The Big Cheese with Karina Barry

The Big Cheese with Karina Barry

We chat to the Director of Bells at Killcare and Pretty Beach House.

The great thing about my job is… the people, the amazing team that we are surrounded by. I love the diversity of my day to day job, one day you’re working with designers and the next it may be human resources, marketing or financials. There are so many aspects it is hard to ever get bored.

The challenge for industry is… to stay authentic to our core values and to always keep the customer experience top of mind.

My greatest achievement is… my children, they have grown up in hotels and restaurants with their parents working crazy hours and they have both turned out to be such wonderful human beings.

The biggest thing in MICE this year will be…  Regional and experiential conferencing.

I try to relax by… by walking my dog on Killcare Beach every day.

I don’t understand why… we have to pay payroll tax.  Why would you tax a business for employing people?

My favourite venue is… Right now it is Pretty Beach House, surrounded by National Park and beaches with a food offering by Stefano Manfredi, it’s my perfect place.

I’ve always wanted to travel to… Alaska and see bears plucking salmon out of the river!

I am scared to death of… Rats – let’s just call it a phobia.

I can’t live without… my family, they are my foundation and very good quality dark chocolate.

I really wish I had… a boat, I have been dreaming about this for a long time. We are surrounded by water, with The Hawkesbury River and Pittwater on our doorstep.

If I could invite four people to a dinner party, they’d be… Jamie Oliver, George Clooney, Barack Obama and my husband.

For anyone starting out in the industry one piece of advice I’d give would be …. Find a partner that shares your passion for the industry.  I have seen so many great people leave the industry because their partners don’t understand the hours and demands of the industry.  Also make sure you genuinely like people!

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