Australia’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has added its weight as Founding Hotel Partner of the newly created Australian Restaurant and Café Association (ARCA), which has been established to respond to the economic challenges facing the local hospitality industry.
ARCA was established to provide a voice and action on behalf of an industry that numbers some 54,000 venues, employs over 450,000 people, and contributes up to $64 billion to the Australian economy.
The association has been set up by renowned industry figures, including Neil Perry AM and Chris Lucas, with Wes Lambert as CEO of the organisation.
The new industry association is already advocating to influence all levels of government in areas including taxation, skilled worker shortages, wages, rents, dining restrictions, and inflation.
It follows figures released recently by Australian credit reporting firm, CreditorWatch, which predicted that one in every 11 Australian hospitality businesses could fail in the next 12 months as the cost of living crisis worsens.
Accor is not only the largest hotel operator in Australia, but it also operates more than 223 cafes and restaurants and 167 bars in its network of 350+ hotels, resorts and apartments across the country.
Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer PM&E, Adrian Williams, said: “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.
“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.”
Accor Pacific Director of Food & Beverage, Ben Creek, said it was important to partner with ARCA to provide a united voice on the issue.
“We look forward to working with other ARCA members to collaborate and advance the hospitality community as a whole. 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.
“The industry as a whole 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.”
Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association Chief Executive Officer, Wes Lambert, said: “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.
“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.”
