HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE KAREN MILESI mother, owned the Retreat Hotel in Abbotsford Melbourne, which featured prominently in the 1970s series, The Sullivans. Karen grew up with hard work. Her parents both had “amazing work ethics,” with her mother running the Retreat Hotel, and her father working in the Victorian police force.
Karen Milesi is a force to be reckoned with, so nobody was surprised when the long-time owner and operator of the Murray Bridge Hotel was inducted into the Women in Hotels Hall of Fame. “I had absolutely no idea, and I’m on the committee, so they managed to keep that from me very well,” said Karen. “I can think of plenty of people who are worthy of the award. “I was totally surprised but absolutely, totally honoured.” The Women in Hotels Hall of Fame recognises those who have made a significant contribution to the South Australian Hotel Industry. It is often awarded to someone who is nearing the end of their career but Karen does not fit into this category. Karen is a fourth generation hotelier. Her great-grandmother, followed by her grandmother, and then her
As a young woman, Karen moved for a job at the Darwin Casino. In Darwin, she met her late husband Rob, and the two later moved to Hobart, where Karen and her brothers purchased the Customs House Hotel. It was her first official foray into the hotelier industry, and she fell in love fast. “I’ve had to fight my way to the top in some ways,” said Karen. When applying for the bank loan to purchase the Customs House Hotel, she was told verbally the loan would be granted, however the manager reversed his decision when Karen, a young woman, arrived at the bank. Some of Karen’s friends made calls and convinced the manager she was a “shoo-in” for success. The loan was approved. When the mid-nineties hit, Karen and her brothers decided it was time to expand the family business. South Australia had recently introduced gaming, so the family saw it as an attractive option. “We decided to come over and get
28 | Hotel SA | W W W . A H A S A . A S N . A U
involved in that, and this venue [the Murray Bridge Hotel] came up,” she recalled. “We decided we’d go over on a five-year plan, but we did such a fabulous job of it, I’m still here twenty-five years later.” While she has had no formal training, Karen said management came naturally to her. “My business plan is my work ethic,” she said. “We want to make sure that the Murray Bridge Hotel comes across as a bit of city chic in the country – that’s my catchphrase to the staff. “Our reputation is everything but we work really hard at that and after 25 years, I think I’ve done it pretty well.” Karen has long been involved in Women in Hotels, and fondly remembers travelling from Murray Bridge for conferences. “It was just a lovely chance to network with other women,” she said. The psyche of the organisation is to include everyone, to ensure women in the industry feel welcome and supported. Karen is far from the end of her career (she describes her current stage as “grassroots”), and is an experienced, passionate professional. Her advice for those starting out in the industry is simple: “Don’t lose your sense of humour … because the bizarre happens every day.” Back to Contents
