Meet the Team

The people behind every exceptional stay.

Covara is built by experts across property, hospitality, design, technology and finance,  united by a belief that exceptional stays come from thoughtful detail, seamless systems and genuine care.

Our philosophy

Hospitality is a people business.

Covara was founded on the belief that the difference between a good stay and an exceptional one comes down to the people behind it. Our team brings together experience across hospitality, property, operations, technology and guest experience to deliver stays that feel seamless, thoughtful and well cared for.

We are small by design. Every person on the Covara team is involved in the properties they oversee. There are no call centres, no layered handovers and no shortcuts.

Covara team

Leadership

The founders and directors.

James Pattison

James

Co-Founder & DIRECTOR OF SALES

James spent the first decade of his career in investment banking and various entrepreneurial pursuits across Sydney and London, before taking his passion for startup businesses full-time, starting his own business; providing debt & equity funding and mentoring to entrepreneurs. James successfully grew the business over 5 years, supporting over 1,000 entrepreneurs across four offices. More recently, James has pursued his interest in technology as an enabler, implementing technology to the short-term accommodation industry, whilst achieving superhost status on a portfolio of London and Sydney properties. In his spare time, James is an avid fan of the theatre and enjoys working on his acting craft.

Christian Carella

Christian

Co-Founder & Director of TECHNOLOGY

Christian is a seasoned IT executive with over a decade of experience leading technology teams for prominent brands such as Swarovski, Yahoo, and Peloton. He also holds a real estate license in New South Wales. Christian's entrepreneurial spirit has led him to establish and manage multiple successful e-commerce businesses over the last 15 years. With a deep understanding of digital marketing, innovative technology, lead generation, and customer service, Christian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his ventures. He is committed to driving growth and success through a data-driven and customer-centric approach in the short-term accommodation industry. In his free time, Christian enjoys reading about new trends in technology and travelling around the world.

The team

Operations, Styling & Guest Relations.

Carmen

Lotis

Head of OPERATIONS

Lotis leads Covara’s operations, ensuring every stay runs seamlessly from booking through to departure. With a meticulous eye for detail and a deep understanding of guest and homeowner expectations, she oversees day-to-day execution, team coordination, and service delivery to uphold Covara’s consistently exceptional standards.

Lisa

Lisa

Interior stylist

Lisa leads Covara’s interior styling, thoughtfully curating each home to reflect a refined, timeless aesthetic that elevates every stay. With a deep understanding of luxury design and guest experience, she ensures every detail feels considered, cohesive, and effortlessly beautiful.

Lotis

Carmen

Property MANAGER

Carmen oversees property readiness, housekeeping standards and maintenance coordination across the Covara portfolio. She conducts every inspection personally and sets the benchmark for presentation standards.

Work with us

We’re always looking for exceptional people.

If you have a background in hospitality, luxury property or guest services and share our standards, we would love to hear from you.

7+

Team members

Sydney

Based in Surry Hills

Always

Seeking exceptional people