Why Connection is Key!
Hospitality Unites 2021 Wrap UP

With the hospitality sector one of the hardest hit industries by COVID-19, fostering a sense of community and support is crucial in helping recovery. And this is exactly what Hospitality Unites 2021 aimed to do with the event held virtually from the 21 to the 22 of June.

“We wanted to create an event where people could hear from their peers and connect with others,” says Andrew Lawson, Product and Event Manager of Hospitality Unites & Fine Food Australia.

Across the event, guest speakers and panels tackled topics from innovation and technology to sustainability and scalability in the context of a “new normal.”

Held as a session titled “Navigating the New Normal,” which was sponsored by Lactalis Foodservice, the panel drew awareness to new trends that attendees should be aware of.

Ben Lipschitz, Co-Founder and Managing Director of FoodByUs, stated that flexibility across the supply chain would be needed to ensure venue efficiency. This includes openness in timing, quantity, and frequency which would need to be shown by business owners.

A strong aspect of the discussion centred on technology and humans blending together, including the introduction of the QR code and virtual ordering.

Across the panel, it was mutual accepted that this level of technology was here to stay while in earlier discussions it was pointed out that there was a current need to determine a set method for how customers ordered, be it QR code or traditional service.

Moving forward, the panel expected to see a greater emergence of small local businesses with consumers demanding greater product traceability.

Three key takeaways included:
• The importance of implementing storytelling within a business with owners being transparent with sourcing and preparation of products.
• That businesses need to remain flexible and nimble to change.
• Having a hospitality community is crucial to many business owners for both survival and emotional support.

“What we saw over the two-day event was such a strong sentiment of positivity moving out of COVID-19 and I believe this is one of the key takeaways: it’s not all doom and gloom,” says Andrew.