Dr Jerry Schwartz took over the family business from his parents, Dr Bela and Eve Schwartz, who created a substantial property business after emigrating from Hungary following the War. His father, Dr Bela Schwartz, was a trained dentist, and Jerry’s mother, Eve, was a dental assistant.
Jerry followed in his parents’ medical footsteps, graduating as a doctor, while also becoming fully involved in the property side of the family business.
Today, Schwartz Family Company is the largest privately owned hotel group in Australia with 14 hotels and over 4000 rooms, comprising Rydges World Square, Rydges Central Sydney, Hotel Ibis World Square, Hotel Ibis King Street Wharf, Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, Mercure Hotel Sydney, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Rydges Newcastle, Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, Novotel Newcastle, Mercure Hotel Canberra, The Victoria Hotel Melbourne, Hilton Surfers Paradise and Paradise Resort Gold Coast.
In addition, Dr Schwartz owns Sydney Brewery, the Hunter Valley Conference & Events Centre (the largest purpose-built meetings and functions venue in NSW outside Sydney) and Blue Sky Airlines, which operates charter services between Sydney, Newcastle and Hunter Valley.
The Schwartz Family Company employs over 2200 people.
Dr Schwartz continues to practice as a surgeon in his Medical Centre at Matraville, Sydney, and is active in a wide variety of charitable causes.
Read more about the founders here