For two weeks in mid-January, the tennis world focuses its attention on Melbourne, Australia, where the world’s premiere tennis players and typically more than 650,000 fans from all corners of the world converge for the annual Australian Open, part of the tennis Grand Slam.
Extraordinary effort is not just limited to the action on the court, however. For Delaware North, the event’s 
food and beverage partner for more than 25 years, it’s an initiative that requires a team of more than 1,700 associates, managers and chefs – many of whom travel in from other company units.
“The Australian Open is a two-week event, but make no mistake about it – the planning is a continuous process. Our team at Melbourne & Olympic Parks begins looking to the year ahead as one comes to a close,” said Jim Houser, president of Delaware North’s parks and resorts business and who oversees the company’s Australian operations. “And when the time comes to deliver, it’s all about teamwork. When you have more than a half-million guests over the course of two weeks, it’s an all-hands-on-deck effort.”
Delaware North’s massive operation at the event (this year spanning Jan. 18-31) includes catering, concessions and player dining – a chef-led process that meets the athletes’ specific dietary needs.
