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Diversity, innovation and creativity in every aspect of hospitality and lateral thinking are the keys to how we have achieved what no one else in the world could.
Diversity, innovation and creativity in every aspect of hospitality and lateral thinking are the keys to how we have achieved what no one else in the world could.
Peter Petroulas was the CEO of the “GPO Grand Group” in the heart of Sydney CBD from 2002 to 2020 when the business was forced to close down as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The GPO Grand Group was the world’s first total drink dine and entertainment complex that was not part of a Casino complex.
The GPO Grand Group was housed in the historic Sydney GPO Building, Sydney’s most prestigious address and comprised some 15 different venues over 3,300 square meters of prime real estate. The GPO Grand venues oozed luxury that was still inviting, friendly and welcoming. The success of a total drink dine and entertainment concept that was not associated with gambling sent a new trend for the industry. The success of the GPO Grand Group of venues can easily be seen in the following awards received from the Restaurant & Catering Industry Association:
Winner of the Best Restaurant award 32 different times in 9 different restaurant categories. Other World’s first activities with the GPO Grand Group included creating “the world’s first only steak restaurant to only offer premium cuts of beef,” “the world’s first only meat degustation” and “the world’s first fondue burger board.” The creation of Sydney’s longest running Cabaret Show Crystal Boudoir ran for 13 years straight and only closed when the whole complex closed.
Separate to the winning of awards, Peter Petroulas understands the difficulties that restaurants have faced being through the GFC, with the GPO Grand Group located in the heart of the Sydney CBD when the GFC hit, then through the complexities of a 4-year project to create the Sydney light rail project as well as other difficulties in hiring staff, training staff as you try to maintain food standards, service standards, operational efficiencies and stock control. There is no aspect of hospitality that is foreign to Peter.
Each of the venues within the GPO Grand Group was completely different to each other, different recruitment processes were developed for each venue, different food and wine purchasing was undertaken for each venue, and different strategies were developed for each venue such that each venue had its own spirit and own energy separate from the Group and the other venues in the same location.
The venues within the GPO Group were also created so that they were, unlike any other venue anywhere in the world, everything was as unique and different as they could make it. The operations were completely different and the offerings ranged from fine dining, casual dining, counter service food outlets, bars, night club and Cabaret Shows (the cabaret shows included; Crystal Boudoir, Con Passion, Bohemian Spice Cabaret Show, Spice, Barzirk and Pimp Male Esque). Every aspect was meticulously choreographed.
The GPO Grand venues were also unique as they were designed in a way that they could also be combined to create one large unified space where all 15 venues could be converted within a two-hour period into a unique and integrated function and event space that could cater for 1,600 people. The efficiency of the operations and processes were such that within a 15-minute period all 1,600 people could be checked in at the front door, allowed into the venue and be given their first drink and food.
No other venue had the flexibility or diversity of the GPO Grand Group.
Peter Petroulas was also instrumental in the design of his commercial kitchens, dining room spaces, cabaret staging and set-up, and conversion of restaurant spaces into function spaces such that he has extensive expertise in the use of spaces and how to set up spaces to be both elegant and efficient.
It was the concept of thinking different that created the GPO Grand Group and this lives within everything that we have done with WizButler.