For the Levy Australia team, the story of AO26 didn't begin with the first serve. It began before the winning shot of AO25 was even hit.
Months in the making
Long before crowds pour through the gates, our teams are deep in preparation, hiring, accrediting, rostering and training, to make sure every outlet is ready to serve a Grand Slam-sized audience.
As Ambassador – AO Premium Experience Janine Van Camp puts it, delivering the Australian Open "truly takes a village." Behind every moment guests experience onsite sits months of planning, forecasting and collaboration with our partners to bring bespoke products and signature brands to life.
A precinct in full swing
Together with Tennis Australia, we operate a diverse collection of restaurants, bars, cafés and bespoke hospitality concepts across Melbourne Park. This year, more than 60 Levy-operated outlets, including the first-ever Australian pop-up of Shake Shack, are powered by 500+ culinary professionals and 2,500 hospitality team members, ready to welcome an expected 1.1 million+ guests.
Data plays a key role too. As AO Planning & Experience Manager Danielle Glover explains, "As our audience becomes more diverse each year, we rely on data to help us stay ahead of emerging trends and adapt our approach."
A year-round craft
For our Culinary team, the Australian Open is a year-round operation. Planning for AO27 starts as soon as AO26 wraps. This year's menu spans arena favourites to premium concepts, with collaborations alongside Michelin-starred chefs, all built around fast, fresh, summer food designed for the way people enjoy the precinct.
Off to a flying start
From 12 January, Opening Week transformed Melbourne Park into a fully activated festival, with record qualifying attendance and Shake Shack, Peach Melbourne and Aperol Spritz emerging as early favourites.
As Mitchell Brown, General Manager – Growth and Innovation, explains: "Innovation isn't guesswork. It's insight-driven. Our E15 Data and Analytics team helps us identify trends early, so we can shape offerings that are bold, relevant and strategically informed."
As the Australian Open continues to redefine what a major Australian sporting event can be, we're proud to help shape the experience through exceptional food, drink and hospitality, together with Tennis Australia.
