16 May 2020

What do cafes, pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels all have in common? Unfortunately, they all had to shut down during this lockdown debacle.

Brunches with friends were postponed indefinitely, counter meals became a delicacy you took for granted, and once bustling hotel lobbies became ghost towns.

Everyone has felt the hurt of the hospitality industry struggling to survive. Especially the workforce and those who are really keen to start their career in hospitality.

Hospitality jobs are amongst the most popular when it comes to jobs you can get after high school. Bartending at your local is the most fun you can have at work, and one of the perks of working in F & B service means you get make your customer smile.

Lockdown has created some challenges for hospitality. But hope is far from lost, because many businesses are not just surviving but thriving. By responding to the challenge with acts of kindness, personal resilience, and creative innovation, these hospitality operators show us how it’s done.

Trust us when we say these stories are inspiring for anyone with a passion for hospitality.

1. Free meals for the homeless

When isolation and social distancing measures were announced, we were all told to stay at home. But what about those who don’t have one?

Restaurateur Hyunwoo Kang took to the streets of Adelaide armed with takeaway meals from his restaurant Plus82 Pocha, which he hand-delivered. Instead of worrying about himself, Hyunwoo thought about how his business could help others who might be suffering more.

2. Inspirational cupcakes

Cupcakes are honestly one of the best comfort foods. Who doesn’t love sweets!?

Facing the impact of the lockdown, Jillian Butler began diversifying her product line at her patisserie Jillian’s Cakery. She created ‘Morning Tea Treat Boxes’ featuring cupcakes with inspirational messages to be ordered online and delivered to friends and family. She created an innovative solution by taking her business online which saw her thrive in a time of hardship.

3. Uniting local businesses to stay afloat

It’s no secret businesses and workers in hospitality took a massive hit. But in times of hardship, coming together and rallying behind one another can ensure comfort in an otherwise uncertain time.

Head Chef of General Chao Sewoo Son teamed up with local hospitality businesses in Sydney on a new online platform, HospoMarket. Sewoo designed HospoMarket as a click and collect home delivery service to help his colleagues in hospitality get their businesses online selling home delivered meals, meal kits and convenience items.

It takes character and creativity to ensure hospitality jobs survive lockdown. But all three of these innovators have one thing in common: Le Cordon Bleu Australia.

Le Cordon Bleu is a leading hospitality school that offers world-class qualifications for those keen to become a chef, pastry chef, or interested in hotel or restaurant business management. They’ve got many courses to choose from, with Certificate III to Bachelor’s degrees, and four campuses across Australia.

It’s no secret that these business owners who are adapting to adversity picked up their innovative ideas, acts of kindness and skills of the trade by learning at Le Cordon Bleu.

If you’re keen to start planning your career in culinary arts and hospitality, make sure you visit Le Cordon Bleu Australia’s booth at the Year13 Expo.