated hotel and earned recognition for its sustainable design, community partnerships, and guest experience innovation. The hotel was also awarded a MICHELIN Key, highlighting its quality and excellence within the international hospitality community. Farley also introduced “Nourishing Nature,” the country’s first hotel-led regenerative travel experience, highlighting his commitment to environmental stewardship and local engagement.

Entrepreneurship

In 1998, alongside his early hospitality career, Farley founded Shopping Kiwi [1] ^[19], an online marketplace focused on New Zealand-made products. The business integrated local manufacturing with e-commerce at a time when online retail was still emerging. He sold the venture to focus on hospitality management and tourism.

Industry leadership and advocacy

Farley is the Regional Chair for Hotel Council Aotearoa (Auckland) and is an has served on multiple tourism boards and advisory groups across Australia and New Zealand. He is known for championing sustainability, regenerative tourism, and community development. Through his advisory roles, Farley has advocated for a more sustainable and year-round destination New Zealand plan, integrating major events, cruise, and urban experiences as key demand drivers for economic recovery. He was a Director with Soap Aid ^[20], a global charity recycling hotel soap for vulnerable communities, and frequently contributes to media discussions on hospitality trends, tourism recovery, and sustainable travel.

Farley is recognized for championing sustainability, regenerative tourism, and community partnerships across the visitor economy. He is a regular conference and panel speaker and contributes to national tourism discussions, policy consultations, and industry panels, encouraging collaboration between government, operators, and local communities to shape a more regenerative future for New Zealand tourism.^[21]

Tourism Recovery and Policy Advocacy

During New Zealand’s post-pandemic tourism recovery, Farley emerged as a prominent industry voice, advocating for greater alignment between tourism, urban development, and community outcomes. He has spoken on national panels about the interconnected role of accommodation, cruise,^[22] and major events in rebuilding New Zealand’s visitor economy. Farley has also emphasized the need for tourism policy to evolve toward regenerative practices where visitor experiences actively contribute to the social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of destinations.

Sustainability and Regenerative Tourism

Farley has been recognized for advancing the concept of regenerative tourism within the luxury accommodation sector. His leadership at The Hotel Britomart established a benchmark for integrating sustainable architecture, local artisan partnerships, and carbon-positive guest experiences. The hotel’s initiatives, including “Nourishing Nature,” are now referenced by sustainability educators and industry peers as exemplars of responsible tourism in urban environments.

Speaking Engagements and Industry Influence

Farley is a frequent speaker and panelist at tourism conferences. His presentations explore the intersection between design-led hospitality, sustainable practice, and destination storytelling. In 2025, he presented insights on the role of cruise tourism as a connector within the wider visitor economy, highlighting opportunities for integrated destination growth.

Recognition

• Finalist, New Zealand Young Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year (2012) – PATA
• Australian General Manager of the Year (2017) – HM Awards
• Asia-Pacific Sustainability Champion Award – Radisson Hotel Group
• Recognized as one of New Zealand’s most influential tourism professionals in industry publications.

Media appearances

Farley has been featured in media including ABC News Australia, Radio New Zealand ^[23], Hospitality Business, Hotel Magazine, Spice News, and Breaking Travel News, as well as on sustainability and tourism podcasts such as Sustainability Kiosk and Go with Tourism. He has also appeared as a spokesperson on national television, welcoming cruise tourism back to New Zealand post–COVID-19.

Personal life

Farley remains based in Auckland, New Zealand. Outside of work, he is passionate about health and wellbeing, travel, sustainability, and mentoring the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals.