Bondi Icebergs trying to recruit through customer databases amid staff shortages

The staff shortage crisis in hospitality has hit the glitzy Bondi Icebergs, with the beachside bar and grill trying to fill positions through its customer email database.

The battle to recruit hospitality staff during the ongoing staff shortage crisis continues to intensify forcing a glitzy Bondi restaurant to email its customer database to try and fill positions.

Meanwhile other hospitality groups are going on recruiting trips overseas or changing their staff incentive offerings to lure staff.

Customers from Bondi hot spot Icebergs Dining Room and Bar were sent an email recently asking if they wanted to work there.

The Italian restaurant, which is a frequent haunt for celebrities, is perched on a clifftop in south Bondi. It’s served celebrities like Mike Jagger, Oprah and Kristen Stewart. Closer to home it’s a favourite for PE Nation designer Pip Edwards.

The email to customers shared a picture of its world famous view with the subject line that said: “Work for us this summer on Bondi Beach.”

A couple enjoying the views from Icebergs Dining Rooms and Bar, Bondi. Picture: Destination NSW

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is currently closed for three months as it undergoes extensive renovations and is due to open back up in September. However during this time they are still recruiting for a restaurant manager, bar staff, experienced waiters, runners and people to work in reception and reservations.

The restaurant is run by Maurice Terzini and this year marked 20 years in business.

Last year he compared the process of recruiting staff to popular teen book and movie series The Hunger Games.

Meanwhile, other hospitality groups are doing whatever possible to hire staff because of the shortage. Solotel have changed their staff incentive offerings and are offering a $500 bonus for existing staff who successfully refer a friend, as well as sign on bonuses of $1000 for new full-time employees.

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar at Bondi. Picture: Troy Snook

Then once they’ve joined, staff have access to 50 per cent off all food and beverages at the groups venues which include The Paddington Inn and Opera Bar.

Eddie Levy, Director of the Matteo Group which owns popular venues like Kittyhawk, Lobo and Matteo, said since the first Covid lockdown, retaining staff in Sydney has been “nothing short of a nightmare”.

“Many of our long standing employees left the country due to lack of help and support, this in turn created a huge shortage of skilled staff in our industry,” Mr Levy said.

“While many Australian citizens that worked in hospitality were driven to alternative industries during Covid and have not returned.”

He’s calling on the government to continue to assist bringing more skilled workers to Australia as well as providing initiatives for students to find interest in the hospitality workforce.