Inside the massive, 4,500 person Merivale party at Sydney hotspot The Ivy

When it comes to staff incentives and retention, Merivale boss Justin Hemmes knows how to keep employees happy. Find out his secret to job satisfaction.

You could call it the cult of Justin Hemmes. When it comes to staff incentives and retention, the hotelier knows how to keep employees happy.

So after two very tough years through the pandemic, his Merivale group hosted a night to remember at his Ivy precinct on Monday for the businesses more than 4500 staff.

“It is not about spending money, it is about recognition,” Hemmes said. “It is celebrating their hard work and acknowledging them for the great job that they do.”

Merivale is the top hospitality group in NSW and will this year push into Victoria.

All of its venues – including the likes of Mr Wong, Coogee Pavilion and The Newport – closed Monday to allow staff to enjoy the festivities with the night tipped to have cost close to $1 million.

Staff revelling at Merivale party. Picture: Supplied

Signs on the doors of Merivale venues read: “Our wonderful team are currently enjoying a well deserve day off for our staff party”.

Like many industries, hospitality has been ravaged by the pandemic and as we step into the new world post Covid the big issue is staffing shortages.

Hemmes doesn’t appear to have that problem. To thank his staff, he hosted a mini-festival that included a performance from ARIA Award winning act Flight Facilities.

Staff were entertained by bands and DJs at the party. Picture: Supplied

“Particularly in hospitality, staff are everything,” he said. “Your business is built on your people but also we are a family company and we like to celebrate the good times and celebrate the success, our people and the support they give us.”

Showing the scale of the event, four stages were set up across the venue with guests partying into the early hours of Tuesday. There were multiple DJs, drag performances from Jimi The Kween, stilt walkers and mirror ball dancers.

Justin Hemmes at the Merivale party. Picture: Supplied

Hemmes himself was in attendance with his girlfriend, model Madeleine Holtznagel, as well as Merivale’s celebrity chef’s like Dan Hong and Mike Eggert.

“It was a mini-festival,” Hemmes said, having worn a bright Versace shirt to the party and having his face painted. “Thousands of staff all having an amazing time, it was incredible.”

Along with a free flowing bar, food was provided from across Merivale venues included Ms G’s cheeseburger spring rolls, Vinnie’s Pizza from the SCG as well as rolls from Sonoma.

It’s understood the party cost close to a million dollars and ran for 12 hours.

It is the first time in three years the annual staff party has been able to go ahead. The last Merivale party of this size was held in Centennial Park in 2018.

Originally published as Inside the massive, 4,500 person Merivale party at Sydney hotspot The Ivy