Six Years of Perfectly Paired: Shaping How Hospitality Connects

Why We Started

Six years ago, we launched Perfectly Paired. A few months later, everything went dark for events and hospitality. It wasn’t the easiest start but it sharpened our purpose - to help venues rebuild stronger through better partnerships.

Brilliant venues were being held back by partnerships or operating models that weren’t fully aligned with their needs. Many were managing catering procurement internally, often without the benefit of hospitality-specific insight or industry perspective. Consultants were recycling the same cookie-cutter solutions, without the grounding of real venue or catering experience. The result? Partnerships that looked fine on paper but failed in practice.

We knew there was a better way. Perfectly Paired was built on a simple idea: bring genuine experience - commercial and operational - to the table and create partnerships that truly reflect each venue’s purpose and potential. Because when the pairing is right, hospitality doesn’t just work harder - it transforms the whole experience.

“From the beginning, it’s always been about connection - people, stories and place. Every venue has its own story to tell and it’s a privilege to help bring that to life through hospitality that feels true to who they are.” Lauren Lacava, Principal Consultant Sales & Marketing

How We’ve Shaken Things Up

We set out to do one thing: make hospitality partnerships genuinely work for both sides. Along the way, we’ve helped shift the way hospitality partnerships are shaped in Australia:

• We’ve redefined what a catering tender can be - with clearer benchmarks, fairer processes and better outcomes.

• We’ve shown that without real venue or catering experience, it’s hard to get it right (hospitality isn’t a spectator sport).

• We’ve worked with venues to prove that stronger returns and more aligned partnerships are possible.

• And through it all, one thing’s guided us - hospitality works best when it works for everyone.

“Perfectly Paired began with a simple belief - that things could be done differently. That you could bring genuine strategy, fairness and partnership into a catering and events industry that often relied on habit over insight. We wanted to raise the standard and create something that balanced creativity with commercial reality - and that’s exactly what we’ve built.” Mark Wright, Principal Consultant Operations & Commercial

Highlights

Fast-forward six years and our portfolio is a mixed bag in the best possible way.

We’ve become the go-to for GLAM institutions - galleries, libraries, arts and museums - where food and beverage needs to feel like part of the story, not just an add-on.

We’ve helped heritage estates celebrate their history through hospitality that complements, rather than competes.

We’ve shaped sports, stadia and major events - creating hospitality experiences that connect communities and elevate every occasion.

We’ve guided universities on campus venues that foster connection and community.

And across council and government assets, we’ve shown that governance and creativity can work beautifully together with the right process in place.

What unites all of these places is that food, beverage and events go beyond hospitality - they shape connection, culture and experience.

“When I look at our body of work - from complex catering tenders to commercial frameworks and operational strategies - it’s clear we’ve had real impact. But more than that, I’m proud of how we’ve done it: collaboratively, thoughtfully and always with purpose.” Mark

“Every venue has its own heartbeat. Whether it’s a cultural landmark, a stadium or a creative precinct, we get to play a part in helping these places connect with their audiences through food, story and experience. That’s what makes it so rewarding.” Lauren

Looking Ahead

Six years in, and what a journey it’s been. We’ve navigated a pandemic, redefined how tenders are run and helped some of the country’s most iconic venues find partners who help them shine.

But this anniversary isn’t just about looking back - it’s about what’s next: new venues, new partnerships and new ways to show how great hospitality can transform places and experiences.

“The next chapter feels incredibly exciting. We’ve proven the strength of our model and the depth of our expertise - now it’s about growth, innovation and legacy. There’s real opportunity to shape the future of food, events and commercial partnerships across Australia and beyond.” Mark

“For me, it’s about people and stories. Every project we take on is a chance to create something meaningful - experiences that connect people to place and partners to purpose. That’s the joy of what we do and it still feels like we’re just getting started.” Lauren

And to our venue and event partners - thank you. Over the years, many of you have become not just collaborators but friends. You’ve supported a small business with big ambitions and every success we’ve had is built on the trust you’ve placed in us.

Here’s to the next six years - and to the partnerships yet to be perfectly paired.

Shaping Hospitality Together

National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Bringing history to life through hospitality - helping Victoria’s most loved heritage places connect people through stories, experiences and a true sense of place.

State Library Victoria Shaping the next chapter of one of Victoria’s most iconic cultural destinations - curating catering partnerships that celebrate creativity, connection and the Library experience at its heart.

Shrine of Remembrance Pairing purpose with partnership - guiding the Shrine to find a caterer who could honour its legacy while enhancing the visitor experience through thoughtful hospitality.

Arts Centre Melbourne  Collaborating with Victoria’s cultural heartbeat to reimagine hospitality across its iconic venues -setting a new benchmark for creativity, connection and commercial success.

Abbotsford Convent Partnering with one of Australia’s most vibrant creative precincts to shape the future of food and beverage - creating opportunities that celebrate community, creativity and connection.

Queensland University of Technology Partnering with QUT to deliver a strategic RFP process for its flagship campus bars - aligning hospitality operations with QUT’s vision for vibrant, sustainable and community-driven campus experiences.

Hawthorn Football Club - Kennedy Community Centre Building the foundations of a future-ready partnership - leading the catering services tender for the Kennedy Community Centre to deliver experiences that inspire both club and community.

Mac Point Stadium, Hobart Working hand-in-hand with the design team on Tasmania’s new multipurpose stadium - shaping how food, beverage and design come together to create a truly integrated hospitality experience.

The Calyx Collaborating with The Royal Botanic Gardens Trust to reshape the hospitality model at The Calyx - building a partnership that reflects the venue’s purpose, celebrates its setting, and delivers long-term commercial strength.

Let’s talk about your next partnership.

If your venue or event is ready to reimagine what hospitality can be, we’d love to connect. Perfectly Paired specialises in creating partnerships that work - commercially, creatively and with purpose.