Hunter Valley wedding destination, Redleaf Wollombi has announced a tender to secure a catering and hospitality services partner.
The successful candidate will work with the venue to continue to deliver unrivalled wedding experiences for guests.
Redleaf Wollombi’s Italian-style villa exudes elegance and sophistication. The venue is a sought-after luxury retreat, coveted by those looking for an exclusive space to host their weddings, special events and ultimate getaway experiences.
With demand for destination weddings on the rise, Redleaf Wollombi has seen exponential growth in both weekend and midweek bookings since the venue first opened its doors in 2018.
Director and Founder, Mathew Low and his team announced they have been welcoming an average of 67 weddings per calendar year, with 80 per cent of the available weekends already filled for 2024.
Off the back of this ongoing success and forward demand, Mathew said he is ready to take Redleaf’s catering experience to the next level.
“To date, we have maintained an open policy to external suppliers for weddings and events,” Matthew said.
“While this has been successful, we are now focused on the benefits for our guests by offering a single-sourced caterer that can deliver their culinary vision in our world-class venue.”
Having previously hosted a range of high-profile guests including international fashion designers, prominent sportsmen and society figures, Redleaf Wollombi plans to optimise the catering selection process for clients.
“We have learnt that our guests are not necessarily seeking a panel of caterers to select from but rather access to a single caterer delivering a variety of premium and gourmet choices,” Mathew said.
The successful applicant will start working with Redleaf Wollombi from 1 January 2025 on a five-year term that can be renewed for another five years.
Holding over 70 functions per year, the venue can host up to 200 guests per event, with an estimated annual revenue for catering of approximately $1.4 million.
Redleaf Wollombi is searching for a catering partner with experience in developing European-inspired wedding menus – from canapés and formal selections to food stations for next-day recovery events.
The caterer should also be able to deliver exceptional service for non-wedding events such as birthday celebrations, corporate events and ticketed fine-dining experiences.
To celebrate the best of the Wollombi and Hunter Valley region, the catering service provider will be asked to showcase how they will highlight the region through fine produce and beverage selection.
The business will also be expected to carry the appropriate licensing to perform their service, including responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and food safety responsibilities.
Mathew Low and his team have big plans for the partnership.
“We are excited about implementing this new business model,” Matthew said.
“I believe that by partnering with a sole caterer, together, we will be able to deliver for the client a far superior, varied and high-quality product, with consistent and unparalleled service excellence.”
Request for proposal submissions close 16 June 2023, with Redleaf Wollombi announcing the successful catering and hospitality services partner on 14 August 2023.