Hospitality case studies

Three venues. Three operational challenges.

A selection of opening, turnaround and multi-venue operational work across Australia and New York.

Case study 1

“Crafted” by Matt Moran & Fresh Collective

Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney — opening a blank-canvas venue from the ground up.

In January 2020, I came in as Opening Venue Manager for Crafted — a brand-new, multi-flagship restaurant partnership between Matt Moran and Fresh Collective inside the Art Gallery of NSW. I represented both Matt Moran and Fresh Collective, the operating company behind the venue. There was no existing operation to inherit: no branding, no team, no licensing, no supplier relationships. The job was to take a blank canvas and turn it into a fully functioning, branded venue capable of serving both daily guests and large-scale institutional events.

Shaped the venue identity and design direction from a blank canvas.
Managed liquor licensing and compliance requirements.
Built supplier partnerships, the beverage program and POS systems.
Recruited and trained the front-of-house team from zero.
Worked with Art Gallery of NSW teams on exhibitions and VIP functions for 1,000+ guests.

Case study 2

Fasano Restaurant, Hotel & Jazz Bar

49th Street, NYC — repositioning an underperforming jazz lounge into a genuine profit centre.

I managed both the high-volume, high-end Italian restaurant and the adjacent jazz bar at Fasano, working closely with the Brazilian management team and owners to implement Fasano’s vision for its US flagship. The jazz lounge in particular was underperforming — sales were poor, and the space wasn’t functioning as its own destination so much as an afterthought attached to the restaurant.

Repositioned the jazz lounge service and menu around its mood, pace and clientele.
Led the refurbishment of the front bar for a more welcoming guest arrival.
Built pathways for bar guests to discover and move between the restaurant and jazz bar.
Created a clearer host and events-team pathway to support bookings and repeat visits.
Outcome: the jazz lounge became a genuine profit centre with a stronger events and repeat-booking pipeline.

Case study 3

The Embassy by Devlin’s

Subiaco, Western Australia — building the operational foundation through a key transition period.

I came onboard to support ownership through The Embassy’s transition period, focused on the operational systems a new venue needs to run smoothly day to day.

Implemented purchase-order systems to bring structure and accountability to ordering and stock control.
Set up POS systems to support day-to-day service and reporting.
Supported the broader operational transition as ownership established the venue.
Outcome: The Embassy went on to win Best New Restaurant and Best WA Chef at the 2025 AHA Awards.

Let’s talk about your venue.

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