In a celebration of ingenuity and heart, Hyatt Hotels in partnership with Asuria and Complete Hospitality Training (CHT) and supported by Accommodation Australia NSW was recently honoured with the Innovative Recruitment Solution Award for the RiseHY program at the 2025 Asuria Employer Awards.
This accolade recognises industry pioneers who dare to rethink recruitment with bold, transformative programs, with the RiseHY initiative—a beacon of hope for disadvantaged youth—serving as a testament to what’s possible when passion, collaboration, and innovation unite to change lives.
Hyatt Hotels, well known for their exceptional guest experiences across cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, has long championed sustainability and community engagement. Its global ambition to hire 10,000 young people by 2025 found powerful supporters in Asuria, CHT and Accommodation Australia NSW.
Created by Hyatt, and supported by Asuria, CHT and Accommodation Australia; together they created a structured program to support the RiseHY initiative—a program that doesn’t just fill jobs but builds future, evolving to become a recruitment process and pre-employment program that’s as practical as it is inspiring, equipping young participants with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive in hospitality.
John Morabito, Director of Human Resources at Park Hyatt Sydney said: “Our partnership with Asuria has been instrumental in advancing Hyatt's RiseHY program, which helps provide young people an opportunity to learn more about the hospitality industry. Together, we have created meaningful career pathways that support our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.”
What sets RiseHY apart is its heartfelt commitment to youth facing barriers, whether it’s disability, underprivileged backgrounds, or the challenges of starting anew in Australia. In 2024, 23 young people completed this comprehensive five-day training program delivered by CHT, which provided them with accredited qualifications in Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and food handling, paired with soft skills training essential for hospitality careers.
Seventeen of these young people have now kickstarted their career journey in hospitality across Hyatt properties in Sydney and Melbourne, with RiseHY becoming more than a recruitment program for many people—it’s become a lifeline.
Hyatt went further, opening their doors for hands-on kitchen and bar training, even providing venue space and catering. The RiseHY Celebration Days in August and September 2024 were a particular highlight, with participants showcasing their skills through interactive presentations and networking with staff, to get a glimpse into the opportunities awaiting them. This wasn’t just training; it was a bridge to discovering a sense of purpose, connecting young people with mentors who saw their potential.
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The judges at the 2025 Asuria Employer Awards were thoroughly impressed, commending “the multiple components of the approach, including upskilling, that has led to a high success rate in retention.” They recognised RiseHY as a bold departure from the norm, and a model that blends education, experience, and employer engagement to rewrite the script on youth employment, helping young people to become more than employees; they’re contributors, stepping into careers with newfound confidence.
From all of us at Asuria, congratulations to Hyatt Hotels, Accommodation Australia, and Complete Hospitality Training — our 2025 Innovative Recruitment Solution champions. Your unwavering dedication to youth, innovation, and inclusion has lit a path for others to follow. Here’s to more stories of hope, more lives transformed, and a future where every young person has the chance to rise.
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