Accor, Australia’s largest hotel operator, has thrown its support behind the new Australian Restaurant and Café Association (ARCA) as Founding Hotel Partner in a bid to help the industry overcome stifling economic challenges.
Established by renowned industry figures, including Neil Perry AM and Chris Lucas, with Wes Lambert as CEO, ARCA aims to take action on behalf of the industry’s 54,000 venues and over 450,000 employees.
“The current situation of rising costs and restrictions on discretionary spending is impacting hospitality venues across the industry, from five-star signature restaurants to cafes, and from capital cities to regional areas,” said Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams.
“Hospitality is a key component of what hotels offer, and while operating is more challenging at the moment, we are focused on adapting and evolving to continue delivering exceptional experiences for our guests.
“We remain committed to offering our guests memorable dining at reasonable prices, and although costs have increased significantly in recent years, our focus is on innovation and efficiency to maintain the high standards our guests expect.”
The hospitality industry contributes up to AU$64 billion to the Australian economy annually, but a recent report by Australian credit reporting firm, CreditorWatch, predicted that one in every 11 Australian hospitality businesses could fail in the next 12 months as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.
The ARCA is advocating to influence all levels of government in areas including taxation, skilled worker shortages, wages, rents, dining restrictions, and inflation.
As the largest hotel operator in the country, Accor operates more than 223 cafes and restaurants and 167 bars in its network of 350+ hotels, resorts and apartments across the country.
“We look forward to working with other ARCA members to collaborate and advance the hospitality community as a whole,” said Accor Pacific Director of Food & Beverage, Ben Creek.
“Times are challenging but we are excited about what we can collectively achieve to build a great future for the industry.
“Hospitality has always been about care, generosity and supporting the community, and ARCA is a platform for us to come together and support all businesses from local cafes to CBD restaurants.
“We invest considerably in training and development, which benefits the wider hospitality industry. Committing such high levels of investment relies on the profitability of our venues, but the current regulatory framework is not providing the support we need.”
Creek says the industry is looking for ‘a fairer deal’.
“We employ and train so many Australians, but there will always be times when we need skilled labour, and currently that is problematic, especially in attracting skilled personnel to regional areas,” he said.
ARCA Chief Executive, Wes Lambert, welcomed Accor’s support.
“As the hospitality industry faces unprecedented challenges, ARCA is dedicated to providing a strong, unified voice to advocate for the support and reforms needed to sustain and grow this vital sector,” he said.
“We are thrilled to have Accor, a leader in the industry, join us as a Founding Hotel Partner. Together, we can drive meaningful change that will not only help businesses survive these tough times but thrive in the future.
“The collaboration between industry heavyweights and grassroots venues is the cornerstone of ARCA’s mission to ensure the longevity and prosperity of Australia’s hospitality community.”