Amid tough times for the hospitality and events industries, the National Wine Centre of Australia has been recognised at the Restaurant and Catering Association (SA) Awards for Excellence for its catering offering being awarded Best Function/Convention Centre caterer for 2021.
It is the third time in four years the iconic South Australian venue has received this accolade, after not submitting an entry during 2020 due to trading conditions.
Made all the more poignant with the challenges faced over the past year across all aspects of the industry, including of course the actual event numbers, but also the management of staff and maintaining stock levels and supplies, the National Wine Centre has maintained a strict level of compliance and ensured agility across all areas of its business. This management style has enabled positive outcomes both internally and externally as the limits and allowances on events ebb and flow.
With the functions and events industry in South Australia largely facing restrictions as opposed to full closures, the primary issues facing the venue have related to national and international border closures – though the appetite to meet and enjoy hospitality has remained relatively positive at a local level.
Quote from Jason Bird, General Manager, National Wine Centre of Australia
“We are fortunate in South Australia that for the most part, our restrictions have enabled us to trade at some degree of ‘normality’ for most of the last year. The balancing act has been to provide the level of service and quality that is expected of the National Wine Centre of Australia while keeping customer safety and public health as non-negotiables. I’m so proud of the agility and strength of the team in their ongoing commitment to planning, re-planning and then re-planning again as may be required, and always putting their clients first. We have been fortunate enough to win this award multiple times – somehow this year’s is all the more appreciated.”
The National Wine Centre of Australia was also named Best Wedding Caterer – also the third time in four years the iconic South Australian venue has been awarded the accolade (no entry was submitted in 2020).
