PRESIDENT UPDATE
Paul Jubb - THA President
The 2021 THA Awards for Excellence was a wonderful, fitting celebration of excellence in our industry after such a difficult and uncertain time in our history. As the THA President and a long time industry operator, I have experienced the full spectrum of emotions as we all navigated the challenges over the past 18 months. It was like nothing I have ever endured in all my years in hospitality. But we have emerged, we are here, we are recovering and will push forward together. I want to thank each one of you for your support of each other and your spirit in getting through the biggest challenge our industry has ever faced. It’s safe to say the Tasmanian Hospitality Association has never been more important, or indeed busier, than in the last year or so. The board and team opened up our doors, our phone lines and our hearts to the entire industry. Members or not, the THA was there to help. Because we’re one industry, and our reputation and survival is so integral to our own livelihoods and to the state of Tasmania. Hospitality is the lifeblood of our great state, our venues provide a place to meet and reunite at a time when human connection is so important. And our staff provide that human connection and service as well, they’re the heartbeat of our industry and help it thrive. Many were very protective of their staff and wanted them to emerge out of the challenges with us. The gala event was a celebration of excellence and resilience in our industry. After having to cancel the 2020 event, this is the night of nights to come together and really reflect and recognise our own achievements and the achievements of others. This year we received over 350 nominations across the 42 categories. The calibre of entries was as high as ever.
This is a testament to the resilience, talent and professionalism of our operatros and staff, to provide such quality experiences during and after such a challenging and difficult time. I congratulate each winner of the THA Awards for Excellence. You should be incredibly proud of your venue and what it brings to the state of Tasmania, It's people and its visitors. I want to acknowledge THA CEO Steve Old and his tireless work in supporting the industry and negotiating the best support for all venues through such a difficult time and congratulate him on his much deserved recognition with a special award presented by the Premier of Tasmania, Peter Gutwein.
As we look at the future, I am very, very confident in our industry and in our state. We still have our challenges and continue to operate in an uncertain environment with restrictions and the threat of the virus still present. But our industry is more resilient, more united and more sought-after than ever. I urge you to continue to strive for excellence and uphold the strong reputation of our sector.
THA HOSPITALITY—REVIEW: AUGUST 2021 | 5
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