Our team
About Stehr Hospitality & Gaming
Ben Stehr
Director
As a third-generation publican and hotel consultant, Ben has lived and breathed the hospitality industry in various forms since he was young. For over 20 years, Ben has enjoyed honing his expertise in gaming, food & beverage and customer services whilst working for leading hotel groups in iconic venues across Sydney such as Merivale, Lantern Hotels, Redcape Hotels , as well as hotel receivers Ferrier Hodgson.
Laura Stehr
Hospitality HR Specialist
Laura is an experienced Hospitality HR professional, offering tailored HR solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. With over 14 years of expertise, she supports the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment to development, and includes the creation of effective HR systems.
Additionally, day-to-day HR operations such as payroll management and workplace health and safety are expertly handled, ensuring compliance and a safe work environment. Her deep understanding operations allows
her to foster positive workplace cultures, drive operational efficiency, and support sustainable growth through strategic HR practices.
Sean Townsend
Executive Chef
Sean is an award-winning Chef and hospitality leader with a career built on precision, sustainability programmes, and uncompromising standards.
Sean refined his craft in Melbourne with the Van Haandel Group, before contributing to the highly regarded Muse Restaurant during their two-hat tenure and the to leading the team at Muse Kitchen for 4-years, successfully retaining its coveted one-hat status. Before joining Stehr Hospitality, Sean oversaw the culinary programme at Brokenwood Wines – one of the Hunter Valley’s most established wine producers and recognisable brands – being awarded Best Restaurant in a winery, 2 years in a row.
Immersed in a culture of discipline, detail and ingredient integrity, he developed a style that balances classical technique with a distinctly modern Australian identity. Sean brings this depth of experience in hospitality projects from concept development and menu engineering to kitchen design, fire-led cooking systems and team culture, his approach is grounded in results and reputation.
George Hales
Group Operations Manager
Born and raised in the UK, George grew up immersed in the hospitality industry, running pubs in London before moving to Australia eight years ago. Passionate about great service and with a keen eye for all things food & beverage, George thrives on creating exceptional hospitality experiences. He spent over half a decade with industry powerhouse Solotel, leading the teams at Opera Bar & Opera Kitchen beneath the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Yearning for a local clientele and some regular faces, George joined us as Licensee of The Village Inn Paddington in 2022 and has delivered exceptional results for his team, the business and community and growing to become an exceptional Group Operations Manager.
