Solotel’s recipe for success: Nurturing staff through a culture of growth and innovative training

By Allara Global

Solotel is not just serving up exceptional experiences for guests, but also investing heavily in the growth and development of its staff. Their innovative approach to training and development is not only boosting employee satisfaction and retention but also setting a new benchmark for the industry.

Solotel provides a diversity of experience across 26 venues and growing in Sydney and Brisbane, including the iconic Opera Bar on Sydney Harbour.

Andrew Lewis, CEO of Allara Global recently sat down with People & Performance Director, Sarah Maxwell (inset above) from Solotel, a renowned hospitality group in Sydney, to get Sarah’s insights on how to run a successful learning and development program in the world of hospitality. 

More than just motivation – a culture of growth

Solotel understands that motivating staff to learn and develop requires more than just offering courses. It’s about fostering a culture where learning and development are celebrated.

“Growth is a core part of our strategy. We provide learning opportunities at all levels, from front-of-house to back-of-house, casuals to full-time employees. This keeps our people engaged and invested in their careers.”

To drive engagement, Sarah and Stephanie Barge, Learning & Development Manager at Solotel, implemented a unique “Business Period Report”, tracking training progress across venues and departments. This data is integrated into management KPIs and performance reviews, ensuring that training remains a top priority for everyone.

“This report is sent out at the end of each month and outlines venues progress on training across both instructor-led and e-Learning training. This ensures we provide ongoing visibility to our management teams who are continually driving training progress across the group.”

The Solotel mobile app – perks with a purpose

Embracing technology, Solotel has launched a dedicated app that gamifies the learning experience. By linking e-learning module completion with exclusive perks and benefits, employees are encouraged to actively participate in their own development.

“Our app has been instrumental in driving engagement with our online training modules. It’s a fun and interactive way for our team members to complete compulsory compliance training, gain rewards and then continue to build their skills.” explains Sarah.

Advice for a training transformation

When asked about advice for others starting their training journey, Sarah emphasises the importance of leadership engagement and variety of training at all levels.

“It’s crucial that the company, at all levels of management, actively champions the culture of training. When employees see their leaders prioritising development, it sends a powerful message about its value.”

“With growth as part of our overall strategy, we have learning opportunities for all levels, front-of-house and back-of-house, both for casual and full-time staff, to ensure that everyone is included and kept engaged.”

Selecting the right online training provider

For those seeking an online training solution, Solotel highlights the importance of reporting capabilities and a platform with an open-API.

“There are many factors to consider when selecting a solution for your company – user experience, content, content creation, and if they can integrate with other platforms. The two most important for us would be, reporting and system integration capabilities. You need to ensure the platform has a reporting tool where you can see user progress per venue, to identify areas of improvement and understand the return on investment. Secondly, the ability to integrate the platform into other digital experiences, creating a seamless learning environment for our staff.”

Solotel has been in a training partnership with Allara for over ten years leveraging Allara Global’s comprehensive course library, learning platform, and integrations with their HRIS and newly launched mobile app.

The results 

Solotel’s commitment to training is yielding impressive results. Employee satisfaction scores are on the rise, staff turnover rates have declined, and customer feedback reflects a more engaged and knowledgeable workforce.

By demonstrating a genuine commitment to their employees’ growth, Solotel is not only strengthening its own business but also setting a new standard for the hospitality industry.