Hospo Happiness Project Richard McLeod

Marty literally grew up with hospitality in his blood living above the pub his parents operated in rural Victoria from the age of 10.

He’s worked with some of the most creative operators in the industry and had phenomenal experience from large pub formats through to his own discerning South Press Wine Bar.

We’ll find out how he made the subtle move from studying immunology at Monash University, which included an honours with the World Health Organisation on Influenza Vaccines Research, (Yes we will ask him what date we can expect a Covid vaccine!) to studying wine under MS Peter Mitchell.

Covid has dealt the industry a particularly nasty hand and Marty has been in the thick of it as an owner, operations manager and patient, after contracting Covid in the past few weeks. We’re looking forward to pulling out the key threads of wisdom that Marty has amassed over a very successful career and understanding his views on the key to surviving and thriving in hospitality post Covid.

In the resort town and tourist mecca of Queenstown, we’ll find out how Hospo owners and partners Sam Gruar and Penelope Johnson have created their own thriving niche in a very crowded market, with their Iconic La Rumbla and Slowcuts restaurants and recently opened Good day cafe.

Prior to the opening of La Rumbla and Slowcuts both have enjoyed significant hospitality careers with Sam having done his time at New Zealand institutions Saffron and The French Cafe while PJ was an integral part of The Good Group team and involved in the openings and growth of their Botswana Butchery outlets.

After a stint together in Ibiza at one of the world's largest nightclubs they returned to New Zealand and have opened three outlets in quick succession. It has been an amazing hospitality story to watch.

We’re looking forward to finding out how the couple have slotted into their own roles within the business, the difficulties they’ve faced with such rapid growth and of course how they are making change in their business to ensure success in a town that now has no international tourism.

In a career spanning 33 years Lucy Whelan has been involved since "Ground Zero" with the Lone Star Group. She is a class act at the heart of a company that practices love, care and generosity better than any other hospitality group I know.

Easily the largest big format franchise in the country with 40 venues across the country we'll dive into how Lucy and her fellow founders took a passionate love of country music and evolved it into a hugely energetic family business that embraced extended family members and close friends to become a hospitality icon.

In growing a business from one site to forty, you will hear a lot of great war stories of the franchising game and very practical advice for anyone looking to franchise their existing businesses or grow their existing franchise.