July 2002 - Faculty of Business and Law - Victoria University

July 2002
SCHOOL OF
HOSPITALITY, TOURISM
&
MARKETING www.BusinessAndLaw.vu.edu.au
FOOD SAFETY
OUR TASTY
NEW ASSIGNMENT
VU’s Centre of Hospitality and
Tourism Research (CHTR) has just
embarked upon one of the most
mouth-watering assignments it has
ever undertaken. It is also one of its
biggest to date.
The CHTR has successfully
tendered in partnership with
Quality Food Management Systems
to audit food safety in Victoria on
behalf of the state government.
CHTR’s Acting Director, Marg
Deery, said the audit had been
triggered by a series of food safety
issues over recent years.
“The primary objective is to
audit the policies and procedures
adopted by the state’s 78 local
councils to monitor and enforce
Victoria’s Food Safety Act.
“We are undertaking two pilot
studies in the cities of Port Phillip
and Campaspe to refine our
research procedures for city and
regional municipalities before
we extend the audit through the
state.
“Initially, we will circulate a
written survey to councils seeking
information on how they go about
monitoring food safety in their
municipality and enforcing policy.
It also seeks information on any
breaches of the Act they have
experienced and how they have
dealt with them,” Marg said.
The audit team will randomly
select ten Victorian municipalities
for a thorough physical audit once
the initial surveys are in.
“We also plan to select some food
industry small businesses on which
we can develop case studies.
“The Auditor-General’s Department
requires a report from us for
the Spring sitting of Parliament, so
the timeframe for the audit and
report preparation is quite tight,”
Marg said.
Several School of HTM staff are
key drivers for the CHTR food
audit project: Barry O’Mahony,
Linda Roberts and Anne-Marie
Hede.
Please circulate this copy
of Degrees to:

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS
OF MELBOURNE’S WEST
Saying ‘Cheese’ at Melbourne’s 2002 Food and Wine Festival
were School of HTM staff and guest presenters.
A TASTE THAT WILL LINGER ON
Cathy Velentzas and Fiona Kinniburgh – hoping tourism is set to go wild in Melbourne’s west.
Two School of HTM graduates are set on
turning Melbourne tourism’s eyes
westward, towards an area bounded by Little
River and east to the edge of Port Phillip
Bay.
To most people, that definition of
Melbourne’s western boundaries is the first
surprise presented by Wyndham Council’s
Tourism Officer, Fiona Kinniburgh, and
Tourism Synergy Proprietor, Cathy
Velentzas.
The second is their optimism for the city’s
west as a tourism growth corridor,
particularly for domestic tourists, many of
whom perceive the west to be an industrial
zone.
According to Fiona, this is far from the
truth:“It is a zone that boasts beautiful
waterways, first-class accommodation and
conferencing facilities and mega-attractions
like the Werribee Open Range Zoo.”
Cathy agrees, but points out that changing
perceptions is a long-term process.
“You cannot change image overnight.
Initially, we will focus on promoting our
strengths, Over time, it will click with
people that the west of Melbourne is really
an attractive place with a lot to offer,” she
said.
They said councils, like Wyndham, had an
increasing and relevant role in the
promotion of regional tourism, acting as
facilitators and resource providers for local
businesses, that may lack resources of their
own to invest in broader destination
marketing.
This has required a substantial cultural
change in many local authorities that need
to make the transition from being providers
of community infrastructure to drivers of
regional development
Fiona said forging relationships with
accommodation providers, local attractions,
events and visitor and promotional bureaus
is a critical part of her council role.
“Improving access to some of our natural
attractions is one of our major challenges.
Infrastructure has a big impact on tourism’s
effectiveness.The completion of the
Western Ring Road was an important
factor in making Melbourne’s west more
accessible and we have certainly benefited
from that,” she said.
Degrees is produced by Multimedia
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Publisher:
School of Hospitality,Tourism &
Marketing (F111), Footscray Park
Campus,Victoria University,
PO Box 14428, Melbourne City MC,
Victoria, 8001
Editors:
Jane Odgers. Ph: (03) 9688 4413
Austin Norman. Ph: (03) 9688 4472
Fax: (03) 9688 4931
Journalist:
Geoff Brooks
e-mail: gbrooks@medianet.com.au
Graphic Design:
Elizabeth Cincotta
e-mail: mmcreate@medianet.com.au
Ph: (03) 9486 9566.
VU-hosted seminars made a splash at this
year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival,
leaving an indelible mark on the memories
of key influencers in the industry and its
media.
Giving festival goers food for thought is
likely to become an annual feature of VU’s
contribution to what is now an
internationally acclaimed celebration of
culinary flair.
The seminars held at VU’s City Flinders
Campus Convention Centre and cosponsor’s
Hotel Sofitel Melbourne, put some
of the city’s most famous gastronomes
around the table to discuss key industry
issues like ‘Should Sushi be eaten naked?’
and, critically,“Are academics on the gravy
train?”.
Faced with these vexed questions were
seminar guests like Restaurant and Catering
Association President, Dure Dura, and
eminent food and wine consultant, Suzanne
Halliday.
The seminars were hosted by radio
foodies, ABC National’s ‘Comfort Zone’
presenter, Dr Alan Saunders, and Triple R’s
‘Eat It’ host, Cameron Smith.
Gastronomy researcher and author,
Rosario Scarpato, said sensuality and
sustainability could be a match made in
VU’s PIONEERING GERMANS
Fourteen German students will next month pioneer a new international agreement
between VU’s School of HTM and the International University of Applied Science,
Bad Honnef, Germany.
The agreement allows German students studying tourism or hospitality to undertake
a years study at the School of HTM as full fee paying overseas students.That year will
give them credit into a VU degree.
When they return to Germany and complete their qualification, those students will
graduate from their four-year course with two qualifications. All students taking up the
offer will complete two five-month internships, including one outside Germany.
VU may extend its links with Germany through another association with the
Akademie Fur Touristik, Freiburg, whose students may be able to enter VU degrees as
full-paying overseas students required to complete three semesters before graduation.
Pictured right are the architects of the agreement: Faculty of Business and Law’s
Dean Roman Tomasic, and International Unversity of Applied Science, Director of
Internaiontal Programs, Lucia Sauer.
heaven when reflective eating took place.
While conceding that what was sensual
was not always sustainable, they said the
media played a pivotal role in sustainability
in food and wine tourism.
Music to the ears perhaps of regular
media types present at the meeting.
Miranda Sharp writes for “The Age”
Epicure section and said the forums were
her “most lasting experiences” of the
festival.
She later wrote to Barry O’Mahoney
of VU’s School of HTM saying the
seminars were one of the most valuable
inclusions in the festival.
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Research Update
EXCITING MARKET RESEARCH
The latest edition of the book “Marketing
Research”, of which VU Senior
Lecturer, John Hall,
is one of three coauthors,
has won
the Award for
Excellence in
Educational
Publishing for the
“Best Tertiary Standalone
Adaption”
announced on 20
June, 2002.
Making the process as
well as the outcomes of
research exciting is one
of the book’s objectives.
John teamed up with Lynx Research,
Group Director, Mike Shaw, and
University of Ballarat, Head of Marketing
and Tourism, Peter Oppenheim to
produce the second edition of the book
published by Pearson Education Australia.
John Hall(left) pictured with co-authors Mike Shaw, Peter Openheim and Cath
Godfrey of Pearson Education Publishing (second from right).
At the launch, John Hall, said
the book owed much of its content to the
commercial and academic experience of the
authors.
“Our goal was to create a text that would
excite and stimulate interest in market
research. It is based on an applied as well as a
managerial approach, primarily as a textbook
Do the Irish have a natural affinity with
brewing and running pubs, or is there
another rationale for their pre-eminence in
Australia’s brewing history?
The answer to that is ‘yes’ on both
counts according to recent research
conducted by VU Lecturer, Barry
O’Mahony, for his PhD thesis.
“Essentially, the Irish were farmers, but
were unable to get onto the land in
Victoria during the squatting era,” Barry
explains.
“They also had a cultural affinity with
pubs and the liquor trade, so diversified
into this business, to the point where they
were disproportionately represented in it
and controlled the liquor licensing
authority in the 1950s and 60s.”
The Toohey’s brand is one of the most
outstanding legacies of the Irish influence,
still carrying the name of one of the first
Irish brewers in Australia, Matthew Toohey.
Barry also reveals that the lager style so
predominant in today’s Australian brewing
was not always the favoured drop.
“It took some time for lagers to
for higher education purposes.
“However, I am sure many market research
buyers and suppliers will also find it useful as
a source of descriptions of market research
methodologies and other information,” he
said. The book places considerable emphasis
on problem definition and an extensive
discussion of the research brief.
The blarney on brewing
dominate. For many years, Australian
brewers had a lot of trouble with yeast.
Their problem was overcome in 1883 by a
European chemist, Emil Christian Hansen,
working at the Carlsberg brewery. His
work made it possible to use exactly the
same yeast to produce beer with uniform
consistency.
“Hansen’s thesis published in 1884
inspired two Melbourne scientists to
attempt to develop yeast strains of their
own. Both had considerable success. One
of them, de Bavay, consulted Hansen
directly and in 1888 managed to isolate a
wild yeast.
“The difference here was that Hansen
was working with the European style lager,
while de Bavay produced a standard yeast
for ales that were favoured in Australia.
“This yeast was shared throughout the
colonies and by 1889, de Bavay’s yeast
strains were the basis for all colonial beer,”
Barry says.
The focus of his thesis is the proposal
that the Australian pub is a hybrid Irish
pub.
Paul Whitelaw
Paul Constantinou
Common Quest for
professionalism
Quest Apartments’ founder, Paul Constantinou, is constantly
striving to improve his business and recognises the importance of
professional development among employees to achieve his goals.
It made sense to Paul, when his namesake,VU Lecturer, Paul
Whitelaw, contacted him about participating in a study to evaluate
the skills, characteristics and attributes of hospitality managers.
It did not take long to reach agreement on the potential of the
study for both partners. Paul Whitelaw would complete his PhD
research, while Quest would benefit from the management
workshops and training sessions conducted for the research.
The trickle-down benefits would also flow to Quest’s individual
franchisees, supervisors and managers, who would each receive a
personal report, outlining potential avenues for professional and
career development within the group.
“The outcome of the research is yet to be finalised,” said Paul
Whitelaw. However, based upon the data gathered from Quest
and more than 250 other hospitality managers and employees,
staff who perform well are often promoted without having the
necessary skills to perform their more senior functions effectively.
“It suggests that hospitality organisations may need to link
promotion up the ladder with more substantial and formal
personal development opportunities to ensure their best staff are
able to realise their potential.”
Paul Constantinou believes that in the hospitality business, it is
not the business that fails, but the people who run it.Their
learning experience must never stop.
Paul’s never-ending Quest
Paul Constantinou is the driving force behind the network of 65
Quest apartment complexes dotted throughout Australia and New
Zealand.
As with most business success stories Paul’s career, since
graduating from VU’s predecessor Footscray Institute, was ignited
by a small spark of opportunity – and the capacity to recognise it.
In retrospect, the opportunity was quite obvious.While working
for a small chain of motels in northern Victoria, Paul recognised
that the business was not driven by tourists, but by business
travellers.
The rest is history. He explored the potential for developing
accommodation specifically tailored to the needs of business
travellers.
Paul’s Quest was launched with his Royal Gardens apartments,
positioned behind Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building in
1988.
The group is planning for about 30 new developments in
Australia, with a target of around 120 in the network by 2005.
Equity and access concern
for on-line teaching
The rush to embrace the internet as a
primary education resource medium
should be tempered by concerns about
equity and access for all, according to
Jeffrey Kidd and Helen Madden-Hallett
of the School of HTM’s Marketing
Discipline Area.
They recently completed a brief study of
the use of computers in education,
especially among marketing students.
“While our surveys indicated that
internet access is not a problem for a
Jeffrey Kidd
majority of students, universities and
teachers should ensure that equipment and training are available to
avoid disadvantaging students who may not have access for reasons
beyond their control,” the pair said.
Their conclusions were based on a survey of students using the
internet at home and elsewhere and the results compared across
campuses and with another university.
It analysed the potential impacts on student internet access of
disability, personality type, non-English speaking and indigenous
backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances.
Jeffrey and Helen have produced two joint papers based on their
studies, one of which was presented at last year’s ANZMAC
Conference.
Another will be published this year for the Equity Conference
being held at VU.
Strategic alliances are the
way of the future
Strategic alliances are the leading edge of
business-to-business (B2B) marketing,
according to VU’s Helen Madden-
Hallett, who is not only preparing a
thesis on the subject, but clearly applies it
to her teaching strategy.
Energex State Manager, John Gawne, is
studying for a Masters at VU, but Helen
saw the value of a strategic partnership
with John to help School of HTM
students understand more about the real
world of B2B marketing.
Helen Madden-Hallett She recruited John as a guest lecturer to
talk on the subject and specifically how Energex, a leading Victorian
utilities company was leveraging alliances to win commercial
business in the fast-moving, de-regulated energy market.
“Most people do not realise that B2B marketing is five times the
size of the consumer marketing business and it has become
extremely sophisticated.”
“It is clear that sales people are becoming more like consultants in
this sphere.They are researching potential customers, and pitching
specifically tailored solutions to their needs,” Helen said
She said companies were constantly re-evaluating their own
strengths and weaknesses and forming alliances that leverage their
strengths and fill gaps where they might be deficient.
“Forming strategic alliances is also fraught with danger. It is very
easy with alliances for companies to become selfish and maximise
their individual shares of the total business.
“Companies must be sure to undertake proper due diligence,
including evaluation of intangible elements like different company
cultures,” she said.
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School of Hospitality,Tourism & Marketing

MANY FINE THREADS
CONNECT US WITH CHINA
Western society’s earliest links with China were largely secured by a fine
thread – Silk. This superb natural fibre was the currency of substantial
trade with the west. It opened doors between ancient civilisations and
began the process of breaking down the mystique of the ‘Far East’. Today,
different mechanisms are leading to greater understanding between China
and the rest of the world. Shared knowledge will undoubtedly pave the
Silk Road of the next century and VU’s School of HTM is already plying
the route between China and the West …
Adding technique to natural flair
Wai Lee Leong left Australia last year armed
with marketing techniques that she believed
would help one of China’s premier resorts to
expose its beauty and grandeur to the world.
Wai now has her opportunity. She is Director
of Marketing at the Shangri-La Hotel in
Hanzhou overlooking Zhekiang Province’s
renowned West Lake.
Her marketing techniques were honed at the
School of HTM as part of her MBA course,
in which she took particular interest in
emerging market trends.
“It did not really matter to me that the
marketing subjects that I took for my MBA
were not directly related to the hospitality
industry because I looked at the bigger
picture.
“I am versatile enough to apply the
marketing techniques that I acquired during
my course to the hospitality and catering
industry after I graduated.
“Adapting foreign skills and expertise to local
conditions is very common in China,” she
said.
Wai spent a year completing her MBA
course, after completing a four-year hotel
management course in London in the 1980s.
She undertook further education to “brush
up on the latest marketing techniques and
trends”.
As her title suggests,Wai is in charge of the
hotel’s Sales and Marketing division, with its
four sub-departments and 25 staff. Its
activities embrace every facet of customer
contact: sales, banqueting, reservations and
communications.
She said her specialisation in marketing
during her MBA has enabled her to better
manage a portfolio of responsibilities that
stretch from product development through to
electronic marketing and distribution over
the intenet.
Wai’s current posting should be two years
before she is moved elsewhere within the
prestigious Shangri-La hotel group.
Dr Ruhi Yaman and Bo Gao, HTM’s
first graduate in MBUS Hospitality and
Tourism Marketing.
Bo Gao intends to
spread the word
Bo Gao is not satisfied with two Masters
degrees.That is not because she does not
regard them as personal milestones, but
because she plans to complete a PhD
course at VU before herself becoming an
educator to China’s growing population of
hospitality and tourism professionals.
“My dream is to become a lecturer in
China and a doctorate is very important if
you want to teach at a Chinese university,”
Bo said.
“There is a shortage of senior staff in
hospitality and tourism in China since the
country gained admission to the World
Trade Organisation and won the right to
host the 2008 Olympic Games.There are
plenty of opportunities there.”
Bo was packing her belongings for a return
to China as we went to press. She wants to
gain more hands-on experience before
undertaking her PhD, which will be based
on the factors influencing the satisfaction of
Chinese inbound visitors to Australia.
“There are more and more tourists and
investors visiting China since it established
an ‘open door’ policy towards the west.The
demand for quality service is rising.
“I chose to study at VU’s School of HTM,
because my lecturer at Swinburne TAFE
told me that VU offered the best education
in these fields,” Bo said (Bo completed a
Diploma in Hospitality at Swinburne
TAFE).
Migrant culture impacts on travel
Thu-Huong Nguyen is set to step onto
the big stage. She will present a paper she
co-authored with VU’s Professor Brian
King and Lindsay Turner on Travel
Behaviour and Migrant Cultures to an
international audience attending the 8th
Asia-Pacific Tourism Association (APTA)
annual conference in Dalian, China in
July.
The focal point of the paper is the
cultural change that occurs in migrant
communities influences their tourism
consumption and is therefore likely to
influence their travel motives, patterns,
expectations and experiences.
It is based on an examination of
Vietnamese migrants (Viet kieu),
particularly referencing return visits to
Vietnam.
“This topic will be of particular interest to
the Dalian delegates, especially those from
the host country, China,” said Thu-
Huong.
“The diaspora (homecoming tourism)
experience is important because the Viet
kieu share a strong sense of history and
culture, having experienced the physical
and emotional trauma of migration.
“Their experience raises broader questions
about the way that migrants view the
world such as the differences between the
“imagined” and “real” country of origin.
“Decisions to travel back to Vietnam may
be prompted by a desire to maintain
Vietnamese identity, thereby enabling
travellers to maintain a degree of
normality in their new social
environment.”
She said the research suggested firstgeneration
Viet kieu actively adopt
Western behavioural characteristics during
their integration into the adopted society
and the capitalist system’s emphasis on
individualism.
They also appeared to maintain certain
traditional values and Confucian ideals.
Many adhered to traditional practices such
as speaking Vietnamese within the family
setting, maintaining family religion, kin
relationships, obligations to parents, taking
care of ancestral tombs and worship and a
preference for visiting Vietnam at the
Chinese New Year.
In the present study some respondents
claimed that they felt somewhat torn
between Vietnamese and Australian
identity, though most identified
themselves as Vietnamese. Differences in
travel behaviour are evident between the
two groups - Viet kieu and non-Viet kieu.
Such differences appear to have some
connection with the Individualism of the
West and the Collectivism of the East
respectively.
“Given the preoccupation of many
Australian academics and politicians with
engagement between Australia and Asia, a
deeper understanding of the relationship
between tourism and migration in a
cultural context is essential,”Thu-Huong
said.
Thu-Huong Nguyen is a HTM PhD
student and a STAGGS scholarship holder
of the Co-operative Research Centre of
Sustainable Tourism, Australia (CRC).
Thu-Huong Nguyen
TO MARKET TO MARKET
Diploma in research
The Market Research Society of Australia
offers a Diploma in Marketing Research. It
requires students to complete eight
prescribed subjects at university. John Hall of
our Marketing Discipline Area has
negotiated an arrangement for VU
marketing graduates, allowing them to
obtain this diploma on application at
completion of their degrees. Past graduates
are able to apply. In order to get the Dip of
Mktg Research you should obtain the
diploma application from the MRSA and
attach your VU transcript to your
application.
www.mrsa.com.au
Vice-Chancellor’s Citations
Melbourne Airport
Chair of Marketing,
Professor Michael
Polonsky PhD and
Course Co-ordinator,
Hospitality and Tourism
Marketing, Ruhi Yaman
PhD have each received
the “Vice-Chancellor
Citation for Excellence in Research”.
In Professor Polonsky’s case, the citation was
a career recognition award. In Ruhi Yaman’s
instance, it was specific to study that formed
the essential part of his PhD dissertation.
Masters of the Game
It has been harder to keep these good men
and women down since their graduation
with Masters in Marketing degrees last year.
The three, Urban and Regional Land
Corporation, Marketing Manager, John
Thompson,Vencorp Marketing Services
Manager, Mark Riley and Business
Development Concepts, Managing Director,
Helinka Panzera, already had established
business careers, but elected to enhance their
professional skills by adding this prestigious
qualification. Unfortunately, Helen was not
available for this photograph which features
(left to right): John Thompson, HTM’s Dr
Ruhi Yaman and Mark Riley.
Training in training
Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Jeffrey Kidd,
recently completed a Certificate IV course
in Assessment and Workplace Training at
Swinburne University. It reflects the School
of HTM’s commitment to keep staff up to
date with the latest trends and technology in
this field.
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New advisor
Tourism
Victoria’s
Deputy Chief
Executive,
Wayne Kayler-
Thomson, has
joined the
School of
HTM’s
Programs
Advisory
Committee.
Mr Kayler-
Thomson has had regular professional
contact with VU staff over the last
seven years and is pleased the
education sector is proactively seeking
closer integration with the tourism
industry.
“Victoria University is a leader in
developing industry collaboration and
delivery of quality education and I am
delighted to have the opportunity to
contribute to developing closer
industry-education co-operation,” he
said.
Mr Kayler-Thomson is also
Chairman of the Australian Regional
Tourism Network and the
Management Board of the Centre for
Regional Tourism Research.
Leader from Lonely
Planet lands at VU
Tony Wheeler,
the head of
international
travel
publishing
phenomenon,
Lonely Planet,
is joining the
School of
HTM as
Professorial
Associate.
There are few
people on the planet who have
explored as many corners of it
Head of the School of HTM, Professor
Brian King, said Tony’s encyclopaedic
knowledge of world destinations and
his commercial acumen would be
welcome additions to the specialist
expertise and skills within the School.
“He is one of very few Australians who
can claim to be a global figure and
influencer in worldwide tourism,”
Brian said.
“Our students and staff will benefit
from their association with him and his
company will provide invaluable
resources and Co-op placement
opportunities for us.”
In Class
Course makes a refreshing change
Many people can nominate their favourite
beer or wine. Some can only narrow it down
to a brand or a grape variety. These measures
are not enough for people getting serious
about careers in hospitality, particularly
students enrolled in the School of HTM’s
Professional Wine and Beverage Studies
subject.
This subject is unique in more ways than
one.There are no prerequisites for enrolment
in it, other than you need to be prepared to
savour the odd drop of alcohol.This
mandatory requirement has not proved a
major hurdle to many prospective enrolments.
Guest tutors in this program are seasoned
beverage tasters. Recently, acclaimed
winemaker and consultant, Gary Baldwin, and
beer expert and boutique publican, Graeme
Calder, presented.
Maldives students aim higher
The Maldives are internationally renowned as
jewels of the Indian Ocean.Tourism is the
primary industry for this small group of
islands, which have received much publicity
for their concerns about global warming and
the potential impact of rising sea levels on
their land.
Students Zakkiya Moosa, Zeenaz Hussain and
Ahmed Samah (pictured right) are attending
VU’s School of Hospitality,Tourism and
Marketing with the assistance of a Maldives
government scholarship to complete their
Bachelor of Business degrees in Hospitality
Management.
“There is great demand for qualified
hospitality and tourism workers in the
Maldives,” they said.
“The education programs offered by
Australian universities were very tempting
compared with other countries.
We are studying at VU because it is one
of the leading universities in Australia in
these fields.”
Gary is in hot demand as a consultant to
wineries and winemakers, as a judge in wine
competitions, and as an industry advisor. His
formal qualifications in biochemistry and
wine science have provided a formidable
backdrop to his hands-on winemaking
experience as former Chief Winemaker and
General Manager of Arrowfield Wines.
Graeme Calder still likes a cold one and,
more often than not, a warm one. He is a
partner in the Brandon Hotel in North
Carlton, one of four establishments in
Australia specialising in conditioning and
serving real ales in the traditional British
manner.
He is a keen observer of the market
successes and failures of hundreds of
Australian and international beers, that have
come, endured or disappeared.
The three already have Higher National
Diplomas from their home country in
Hospitality Business Management.They work
at different resorts on the islands and have
provided hospitality training for other staff.
Higher qualifications will enable them to “go
up the ladder” in the Maldives.
Their diplomas and work experience have
earned them sufficient credits to complete
their VU degrees in only one year.
“We have found the VU study programs very
inspiring and challenging,” they said.
co-op • tourism • hospitality • marketing • travel • careers • achievement • awards • goals
directions
alumni
BEN’s
brush with fame
What a client list! Ben Kelly can boast one of the most
illustrious in the world and all because of a dream
Co-op placement at one of London’s most salubrious hotels, The
Connaught, at the top of the Monopoly board in Mayfair. The
Connaught is one of five Savoy properties in the UK.
The right job would be music to his ears
Combining one of life’s great pleasures with
completion of a university degree seemed an
outstanding opportunity to Colin Barrass, who
recently graduated with a BBus Music Industry.
HTM marketing lecturer, Pandora Kay recently
caught up with Colin while on a teaching
assignment at Sunway.Colin chose to complete
his degree at Sunway College in
the Petaling Jaya area of
Malaysia, a strategy that
required some careful
long-range planning
early in his VU
course.
He only had electives to complete by the time he
went to Sunway and many of these were
marketing-related subjects.
“I completed my degree at Sunway to get the most
out of my university experience. Travel is
something I undertake for pleasure. The
opportunity to combine the experience of living in
another country as well as develop my academic,
personal and professional profile was too good
to pass up.
“Gaining work in the music industry is
particularly difficult. I will continue to
pursue any avenues available to me. I also
have a keen interest in economics and I
am looking at working in that field also.
“Having gained experience in a
business/economics environment, I will
continue to assess my suitability for a job in the
music industry and apply as appropriate,” he says.
But back to Ben’s client list, which has included
Princess Sophie, Lady Spencer, Margaret
Thatcher, Jack Nicholson, Sidney Poitier and
Joan Collins. Add to these a list of prominent
politicians and diplomats and you have a pretty
impressive list.
Ben (pictured second from right) began his Coop
year in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant
doing everything from polishing the silver
(naturally it is silver service) to working the
carvery trolley and presenting a delectable array
of sweets to discerning, but tempted, guests.
“My Co-op position placed great demands on
me. Being a French restaurant, the menu was
written in French, the kitchen staff spoke in
French and the service demanded the best in
French elegance.
“I was the sole employee speaking English as my
mother tongue. My school-level French had not
equipped me to be fluent with the names of the
dishes we offered and I was slow to pick it up.
The task was not made easier by the fact that we
served more than 80 French dishes,” he says.
As time passed and communication with
colleagues became easier, Ben says there was
plenty of humour shared by the staff. It also
enabled him to learn from professionals, most of
whom had worked with the Savoy group for at
least a decade.
Ben was promoted to Chef de Rang, but is now
back in Melbourne, where he is completing his
BBus Catering and Hotel Management.
9

A group of postgraduates from the School of HTM is working
news
towards formalising an Alumni Chapter within VU
Alumni
Let us know where you are and what you are doing. Contact: Jane Odgers on jane.odgers@vu.edu.au
Louisa Watkins
TRANSFER BROADENS
Louisa Watkins is one of an increasing
number of people advancing careers
through further education.
10
KNOWLEDGE
She did not find an initial brief flirtation with an
Arts degree fully satisfying so applied for and
secured entry into the vocationally oriented
Academy Sofitel.
“Academy Sofitel presented an amazing
opportunity to gain broad exposure to the
industry in a five-star setting.
“I commenced Certificate III in Hospitality -
Food and Beverage at the beginning of 2000
and gained a position in the Atrium/Sofis team
working in the cocktail lounge – both on the
floor and in the bar,” she said.
Louisa has since completed Certificate IV and
rotated through various positions at Hotel
Sofitel Melbourne, but believed that her career
prospects would be enhanced if she undertook a
Bachelor of Business – Hospitality Management
degree.
“This is my second year of study at the
university, taking advantage of the accelerated
course offered via my articulation from Academy
Sofitel.
“I am currently looking at overseas options for
Co-op. I feel that international experience will be
beneficial to my career prospects.
“I am yet to make any firm decision about my
future career, but I feel that in the long term I
will remain with Accor, as the international
career prospects are endless,” Louisa says.
Palazzo Versace
HOSPITALITY BY DESIGN
CO-OP STUDENTS
IN OVERDRIVE
The RACV Club is one of the most enthusiastic supporters
of Co-op, providing paid work experience for students over
many years.
The RACV Club’s Human Relations Officer, Chloe Lloyd,
says students typically work with the Club for twelve to 14
months, learning all aspects of the Club management and
catering business.
“It is an excellent opportunity for us to engage talented
people and take a look at the potential of prospective
employees,” she says.
A highlight of the Co-op year for recent interns, Suzanne
Williams and Kathryn Zammitt (pictured above with RACV
Club and VU staff), was organising the annual dinner
recognising the RACV Club’s apprentices and trainees.
Kathryn’s tour of duty with RACV began in January 2001 at
the organisation’s Healesville Country Club, where she
spent about eight weeks. She has spent her time at the city
club in accounts, human resources, front office and
membership. She plans to pursue a career in human
resources management.
Suzanne joined RACV in December 2000 and has worked in
human resources, accounts, special events, front office,
kitchen, club bar, concierge and coffee lounge.
Both are back at the School of HTM this year completing
their courses (Kathryn: BBus Hospitality and Tourism
Management; Suzanne: BBus Catering and Hotel
Management).
Versace denotes uniqueness. That Australia’s
Gold Coast should host the first hotel designed
by one of Europe’s leading fashion houses is
also surprising.
Whether the Palazzo Versace venture is an
outstanding success has, to some extent, been
left in the hands of School of HTM graduate,
Avril Jones.
Avril is Business Development Manager for the
hotel, marketing it to discerning travellers in
UK/Europe, North America and the southern
Australian states.
Naturally, first impressions of Avril’s job
description and employer communicate
“GLAMOUR!”. She concedes that it isn’t at
all bad.
“It is always a pleasure to host clients in such
a beautiful hotel and to see the lobby in the
evening with the tea candles lit and guests
being served exquisite canapés by the
well-presented and professional team.
It really is a pleasant experience.
It makes you appreciate what a
wonderful job you have,” says
Avril.
But life is not all champagne and
canapés. When Avril helped with
the hotel launch, she
spent the
previous night
making beds
and filling
minibars.
“I have certainly met some interesting people
in this job. Probably the most interesting are
the ones that link back to Versace. They are all
so creative and quite inspirational,” she says.
Avril describes the target markets for Palazzo
Versace as quite broad, although there are
obviously some key niche markets for this type
of property. She spends a substantial amount
of time developing joint marketing and
communications strategies with industry
partners like Tourism Queensland and the Gold
Coast Tourism Bureau. Professional
Conference Organisers and Convention
Organisers are also key targets.
One highlight of her career to date was her
recent presentation to Versace’s Bond Street
staff in London, who she describes as very
friendly and “lots of fun”.
Avril graduated with a
Bachelor of Business
(Catering and Hotel
Management) in
1990. Her Palazzo
Versace position
is the most recent
of several
positions she has
held over the
past twelve years.
Previous
employers
have included
AAT Kings, Jetset
and Southern
Pacific Hotels
(now Six
Continents).
Avril Jones

SUNBURY CELEBRATION
Top honours to Olga Kostrevski and Mark Veliscek, pictured here with
Prof. Brian King (centre), two Marketing Honours students who this
year achieved outstanding results to receive our inaugural honours
scholarship to undertake further study.
Where are they
NOW?
Brendan Halloran (B Bus Travel & Tourism Mgmt, 2002)
Market Analyst, Research Unit, Tourism Victoria, Melbourne
Alison Chalk (B Bus Tourism Mgmt,1998) Event Team, The
Mansion Hotel at Werribee Park, Werribee
Melinda Anderson (Masters Tourism Management,1999)
Acting Executive Director, Ballarat Tourism, Ballarat
Jacqui Charlton (B Bus Travel & Tourism Management, 2001)
Online Communications Coordinator, Tourism Victoria, Melbourne
Greg Hooton (Masters, Tourism Management (1991)
Director, Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show,
Melbourne
Susie Brown (Masters Tourism
Management, 1999) Lecturer,
Swinburne University of
Technology, Lilydale
Adelia Ratih Guest Relations
Assistant Manager, C’s Restaurant,
Grand Hyatt, Jakarta
Susanne Vergers (B Bus Catering & Hotel
Mgmt, 1989) Organisational Development, Job
Futures and Open Employment, Byron Bay
Alison Duff-Tyler (B Bus Tourism Mgmt, 2000) Tour
Consultant, Coach Tours of Australia, Sunbury
It’s many years since Billie Thorpe and the
Aztecs wowed the crowd at Sunbury, but the
satellite suburb to Melbourne’s north still rocks
as some of our recent graduates celebrate
moves into exciting marketing positions.
Bronwyn Hunt (pictured on the left) is
promoting events and entertainers with
Mollison Consulting in South Melbourne.
She says she cannot begin to describe her
working day, as the variety makes an ordinary
day at the office a rare event.
Some concept of the excitement is reflected in
Mollison’s client list, which includes Edgley
CONTINUES
International, Luna Park, The Production
Company, the Geelong Performing Arts Centre,
NICA and Playbox. Bronwyn has recently
been promoting the Moscow Circus and
Luna Park. Bronwyn’s fellow graduate Amber
Fouracre is also gainfully employed having
taken a marketing graduate position with
communications equipment company,
Upstream Technology.
Joh McIntosh is now permanently employed in
the marketing department of The Shaver Shop.
COOL AS ICE
I.C.E. Imagine Create Enjoy.
Graduate Saxon Mitchell has lived
on the strength of those words since
1999 and the success of Saxon and his
partners in ICE Events was evident at the
Victoria University Alumni Ball in April.
Saxon describes ICE Events as a diversified
hospitality company. This year, he merged the
business with David Southwick Entertainment
and Soda Pop to offer specialised entertainment
services under one roof.
The company created a spectacular mix of
entertainment, catering and staffing for the
Alumni Ball, including a specific menu tailored
to the Sideshow Carnival theme of the event.
“ICE Events creates programs in tune with the
client’s vision. It provides clients with a
dedicated project manager to consult on all
aspects of event production and management,”
Saxon says.
Saxon graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of
Business – Catering and Hotel Management.
His e-mail is saxonm@iceevents.net.au.