By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Jaime Wirth and Michael Delany, the co-founders of the Drink’n’Dine pub group, have established their own hospitality consulting business, International Worldwide.
The pair sold their venues, including The Oxford Tavern, The Norfolk and Queenies, to Dixon Hospitality Group at the beginning of the year, and have been consulting on several venues since then, before deciding to officially offer their services to other pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs.
Wirth and Delany, who between them have 35 years of experience in various aspects of hospitality – from DJing to owning and operating nightclubs and pubs – decided that their expertise could help other industry operators in many different facets of their businesses.
“After many years of running our own venues, we thought we could take some of this knowledge and experience and help some other people with their own projects. Help others learn from some of our mistakes and triumphs,” stated Wirth.
Wirth believes that International Worldwide has a lot to offer other operators.
“We have always been very hands on with our own businesses and think we can apply this experience to helping other operators. Some occasionally crazy ideas too.”
Since selling Drink’n’Dine, Wirth and Delany have collaborated on House of Crabs in Melbourne for Dixon Hospitality Group; and small bar Dim Dooley, and nightclub Mary Poppin for Terry Board in Adelaide.
International Worldwide is currently working on a food project in the new Sydney harbour precinct Barangaroo, plus a hotel in The Rocks and are consulting on music for Fraser Short’s The Sydney Collective group.
The pair are optimistic about the future of Australian hospitality, with Wirth pointing out how varied different offerings are around the country.
“I think there are lots of great operators and groups like Merivale, the Dolphin Hotel guys and The Unicorn guys all doing their thing.”
