CROWNE PLAZA OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
IRISH MURPHY’S BEST LIVE MUSIC OR ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
When hospitality venues were forced to shut during the Covid pandemic, one favourite pastime of revellers went with it – listening to live music and hitting the dancefloor to a bevvy of classic and modern hits. Live bands have been a staple of so many establishments across the state, and it is part of the industry which is still fighting to get back to pre-pandemic times. Popular Hobart watering hole Irish Murphy’s has been a staple on the live music scene and proved its popularity by taking victory in the category. “There’s been huge excitement here. Winning the award has lifted the place, it’s been excellent. The bands are very happy,” said Tom Bawle, who has recently joined Irish as its new publican. “I’ve been walking around with the prized possession just looking to where I can hang it, I guess that’s the next thing but it’s been really good for the hotel. “It’s just been fantastic to have live music back in the venue. We’re getting a lot of good feedback and people coming in recognising that they’ve seen that we’ve won the award and saying congratulations.”
Bawle said there was no special secret for landing the state’s best live music and entertainment venue – just creating a safe and relaxing environment for everyone to enjoy themselves. “It’s more the ambience and getting the right bands in, that helps, especially with local bands, which has been fantastic for the hotel. “Also making a nice environment so when people do come in, they can go up and dance and not be hassled and stuff like that and just literally have fun.”
At a time when so many hospitality operators are facing staff shortages, taking out the training and workforce development award was a feather in the cap for the Crowne Plaza. The inner city hotel was also named the best meeting and events venue, picked up silver in the best accessible accommodation category and a bronze as best marketed establishment, but it was recognition for the effort put into the staff which had general manager Linda Collis most pleased. “Certainly for me, the training and development, throughout the pandemic we really tried to continue training and developing and giving people opportunities for promotion,” Collis said. “I think nothing is more important at this point in time than being able to provide people with those opportunities so they see a future in our industry, but we are actually giving them resources to do it. “A significant part of our retention strategy is for people to understand that we’re here to support their journey and to grow into leadership roles. We’ve got good leadership training, we’re always focused on trying to bring people into the industry so apprenticeships are important for us as well.
“We’re also hiring long term unemployed people, and we’ve had some great successes with trying to find those people who have slipped through the cracks a bit and making sure that they get an opportunity. “It wouldn’t work without the training, because they don’t have the skills. “I think for the team to feel that recognition and acknowledgement, so many of them as individuals have shared the success on social media, they are super, super proud of it.”
(Pictured:Brett Collidge in action at Irish Murphy’s)
29
Hospitality Review: June 2022 28
Hospitality Review: June 2022
(Pictured: Crowne Plaza Human Resources Manager Laura Papiccio)
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog