Meet the Team | Sep 26, 2019
Thomas and Kristen Nock
The award winning Byng Street Boutique Hotel is the result of one family’s vision and passion for luxury accommodation in Orange NSW.
Thomas and Kristen Nock have worked in the hospitality and service industry for the entirety of their careers and have combined their skills and love of quality offerings to deliver the regions’ most illustrious boutique hotel.
Thomas has over 30 years of hospitality experience, including work and study in Switzerland, working at the prestigious Lanesborough Hotel in London. He was part of the opening team of the Sir Stamford Kent Street. Over 10 years at Royal Sydney Golf Club as part of the management of the House operation was a valuable work experience.
“My experience has given me a traditional approach to hospitality, but when I’ve travelled, I’ve always looked for a particular level of luxury and service with warmth and sophistication.”
Kristen’s love of hospitality was formalised at the William Blue Hotel Management School before she worked in illustrious hotels such as The Westin in Sydney, and then spent 16 years working up to the role of Senior Manager of Catering at VenuesLive, a leading provider of management and hospitality services to venues and events. Amongst other iconic stadiums, the company operates ANZ Stadium and Bankwest Stadium. Kristen’s role focussed on managing a team that fostered strong relationships with event partners and corporate clients to ensure the successful operational delivery of all major event day and business events.
“Even though we’ve worked in some very large organisations, we’ve always loved small hotels,” Kristen said. “The idea of an intimate, boutique experience that’s welcoming with a family feel while remaining sophisticated and luxurious was our goal.”
As travelers to Orange to visit the Nock family farm, Kristen and Thomas fell in love with Orange’s vibrant landscape and heritage architecture. They felt there was an opportunity in the accommodation sector to create a luxury, bespoke boutique hotel and fulfil the dream of creating an experience for others that they themselves would enjoy.
The Nock family purchased Byng Street’s original homestead ‘Yallungah’ in 2014. This family home built in 1896 was beautifully restored and a modern expansion was added to create a 22-room hotel that was inspired by the quirky details of the existing building, local artists, the surrounding landscape and the history of the region.
After an extensive building process, the couple are now excited to welcome guests to the Byng Street Boutique Hotel in the heart of Orange’s heritage precinct.
“As custodians to this incredible building, this has been a fulfilling project that corporate and travelling guests can now enjoy.”
