Bell (2007) is of the opinion that commercial hospitality spaces give much than the economic aspects involved. The monetary aspect associated with the funds generated is important to the city, but there are other roles that commercial hospitality spaces play. Among them is acting as joints where people can meet and socialize, they are also catalysts for development of patterns that end up being followed to the extent that they can be regarded as cultures of those cities among others. Every city across the world has its values. Rome is known for hosting The Vatican, it is a religious City. When you go to Athens, it is a historic city symbolic of war times. Mecca is famous for its Islamic links. There are roles that create the economic and cultural values of a city, away from the individual characteristics of the city inhabitants (Ottaviano & Peri, 2006). In Sydney commercial hospitality, tourism and leisure establishments have been significant in making the cultural-economic story of the city.
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, located on the east coast of the country (Krockenberger, 2015). Sydneysiders are culturally diverse with a strong market economy. The tourism industry in Sydney is a big boom, hosting millions of tourists annually. This makes commercial hospitality and leisure establishments even more important.
On the economic aspect associated with commercial hospitality tourism has become very profound in Sydney. Being a coastal city, has played a significant role in this realization. It is evident that people love sunbathing and beach swimming, which are only available and almost purely a reserve for urban areas along the coastlines. On average, Sydney received over 10 million visitors last year both domestic and international, with over 4 million being international visitors (Krockenberger, 2015).
There are some massive attraction sites in Sydney for tourists such as the aforementioned Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge (Bard, 2015). Other attraction sites include the Luna Park, the beaches and Sydney Tower. The influx of international and local visitors is not only driven by these attraction sites but also other reasons. Some of these could be business relations, political partnerships or even personal relations with Sydneysiders. The end result is that this ends up boosting the tourism numbers for the city.
The impression that the tourists get about the city, the people, their culture and the diversity of things makes them decide whether to come again or not. The city authorities understand that they have to keep tourism on a high and ensure visitors are streaming into the city every other moment. As an important part of their economy, tourism is treated as any other income generator, with specific and clear strategies put in place to keep it going.
Apart from the economic aspect involved with tourism, commercial hospitality spaces in Sydney ensure that visitors get the best treat while they are around. This acts as a way of making them feel content, and have the desire to visit frequently. A good example is when the Irish visit Sydney; they throng the Paddy Maguires for karaoke on Thursday nights. The two hour cruises for sightseeing gives visitors a panoramic view of the city. One can explore all the great attraction places of the city from the vantage point in the boat like the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Fort Denison (Bard, 2015). The whole experience tends to prompt visitors to come back for more. There is also an opportunity for the locals to receive an enjoyable treat in the process.
Leisure establishments are also playing a vital role in enhancing the cultural economic life of the city. Almost everyone wants to have some relaxation time after work. Leisure establishments are not put up just for guests who stream into your place at any time. Rather, they are social interaction centers between locals and guests. People visit these joints with different objectives in mind. Some want to mingle while others want to have fun. Individuals with the partying attitude usually end up in night clubs such as Q bar, Slip Inn and Soho Bar and Lounge among others. Individuals residing in Sydney have developed a culture of utilizing these amenities to the fullest on Friday nights. It is usually a time to let go for many people as they want to forget all the hustles that they have been through the entire week. It gives life a meaning since there can exist a balance of engaging oneself with both the corporate world and having some optimal social life (Coutts, 2014).
Some commercial hospitality spaces give people the opportunity to meet with new individuals as they carry on with their daily routines. In these areas there is always a tendency of meeting new people with whom it becomes easy to establish meaningful ties. This usually happens since the individuals tend to have some things in common. Visiting similar spots means that they have similar tastes among other things. Many people have come to meet people that they have ended up in marriage with in various restaurants, bars, cafes among others. Others have found individuals that have helped them attain their career objectives through mentorship and other ways (Ottaviano & Peri, 2006). People usually visit different commercial hospitality spaces based on what they want to derive from them. Individuals with the need of meeting people in the corporate world tend to visit bars such as the Baxter Inn and Bulletin Place, which are best known for whisky and seasoned drinks respectively (Coutts, 2014).
As with all Aussies, sports are loved by quite a number. If one does not like rugby, then soccer is there among other games. Those who do not make it to the field can grab a drink and (or) a meal and watch a live sporting event at some commercial hospitality spaces like Alexandria Hotel, The Lord Nelson Hotel, Le Pub or 24/7 Sports Bar. Here you are guaranteed to enjoy great sporting events like Le Tour de France, Wimbledon Cricket, The Commonwealth games among others (Coutts, 2014). This has created a culture whereby people can come together in solidarity and support their teams. It creates a form of a mob mentality whereby people get the feeling of belonging. Being a member of a group that shares in the same ideologies and interests is always fascinating to people. It brings about some positive energy, which is vital for individual development and the society as a whole.
Others are not sports lovers, but they have their own ways of utilizing the commercial hospitality spaces in the quest of deriving the desired leisure experience. Some people tend to look for a jig on a Friday night, a karaoke night or even a theatre to catch a movie. All these experiences are profound in Sydney. For instance, someone who wants to catch a movie in the evening may drop at IMAX Theatre Sydney or Chauvel Cinema to have some good time (Cahill, 2011). The thrill of watching a movie with strangers and leaving the place as friends is unbelievable. The friendship ties developed are sometimes extended to doing other things that are beneficial to both parties.
Karaoke nights are a common phenomenon in and around Sydney. The choice of the spot to visit is dependent on an individual’s taste and preference. Among the most famous joints for karaoke are Big Echo, Sydney Korean Karaoke, Ding Dong Dang and K-Square among others. With such a wide variety, most are tailored to specific tastes of different cultures. This means that there is a chance that every Karaoke lover gets what they want. People are given the platform to express the feelings that they have at that moment. It is a favorable way of reliving pressure especially for individuals involved with hectic schedules. Karaoke also provides a platform for interaction where people can meet other individuals sharing in the same sense of music and life (Cahill, 2011).
In conclusion, it is evident that commercial hospitality spaces in addition to the economic prospect that they carry, they also play other roles in the society. This is an aspect that Dell (2007) tries to emphasize in his works. From the information above, Sydney appears like a dream destination for many. A city with great hospitality packages, an almost guaranteed security for guests and locals, as well as awesome entertainment joints. The almost crime-free city with a heavy cultural presence and economic muscle is built on tourism and other social amenities that help in making life bearable. The hardworking people of Sydney will be seen in leisure joints flexing their muscles after a long day at work. The twilight look of the city’s beaches is a joy to watch. A guest in Sydney is in for a treat. People should use hospitality as a toll for growth and development of their places. It should aid multidimensional growth and not only the economic one. The culture of a city is important since it gives people an identity of what they really are. It is a generated with time based on the actions of the people, the way they behave and interact among themselves and amongst their guests. A city could be branded as hostile if its reception of visitors resembles hostility by any means.
References
Bard, A., 2015, A weekend break in…Sydney. The Telegraph.
Bell, D., 2007, The hospitable city: social relations in commercial spaces. Progress In Human Geography, 31(1), 7-22.
Cahill, J., 2011, Sydney’s best karaoke. Sydney Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
Coutts, D., 2014, Sydney’s Top Sports Pubs :: Features & Reviews :: WHERE Magazines Sydney.
Krockenberger, M., 2015, Population growth in Australia (1st ed., p. 3). Melbourne.
Ottaviano, G., & Peri, G., 2006, The Economic Value of Cultural Diversity: Evidence from US Cities. SSRN Journal, 6(1), 9-44.
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