Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Restaurant And Bar Management
Food Stores And Stock Control
Awards And Honours
Community And Board Positions
References
Management And Administration
Personal Assets
Accomplishments
Work Availability
Work Preference
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Leo Berka

Kiama Downs,Australia
Leo Berka

Summary

With over 30 years of experience in leadership and management positions in the hospitality, security, retail, and asset management sectors. Leo Berka is enthusiastically seeking a new and challenging senior position in which he can utilize his extensive knowledge of hotels, motels, resorts, and restaurant operations. Leo possesses a demonstrated commitment to the achievement of professional excellence in all aspects of his operations and is seeking promotional opportunities in a progressive organization.

Business professional with leadership and management experience in domestic and international contexts, customer-oriented general manager with several years of experience focused on increasing production and minimizing downtime. Adaptive and deadline-oriented with capacity to execute and complete multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen.

Overview

40
years of professional experience

Work History

BreakFree Port Pirie
South Australia

General Manager
07.2023 - Current

Job overview

  • Management of a very busy corporate and tourist based hotel offering 68 beds a conference facility and Bar and Restaurant, plans underway for additional rooms and increase in F and B offerings.
  • Hotel under management to 1834 Hotels and franchised with Accor brand, small team of dedicated staff.
  • Maintaining solid occupancy and high yield, and maintaining Number 1 hotel in regional area.

Spinifex Holding Pty Ltd
Kimberlie’s, Derby, WA

Consulting role
01.2024 - 06.2024

Job overview

  • Advising and implementing systems and structures for a 100-room motel with a licenced multipurpose Hotel and independent Bottle shop conference facility and restaurant.
  • Advising on potential tourism opportunities and securing tour group activities for the dry season.

Cape York Peninsula Lodge
Bamaga, Qld

Consulting General Manager
07.2023 - 12.2023

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Owned by the Bamaga landowner group, operating as Bamaga Enterprises Ltd.
  • Leadership and direction for a small but busy two-season operation in the Far North of Queensland, leading up to 36 staff during the dry season and 12 during the wet season.
  • Operating a 4-star, multi-award-winning lodge that specializes in indigenous-guided tours of Pijinka (the tip of Queensland), Fruit Bat Falls, and starting a maritime tour telling the story of the Saibai Island people's migration to Australia.
  • On June 23, we received gold at Tourism Queensland destinations for best remote destination, and this year, in November 2023, we were nominated for best 4-star deluxe and best Indigenous tourism product.
  • Owned by the Bamaga landowner group operating as Bamaga Enterprises Ltd.

Hospitality consulting and Training
07.2022 - 07.2023

Job overview

  • Working short term consultancy and training programs for small to medium groups, highlighting positive and negatives and staff training and hiring consultancy roles in Australia.

Port Moresby, PNG

Consulting with Manus Provincial Government
12.2021 - 06.2022

Job overview

  • Consulting with Manus Provincial Government and Construction company based in Port Moresby regarding a partnership involving of a hotel on Manus Island for 51% controlling option against 6-million-dollar refurbishment program and Private business for constructive implementation and of process and systems for success operating in PNG.

Highlands Hotel and apartments, Coral Sea Hotels

Regional General Manager
06.2016 - 08.2021

Job overview

  • Based in Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea, responsible for the operation and leadership of five regional hotels.

  • Analyzed customer feedback, competitor activities, and market trends to inform business decisions.
  • Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
  • Formed and sustained strategic relationships with clients.
  • Improved productivity initiatives, managing budgets and accounts, coordinating itinerary and scheduling appointments.
  • Implemented successful business strategies to increase revenue and target new markets.
  • Implemented standard operating procedures to ensure consistent quality of service across all stores.
  • Implemented campaigns and promotions to help with developing goods and services.
  • Negotiated contracts with vendors for supplies, equipment, and services at competitive prices.
  • Recruited, trained, and managed staff across all regional locations.

Coastwatchers Hotel, Coral Sea Hotels

General Manager
07.2014 - 06.2016

Job overview

Hospitality Leaders International

Operations Manager
07.2012 - 07.2014

Job overview

  • Company Overview: contract to Coral Sea Hotels
  • Contract to Coral Sea Hotels

Seahorse Inn, Boyd Town Caravan ark
Boydtown, , New South Wales

General Manager
06.2009 - 06.2012

Job overview

  • Implement and manage a 15-million-dollar refurbishment of a heritage-listed manor and adjoining 600-site caravan parks.
  • Formed and sustained strategic relationships with clients.
  • Built and maintained loyal, long-term customer relationships through effective account management.
  • Managed a 15-room luxury manor.
  • Managed a 6-birth caravan park with mixed power and tent sites, cabins, and long-term sites with food and beverage outlets.
  • Created schedules and monitored payroll to remain within budget.
  • Coordinated training activities for employees to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.

privately owned
Noosa North Shore, QLD

General Manager North Shore Caravan Park
01.2003 - 03.2005

Job overview

  • Managed a multi-site powered and cabins van park with convenience store hub and large F&B operation, conference facilities.
  • Joint ventured with Education QLD to study biodiversity and agriculture training.

  • Monitored financial performance and identified areas for improvement in cost savings and revenue generation.
  • Analyzed existing processes for effectiveness and developed new systems as needed to enhance overall productivity levels.
  • Guided management and supervisory staff to promote smooth operations.
  • Coordinated training activities for employees to ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
  • Tracked monthly sales to generate reports for business development planning.

Noosa Hospitality Company
Noosa, Queensland

Trainer
09.1999 - 01.2001

Job overview

  • Documented all training activities including attendance records, feedback forms, surveys.
  • Supervised, evaluated or referred instructors to skill development classes.
  • Created and offered additional materials to enhance training.
  • Devised programs to develop executive potential among employees in lower-level positions.
  • Created multimedia presentations with PowerPoint and video conferencing tools.

Royal Australian Army

Military Police, Driver and Signals Officer
02.1985 - 07.1995

Job overview

Education

Vaucluse Boys High

High School Diploma

University Overview

Sydney Tafe

Associate Diploma

University Overview

Skills

  • Creative problem-solving
  • Outcomes focus
  • Service focus
  • Attention to detail
  • Rapid learning
  • High-level communication
  • Liaison skills
  • Negotiation skills
  • Relationship building
  • Networking
  • Adaptability
  • Transferable skills
  • Project management
  • Revenue generation
  • Customer service
  • Operational efficiency
  • Vendor negotiation
  • Team building
  • Budget management
  • Strategic planning
  • Facility management
  • Branding
  • Multi-unit operation management
  • Training and coaching
  • Profit and loss accountability

Restaurant And Bar Management

Restaurant And Bar Management
  • Leadership, management, and coordination of restaurant operations, both front and back of house
  • Application of high-level time and organisational management skills to facilitate the provision of meals in high volume restaurants and for large gatherings such as weddings and corporate functions
  • Compliance with all legislative and industry requirements including HACCP and Workplace Health and Safety
  • Design and planning of menus including costings and flavour balance
  • Implementation of customer satisfaction processes

Food Stores And Stock Control

Food Stores And Stock Control
  • Completion of all tasks required for the timely and cost-effective purchasing of all food and beverage items for the operation of large hotels, motels and restaurants including:
  • Negotiating with suppliers to secure the best price for all goods including fresh and frozen produce
  • Applying strict cost control measures to meet budgetary KPIs
  • Managing large budgets including AU$1.2million (food) and AU$1.6million (beverages) at the Grand Papua Hotel
  • Implementing systems to ensure that goods were ordered and delivered in a timely manner through consideration of seasonal issues and vast distances such as having containers transported from Australia to Papua New Guinea
  • Distribution of food and beverage items to food preparation and service areas as required

Awards And Honours

Awards And Honours
  • United Nations Service Medal (2 Tours)
  • Australian Army Service medal

Community And Board Positions

Community And Board Positions
  • Board member, Children without fathers, Queensland Non for profit offering leadership to single parent families and offer guidance and leadership to young children with male influences.
  • Chairman, National Disability Resource and Advocacy Centre, Leading advisor group to Papua New Guinea disability Services.
  • Chairman, Madang Festival Organisation Committee, A unique experience of coastal lifestyle in PNG.
  • Board Member, Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, The first Provincial authority with PNG.
  • Chairman, Mt Hagen Cultural show, The oldest and largest cultural show in PNG.
  • Chairman, Western Highlands Province Rugby League, PNG premier League division.

References

References
  • Ronan Wilcox, Central General Manager, Digicel PNG, +675 72221355
  • Richard McGuiness, CEO, Hausman Constructions, Lae, PNG, +675 71906090

Management And Administration

Management And Administration
  • Acquisition of extensive knowledge of accommodation, restaurant, and hospitality operations in both domestic and international contexts
  • Leadership and management of large multidisciplinary, multicultural teams of over 100 members
  • Monitor and management of million-dollar operational budgets.
  • Manage and monitor large commercial projects more than 30 million dollars.
  • Implementation of systems to ensure all quality standards and measures are met or exceeded.
  • Development and implementation of training programs, ensuring that cultural and language differences were identified and considered, for all operational areas of hospitality including Workplace Health and Safety, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), cooking skills, stores ordering, storage, requisitioning, and front of house training
  • Composition of a wide range of reports and documentation including operational reports, purchase orders, invoices, policies, and procedures
  • Completion of all human resource management tasks including payroll, recruitment, dismissals, and performance management
  • Conduct of debit recovery duties
  • Acquisition of a thorough practical knowledge of a range of specialist software systems including RMS, POS Epitome, Pronto, Micros and Task manager

Personal Assets

Personal Assets
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage both front and back of house operations of large, multifunctional hotels and motels in domestic and international environments
  • A responsive communicator with excellent people and relationship building skills, able to relate and negotiate at all levels and with individuals from divergent cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds and circumstances
  • Exceptional organisational and time management skills complementing the ability to prioritise competing responsibilities and meet established and evolving deadlines
  • Promotion of high-performance workplace and team cultures to ensure targets are met or exceeded, in quality, quantity and timing as per relevant department guidelines and business plans
  • Proven capacity and motivation to acquire new skills and abilities in a prompt, accurate manner
  • Highly adaptable, with sharp attention to detail and thorough approach in the completion of all tasks
  • Proactive with demonstrated initiative, a sharp analytical mind and determination, persistence and ambition complemented by a level of tenacity that is results and service driven
  • Adherence to the implementation of all organisational policies and procedures
  • Experienced mentor and trainer of new and experienced staff members
  • Understanding of certain Asian and South Pacific customs and protocols.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

12 years' service in the Australian Army, with 2 tours of duty with UNTAC Cambodia

Availability
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Work Preference

Work Type

Full TimeContract Work

Work Location

On-Site

Important To Me

Work-life balanceCompany Culture

Timeline

Consulting role
Spinifex Holding Pty Ltd
01.2024 - 06.2024
General Manager
BreakFree Port Pirie
07.2023 - Current
Consulting General Manager
Cape York Peninsula Lodge
07.2023 - 12.2023
Hospitality consulting and Training
07.2022 - 07.2023
Consulting with Manus Provincial Government
12.2021 - 06.2022
Regional General Manager
Highlands Hotel and apartments, Coral Sea Hotels
06.2016 - 08.2021
General Manager
Coastwatchers Hotel, Coral Sea Hotels
07.2014 - 06.2016
Operations Manager
Hospitality Leaders International
07.2012 - 07.2014
General Manager
Seahorse Inn, Boyd Town Caravan ark
06.2009 - 06.2012
General Manager North Shore Caravan Park
privately owned
01.2003 - 03.2005
Trainer
Noosa Hospitality Company
09.1999 - 01.2001
Military Police, Driver and Signals Officer
Royal Australian Army
02.1985 - 07.1995
Vaucluse Boys High
High School Diploma
Sydney Tafe
Associate Diploma
Leo Berka