Young people with disabilities wanting to pursue a career in hospitality will have far greater opportunities following a pioneering partnership between some of Australia’s leading hotel, educational and social enterprise organisations.
Hotel Etico was established as Australia’s first social enterprise hotel in 2020, with the goal of training people living with a disability to become job-ready for the hospitality industry.
The 15-room hotel is set in the historic Mount Victoria Manor and gardens in the Blue Mountains providing real-life experience for the trainees, who after completing their training at the hotel, are assisted in gaining career employment in other hotels around NSW.
The Hotel Etico project will now be expanded following the acquisition by entrepreneur and hotel owner, Dr Jerry Schwartz, of the site on which Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) operates.
Dr Schwartz’s vision is to expand the site’s international education pedigree by adding the pioneering Hotel Etico campus to the BMIHMS operation. BMIHMS will continue to be owned and operated by Torrens University Australia.
This has been enabled by the Blue Mountains International Hotel School’s new direction, which will see BMIHMS move into a smaller, refurbished campus, allowing Hotel Etico to move into the site.
Hotel Etico will relocate its landmark Academy of Independence and Head Office from Mount Victoria to the Leura campus, adjacent to BMIHMS and the Schwartz-owned Leura Gardens Resort. The Schwartz Family Company also operates the nearby Fairmont Resort, where many of the Hotel Etico graduates have been employed.
Dr Schwartz said the idea was to create an ‘integrated resort village’ where hospitality education, inclusive employment, and real-world hotel operations coexist.
“This will provide the best possible hotel education facilities while students are fully immersed in an operating hotel, while benefitting from an education program that will deliver passionate, well-trained, and motivated graduates to the industry, which is hindered by a current talent shortage,” said Dr Schwartz.
“Students from the Blue Mountains International Hospitality School and Hotel Etico will have hands-on pathways into their hospitality careers and learn in the best environment.
“This partnership demonstrates the hospitality industry’s commitment to attracting the very best talent and fostering true inclusion, Disability is a strength and asset; the campus will serve as a model for Australia and the wider industry”.
Managers of Leura Gardens Hotel and Fairmont Resort, Trilogy Hotels, will create clear recruitment pipelines for Hotel Etico and BMIHMS graduates.
The partnership and shared campus operations are planned to commence from mid-October 2025.
Hotel Etico is also in the final stages of planning a second campus in Canberra, in association with Schwartz Family Company and Trilogy Hotels, utilising their Mercure Hotel Canberra as the training hotel.
Commenting on the Blue Mountains initiative, Trilogy Hotels CEO, Scott Boyes, said: “This is the first partnership of its kind in Australia integrating vocational training, higher education, inclusive employment, and hotel operations all on a single campus.
“It empowers a new generation of industry professionals, across all abilities and backgrounds.
“We believe the Leura Campus will be a beacon of social enterprise, education excellence, and real-life learning for hospitality careers.”Additional Quotes:
Andrea Comastri, CEO, Hotel Etico: “Relocating the Hotel Etico ‘Academy of Independence’ and Head Office to Leura as part of such a world-class campus is a bold step for inclusion in the Australian hospitality industry. Our trainees’ dedication proves that disability is no barrier to excellence. This partnership will open up new and exciting career pathways in hospitality for dozens of young people with disability.”
Dr. Jerry Schwartz, Director, Schwartz Family Company: “When the opportunity arose to acquire the property on which the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School is located, it was vital for me to preserve its legacy while making it even more innovative and inclusive. I am delighted to work with Torrens University Australia and Hotel Etico on this wonderful opportunity to do something special together. This project has enabled me to establish a second major resort in the Blue Mountains and allow training within a hospitality environment of two very different hotels.”
Prof Simon Pawson, Dean, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School: “We are moving into a new and exciting direction. This collaboration respects our history and sets a new benchmark for hands-on hospitality education in Australia. Students gain real industry experience, and the shared campus model prepares our graduates for success across all facets of the hospitality sector.”
Scott Boyes, CEO, Trilogy Hotels: “We’re proud to play an active role in this visionary partnership. At Trilogy Hotels, we believe the best teams are built from talent, drive and diversity. We look forward to providing strong career pathways for both Hotel Etico and BMIHMS graduates.”
Background information:
- Hotel Etico is Australia’s first social enterprise hotel. It provides employment and independent living opportunities for people with disabilities while mentoring them to transition into open employment.
- Blue Mountains International Hospitality Management School is a globally recognised institution in hotel management education owned and operated by Torrens University Australia whose alumni is amongst the finest global hotel leaders.
- Schwartz Family Company is Australia’s largest private hotel and property-owning group, known for growing careers, innovation and social investment. The SFC portfolio includes the Fairmont Resort by M-Gallery and Leura Gardens Resort in the township of Leura in the Blue Mountains region of NSW.
- Trilogy Hotels is the hotel manager appointed by Dr Jerry Schwartz to operate the Fairmont and Leura Gardens Resorts. Trilogy operates high-profile properties and is committed to fostering talent pipeline diversity.
