Room for All
Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell
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.
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Top 10 Room for All Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Room for All episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Room for All for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Room for All episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
10/18/24 • 47 min
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 like Niccolo, Trevor Graham, and strategic partnerships with entities like the University of Technology and the Salteri family. The script highlights the significant milestones from networking efforts in Spain, obtaining crucial funding, and forming a solid board to present-day successes. The discussion also explores the symbolic meaning of Hotel Etico's logo, the challenges in disability employment, the importance of inclusion, fair wages, and changing societal perceptions. The episode underscores the systemic changes needed to foster an inclusive environment and reflects on the continuous aspirations to expand across Australia.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:48 Meet Traceylee Arestides
03:12 Tracylee's Journey with Down Syndrome
05:19 Discovering Hotel Etico
13:01 Bringing Hotel Etico to Australia
16:22 Building the Foundation
22:04 Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success
25:07 The Importance of Long-Term Vision
25:26 Meeting Jon Ackary and His Impact
27:19 The Vision for Hotel Etico
28:40 Expanding Hotel Etico Across Australia
29:20 The Symbolism Behind the Logo
33:38 Challenges and Misconceptions in Disability Employment
40:34 The Value of Employing People with Disabilities
42:59 Reflections and Future Plans
45:48 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
Room for All - Season 1 Episode 0 - Intro
Room for All
10/17/24 • 47 min
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 into the broader objective of creating the most inclusive tourism and hospitality industry in the world, emphasizing the importance of training for both trainees and employers. Personal stories highlight their diverse backgrounds, extensive experience in social impact, and commitment to fostering inclusivity. Interviews with key figures, such as Tracylee Arestides and Alex Toselli, provide insights into the operational and emotional aspects of running the hotel. The podcast outlines future topics on disability employment and industry insights, ultimately aiming to inspire and educate listeners about the transformative power of inclusive employment and social enterprise.
00:00 Introduction to Room for All
01:39 The Vision Behind Hotel Etico
02:00 Starting the Podcast Journey
02:33 The NoVacancy Event
03:16 The Birth of the Podcast Idea
08:32 Hotel Etico: Australia's First Social Enterprise Hotel
12:13 The Training Program for Young People with Disabilities
19:19 The Social Enterprise Model
22:14 Meet Andrea Comastri
24:13 Starting Out at Grace Brothers
25:48 A New Opportunity in Non-Profit
26:53 Journey in Philanthropy and Social Enterprises
28:09 Personal Life and Family
29:38 Saraya's Background and Early Life
31:37 Saraya's Career in Disability Services
35:04 Andrea and Saraya's Partnership
40:33 Introduction to the Podcast
42:16 Future Episodes and Guests
44:12 The Significance of Hotel California
46:07 Wrapping Up
Intro
Room for All
10/16/24 • 1 min
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 commitment to inclusion. Perfect for business owners, inclusion advocates, and anyone interested in the future of work.
00:00 Introduction to Room for All Podcast
00:10 Meet Your Hosts: Andrea and Saraya
00:35 Mission and Vision of Hotel Etico
00:47 What to Expect in This Podcast
01:11 Join Us on This Journey
FAQ
How many episodes does Room for All have?
Room for All currently has 3 episodes available.
What topics does Room for All cover?
The podcast is about Non-Profit, Training, Inclusion, Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, Podcasts, Disability and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Room for All?
The episode title 'Room for All - Season 1 Episode 1 - Tracylee Arestides' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Room for All?
The average episode length on Room for All is 32 minutes.
How often are episodes of Room for All released?
Episodes of Room for All are typically released every 1 day, 5 hours.
When was the first episode of Room for All?
The first episode of Room for All was released on Oct 16, 2024.
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