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The Inclusion in Hospitality Podcast
Welcome to Room for All – the podcast where we dive deep into the world of inclusive employment and explore the power of creating opportunities for people with disabilities.
Andrea Comastri, CEO and co-founder of Hotel Etico, Australia’s first not for profit social enterprise hotel and Saraya O’Connell, General Manager of Hotel Etico. will be your hosts as they talk about the importance of breaking down barriers in the workplace with a particular focus on hospitality and other customer facing roles, and how businesses can lead the charge toward inclusion.
At Hotel Etico, we believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed, and we’ve made it our mission to not only provide jobs but to build meaningful careers for people with disabilities. On this podcast, we’ll be sharing success stories, best practices, and inspiring conversations with industry leaders from the hospitality sector, disability sector, other social enterprises, philanthropy and of course our own trainees graduates and staff.
Whether you’re a business owner, an advocate for inclusion, or someone curious about the future of work, this podcast is for you.
So come and join us at Hotel Etico, or as we call it…the Hotel California for the heart. A place where once you have checked in…your heart will never never leave!”
So, let’s get started and open the doors for all.
28 Episodes
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Welcome to Room for All, the podcast dedicated to exploring inclusive employment, particularly for people with disabilities. Hosted by Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell from Hotel Etico, Australia’s first not-for-profit social enterprise hotel, this episode delves into breaking barriers in the workplace, with a focus on hospitality and customer-facing roles. Listeners will hear success stories, best practices, and interviews with industry leaders from various sectors, all sharing a commitm...
Embracing Inclusion: The Journey and Mission of Hotel Etico In this series, hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell introduce listeners to 'Room for All,' a podcast dedicated to sharing the mission and vision behind Hotel Etico, Australia's first not-for-profit social enterprise hotel. They explore the origins of Hotel Etico, its Italian roots, and how it serves as a pathway to independence for young adults with disabilities through employment and training programs. The hosts also delve in...
Empowering Through Hospitality: The Story of Hotel Etico This episode of Room For All features hosts Andrea and Saraya O'Connell alongside guest Tracylee Arestides, delving into the inspiring journey of Hotel Etico. The conversation spans from Tracy's personal story as a mother of a child with Down Syndrome to the establishment of Hotel Etico, a pioneering initiative that trains and employs individuals with disabilities in the hospitality sector. It covers the key contributions of figures lik...
Empowering Inclusive Careers in Hospitality: Insights and Strategies In this insightful episode of Room for All, hosts Andrea and Saraya engage in an enlightening discussion with Sofia Ballone, Employment Manager at Hotel Etico, about the importance of inclusive hiring practices in the hospitality industry. The episode delves into Sofia's background, her passion for human rights, and her commitment to aiding trainees with disabilities in securing meaningful employment. The conversation highli...
In this reflective episode of 'Room for All,' hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell discuss their journey with the podcast, personal challenges, and their mission for inclusion in the hospitality industry. They delve into their demanding schedules, touching on personal life pressures, leadership struggles, and the importance of self-care. The episode includes light-hearted moments, such as planning a wine tasting, celebrating small wins, and recounting humorous interactions with guests. ...
Creating Inclusive Employment: Hotel Etico's Journey with Scott Bear In this episode of 'Room for All,' hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell delve into inclusive employment for people with disabilities, featuring Scott Bear, General Manager of Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah. They discuss the success of Hotel Etico, a social enterprise providing career opportunities in hospitality, and highlight Scott's passion for inclusion influenced by his upbringing and experiences. Scott shares insi...
Welcome to Room for All! Join hosts Saraya O'Connell and Andrea Comastri as they discuss Hotel Etico's innovative Program Elevate with guest Mariella Cuttonaro. This initiative focuses on transitioning individuals with disabilities from supported employment to open employment in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Learn about Mariella's extensive experience in the field, the genesis of the program, challenges faced, and the positive impact of inclusive hiring. The episode delves into the s...
Exploring Social Enterprise with Sally McGeoch - Inclusion in Hospitality Podcast Join hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell on the Room for All - Inclusion in Hospitality podcast as they welcome special guest Sally McGeoch. In this episode, Sally shares her inspiring journey from growing up in a family business committed to inclusive employment to becoming a Senior Advisor at Westpac Foundation. Learn about her work supporting social enterprises, including her involvement with the Brea...
Customer Service and Guest Experience - Featuring Samantha Cox In this episode of 'Room for All,' Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell, hosts from Australia's first social enterprise hotel, Hotel Etico, dive into the world of inclusive employment. They discuss the importance of creating opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in customer-facing roles within the hospitality industry. Joined by Samantha Cox, former EA to Sir Richard Branson and founder of Samantha Cox Internati...
Training for Inclusion: Interview with Hotel Etico's Training Manager In this episode of Room for All, hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell welcome special guest Nathalie Kasselis, the Training Manager at Hotel Etico. They discuss Nathalie's personal background, her passion for fitness, nature, and poetry, and her professional journey from finance to training. The conversation delves deep into the individualized training methods developed by Nathalie, focusing on strength-based, practic...
Quinn's Inspirational Journey: From Trainee to Accomplished Chef In a special episode of 'Room For All,' hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell celebrate Andrea's birthday with an extraordinary guest, Quinn Jones. Quinn, one of the original trainees from the first intake back in 2021, shares his inspiring journey from a shy, reserved individual to a confident apprentice chef at the Fairmont. The episode delves into Quinn's unique upbringing by activist parents, his struggles and successes...
Innovations in Disability Employment: An Insightful Discussion with Dr. Jenny Crosbie Join co-hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell from Hotel Etico as they welcome Dr. Jenny Crosbie, a principal industry fellow at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University, to discuss the WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprises) model and the unique WISEability model. The conversation includes an in-depth look at social enterprises, the evolution and funding of supported employment in Austra...
The Power of Inclusion: An Insider's Look at Hospitality with Stephanie Lopesi In this episode of the 'Room for All: The Inclusion in Hospitality Podcast,' join us as we welcome the incredible Stephanie Lopesi, Portfolio Director of Talent and Culture at the Accor Salter Brothers' Portfolio. Stephanie, fondly known as Steph, shares her professional journey and personal insights into the world of hospitality. Discover her passionate approach to promoting early promotions and inclusion within ...
Empowering Inclusion: Shaheen's Journey with Ta'leem Consulting Welcome to Room for All at the 2025 Social Enterprise Festival hosted by the Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA) at UTS. In this episode, we sit down with Shaheen, the founder of Ta'leem Consulting, a social enterprise dedicated to elevating marginalized voices through inclusive and equitable learning programs. Shaheen shares her personal journey, experiences, and the motivation behind her mission for social equity....
Innovative Solutions for Reuse: Patrick Manley on the Mission of Cercle In this episode of Room for All, co-founder and CEO of Cercle, Patrick Manley, discusses the organization's efforts to reduce single-use food and drink packaging through a comprehensive reuse network. Patrick explains how Cercle provides fully managed services for reusable packaging, including collection and washing, while also emphasizing the social impact by employing marginalized communities. He touches on the challen...
Inclusive Employment and MTC Future Ready with James Walters In this episode of the Room for All Inclusion and Hospitality podcast, host interviews James Walters, GM of Strategic Growth at MTC Future Ready, a not-for-profit organization specializing in employment training and youth programs. James shares insights into MTC's recent achievements, including winning a new disability contract, and discusses their work in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities. He highlights ...
Kylie Flament Discusses the Future of Social Enterprise Join Kylie Flament, CEO of the Social Enterprise Council of New South Wales and ACT (SECNA), as she talks about the importance of social enterprises, their growth, and impact. Kylie shares her journey, the challenges faced by social enterprises, and how SECNA is supporting and connecting these businesses to create a cleaner, greener, and kinder world. This episode also highlights the success and growth of the annual social enterprise fe...
Nina Gbor: Championing Sustainable Fashion & Tackling Fast Fashion Waste | Room for All Podcast Join us in this inspiring episode of the Room for All podcast as we welcome Nina Gbor, a passionate sustainable fashion educator, speaker, and researcher. Nina shares her journey from a vintage fashion enthusiast to becoming an advocate for sustainable fashion. Discover her work with Eco Styles, organizing large-scale clothes swaps, and founding Swap in the City, Australia's first no fast fash...
Weh Chats About Umbo's Impact in Regional Australia In this episode of Room for All, the managing director and co-founder of Umbo, Wei, shares the story behind their social enterprise which focuses on providing essential Allied health services to people in regional Australia through telehealth. Weh discusses the origins of Umbo, its unique business model, and the challenges faced in a sector where long wait times and high costs are common. With 50% of their profit dedicated to subsidizing th...
Understanding Money and Thriving with Amanda di Medici of Yenom In this insightful episode of Room For All, we sit down with Amanda di Medici, the founder of Yenom, a unique financial education platform. Amanda shares her personal journey with money management and how it inspired her to create Yenom. We dive into the importance of financial literacy, the services offered by Yenom, and the pressing need for financial education in workplaces. Amanda also discusses common financial pitfalls, th...
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