From hospitals to hotel flagships — Alex Jovanovic builds hospitality from the ground up.
My Story
I was born in Australia and trained as a nurse—drawn to clean spaces, human systems, and fast responses under pressure.
But I knew I wasn’t staying in Adelaide. I left to move, to grow, and to lead.
I ran a roadhouse in Darwin at 24, leading 30 staff. Then I was recruited into hospitality—front office to GM, fast.
Hyatt was my proving ground, where I learned to scale under pressure in the real world.
Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Beijing—seven openings. Full renovations. Flagships and turnarounds.
I rebuilt teams, relaunched hotels, and reported directly to boards across Asia.
But I’ve always been more than an operator.
I invested in and launched restaurants and bars in Hong Kong.
I co-founded Bali Deli in Indonesia. I built SPARC in the Middle East.
When I joined CT Corp, I led development for new hotel assets and a 6-star brand from scratch.
I’ve never waited for titles or approvals. I invest. I build. I go in early.
I first met Ralf in Hong Kong in the late ’90s.
He was head of procurement at Mandarin Oriental. I was resident manager at the Grand Hyatt.
We rode Harleys together—and shipped fresh produce direct from Australia through a joint purchasing deal we built on the fly.
This started with two men who ride, who build, and who get sh*t done.
That’s why I backed Holedo.
Not just for the model—but because I’ve built this world. I know what doesn’t work. And I know a platform built by operators for operators carries the day.
Holedo isn’t just a product. It’s a return.
A return to clarity. To trust. To human systems that work—because people inside them are seen, aligned, and supported.
That’s where I started. That’s why I’m here.
This is how I lead.
This is how I back Holedo.
From the spine. Through the body. With care for real people, in real systems, that must work.