Over the course of two weeks, 780,000 fans attended the recently concluded 2019 Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne & Olympic Parks. Along the way, those fans accounted for a record number of corporate meals, hot chips, burgers, sushi rolls and pizzas – just to name a handful.
For Delaware North, the longstanding hospitality partner, it’s an annual opportunity to show the world what excellent service is all about during a high-profile, high-pressure event. And for many of the 2,450 associates – including more than 1,000 from other Delaware North locations – there are lifelong lessons and career-defining moments.
“It’s great to have the chefs coming from pretty much everywhere – other Delaware North venues,” said Asif Mamun, Delaware North’s executive chef at the event. “It’s great experience for them; it’s great experience for me. It’s a great takeaway for both of us. They can learn something from me, and I can learn something from them.”
Amela Hadziahmetovic, human resources director at TD Garden in Boston, made the trip to Melbourne, Australia, to support the human resources function. As a multisport venue, TD Garden is rarely without action, but seeing the Australian Open firsthand proved to be an eye-opener for Hadziahmetovic.
“This feels like a double-header at TD Garden – for 14 days straight,” she said with a smile. “There’s just been lots of energy. The team has done an unbelievable job preparing for it.
“There are a lot of great things about working for Delaware North. This opportunity specifically has been unbelievable because of the fact that I got to come across the globe to help support the operation.”