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THREE STEPS TO HELP REMEDY CRIME AGAINST HOTELS
From the President
DAVID BASHEER
Crime and anti-social behaviour have become an increasingly difficult - and costly - issue for our hoteliers and staff.
The AHA|SA has engaged extensively over several years with SAPOL, CBS, the Department of Human Resources, other retailers and of course the State Government. Furthermore, Anna Moeller sits on the Premier’s Crime task force.
Several areas of the State now have liquor restrictions imposed upon them. Whyalla is the latest region to have restrictions. As a consequence, members are being asked to do a disproportionate amount of the heavy lifting in this area. This includes:
• constraints on opening hours
• restrictions on of the sale of liquor
• significant investment to secure stock against thieves
• and our staff are the target of anger and abuse when refusing a sale to comply with the regulations.
Our members continue to be victims in the fight against crime - but I am not convinced the high
level of cooperation provided by pubs is understood, nor is it fully recognised.
These restrictions are often difficult and costly for hotels to manage. And there is undisputed evidence that such measures simply lead to the movement of the problem. They do not solve the problem.
The Adelaide CBD restrictions have led to issues not previously endured by our members in inner city locations.
Today, we are dealing with generations of policy failure on what is undoubtably a difficult societal issue.
As a result, bottle shop theft is widespread and our staff have
Our members are now investing huge sums of money in crime prevention measures, ranging from retrofitting locks on fridges and purchasing glass-fronted spirit cabinets, through to extra security personnel and technology to identify culprits.
Someone pinching the odd six pack is annoying, but the real issue to focus on is the well-known repeat offenders who steal large amounts of alcohol on a very regular basis.
It is a very unpleasant, and sometimes unsafe work environment for our staff and a heavy cost for our owners to shoulder.
Alarmingly, we have also heard examples of well-meaning customers who have physically intervened to prevent these thefts.
Enough is enough.
We offer no criticism to SAPOL, which deploys its resources in the best possible form.
Nevertheless, these repeat offenders can not be allowed to re-enter our stores without repercussions.
found themselves on the front line.
Firstly, the time is overdue for this sustained criminal activity to be met with decent jail terms. As I said previously, this is not an isolated person pilfering a sixpack. These are organised groups using intimidation and violence in a repeated and sustained manner.
Secondly, as we are forced to take on more and more measures to ensure the safety of the community at large, it is unreasonable to expect us to do the ‘heavy lifting’ without support.
Should this alarming crime trend continue, it will almost become beholden on government to follow the interstate lead and financially support our members to make their stores more crime proof. (For example, the Northern Territory Government has previously partnered with hotels to help fund a range of measures.)
Thirdly, with regard to anti-social behaviour that we all observe on the streets, there must be a stronger intent to fix the issue.
Part of that solution is police resourcing. The AHA|SA has been at the head of the queue in praising the Government for the significant contribution major events have added to the hospitality economy. Thanks to the excellent resourcing during events like Gather Round, the streets are much calmer.
We need to keep locals safe 52 weeks of the year.
HOTELS SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH
Facilitated by a $200,000 grant from the Independent Gaming Corporation, the AHA|SA is delighted to join with Clubs SA to extend its partnership with Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation for a further two years.
I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for the on going courses.
Vice-President Matt Binns and I, along with personnel from Clubs SA, met Breakthrough’s CEO John
Mannion during Covid to see how we could best tackle the mental health strains that period brought to our senior hospitality operators.
The First Aid mental Health courses were extraordinarily well received, and whilst Covid may be in the rear-view mirror, the mental health challenges for our industry remain very real.
We thank the board of IGC for recognising this need and their financial support is most appreciated.
It is important to remember that over 90% of the IGC’s income is derived from fees paid by hotels and clubs.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
In this issue of Hotel SA, we have a story on the Liquor Industry Charity Golf Day.
This year’s event was yet again another remarkable success, highlighting all that is great about our industry and the people in it.
The day also drew the curtain on the remarkable contributions of three industry legends, Robert Gillies, Robbie Timms and Phil Hallett. This retiring trio has served a combined 65 years to make the event such a success and helped raise in excess of $3 million for important children’s charities.
Rob, Robbi and Phil have all held important roles in their professional hospitality life. But to offer their skills in such a generous way for the benefit of the entire community is worthy of the AHA|SA’s immense thanks and acknowledgment.
A great effort guys!
PROUD OF OUR TEAM
Ordinarily, financial results are reserved for our Annual Report but I believe the efforts this year are worthy of special attention.
Our 2024 surplus was $734,410. This outstanding result is truly a full team effort - with Anna Moeller
leading highly respected staff who work together to great effect.
The bedrock of that result is membership. We achieved a record membership figure in 2018 and have eclipsed that every single year since. Full credit to Scott Vaughan and Katherine Taylor
Having an engaged and satisfied membership reflects favourably on our legal and HR team – Owen Webb, Gary Coppola and Sarah Legoe – while the foundations are set through the policy expertise of Natarsha Stevenson
At a time when businesses are seeking to cut their discretionary spend, Lucy Randall has leveraged her enviable relationships to ensure our corporate partnerships remain strong.
And with Josh Bevan telling members stories and Liz Turley and Adam Moore ensuring our training continues to thrive, the team continues to deliver excellent member services.
Belinda Richard and Anna Caretti ensure back of house services remain strong, whilst in many ways Tom Owens and the Gaming Care team – Benjamin Bruce, Cathy Dean, Jarrod Egan, John Hilton, Damian Hennessy and Milly Lillywhite – are the unsung heroes of our organisation.
Didier Vollerin, who is currently on a 12-month sabbatical, has also been an important contributor and we look forward to his return.
I started with our financial result and I will conclude with a special acknowledgment to our Financial Controller Alisa Wenzel, who along with Treasurer Sam McInnes have brought great financial discipline to our operations.
Thank you to the AHA|SA team, your efforts are truly appreciated.
David Basheer, AHA|SA President
Digital Content Manager A Timely Appointment GENUINE REFORMS DESERVE OUR GENUINE THANKS
From the CEO
From the CEO
ANNA MOELLER
ANNA MOELLER
It can be easy to criticise government for inaction on reform when we feel it is warranted, so when positive steps are taken to address our concerns it's important we acknowledge it.
In this instance, I want to highlight the work done by the Hon Andrea Michaels MP, (pictured left) who is the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, which includes licensing and gaming. She is also the Minister for Small and Family Business, and for the Arts which encompasses festivals and live music.
It is evident that the Minister comes from a small business background. It gives her a strong understanding that pubs are generally family-run, small and medium businesses.
She is deeply aware of the issues we face. And she is genuinely committed to making things better.
The AHA|SA team has been working closely with Minister Michaels and her team on cutting red tape (publicised previously) and we hope to be able to announce further progress in the near future.
In addition, consultation around liquor licensing reform has been genuine and extensive. The Minister’s transparency and willingness to collaborate with industry have been encouraging.
We respect the fact that she is attempting to strike the right balance between regulation, harm minimisation and business success.
In thanking Minister Michaels, I would also like to include her staff, who have been willing to listen to our position on many issues, even when we are delivering criticism in no uncertain (but hopefully constructive) terms.
GATHER ROUND
The more you do something, the better it gets - and that’s exactly what we have witnessed with Gather Round and LIV Golf. Last year broke records - but this year smashed those records.
For LIV Golf, occupancy rates jumped around 10 points on the key nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. But what stood out was the early part of the week. Monday up 29 points, Tuesday rose by 30 and Wednesday was up 19 points, according to data provided by CoStar.
Even Sunday night saw a lift.
Aligning these events with the Victorian school holidays was the right move. It encouraged people to drive to SA, taking the time to enjoy country SA. That’s a win for our regions, not just for occupancy but food and beverage spend too.
Interstate visitation was up around 33%. That means two things: crowds are coming back - and they’re telling others. We know that when people stay Monday to Wednesday, they aren’t here for the footy alone. They’re exploring the city, the regions, dining out and shopping.
It always starts with a bed night. Once you get a visitor into a bed, they need somewhere to eat, drink and entertain themselves. It’s great for our industry, but also for retail and the broader economy.
Importantly, this is outside money coming into the State, not just SA money recirculating. So the case for
retaining these events is not just about football or golf. They are important economic drivers.
When events like Gather Round and LIV Golf inject substantial funds into our economy, it gives the government the capacity to do things like support communities doing it tough – such as those hit by drought.
And just as importantly, the visitor experience and the incredible images broadcast globally sends a clear message that SA is open for business… and thriving.
Long may it continue!
Anna Moeller, AHA|SA CEO
AHA|SA Applauds New San Fran Flights
More international flights direct into Adelaide are a major boost for the hospitality sector
The AHA|SA is delighted that United Airlines will commence direct flights between Adelaide and San Francisco from December 2025 in what will be the first ever direct route between SA and the USA.
The new flights were also welcomed by the Minister for Tourism, the Hon Zoe Bettison.
“Our guests from America love to explore and know that South Australia is a great place to experience unique settings and wildlife – to get up close with kangaroos and koalas or swim with dolphins and sea lions,” she said.
“They love the rugged outback of the Flinders Ranges, and the pristine nature of Kangaroo Island, our premium produce, delicious dining – and of course our wine.”
This sentiment was echoed b SATC CEO Emma Terry (pictured next page).
“The introduction of United Airlines’ direct flights between Adelaide and San Francisco is a game-changer for South Australia’s tourism and hospitality sectors,” she said.
“This new connection will make it easier for international visitors to experience our world-class food and wine regions, coastline, outback, and welcoming city and open up exciting opportunities for our local pubs, hotels, and regional businesses.
“For accommodation providers and hospitality venues, this is a chance to welcome a growing number of
visitors who are eager to explore authentic Australian experiences.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this historic route will have on our state’s economy and the broader tourism industry."
PERFECT TIMING
AHA|SA CEO, Anna Moeller, said San Francisco is a major hub for United Airlines in the US.
“It acts as the airline's primary West Coast and transpacific gateway,” she said.
“International tourists coming to Adelaide can take advantage of one-stop connections from more than 75 US destinations, previously only reachable with two connections.
“We also become a gateway to Perth, which isn’t served by a US direct route. This is a huge boost to the visitor economy.”
She also pointed out that significance of the timing of the service.
"Flights from San Francisco to Adelaide, commencing just before Adelaide's major events season, will be a massive boost in showcasing what our state has on offer.
"Hotels and pubs are among the big winners from this new deal, who will continue providing premier accommodation and venue experiences across the state to direct travellers from the USA.”
POWER OF DIRECT FLIGHTS
United Airlines Managing Director for APAC Airport Operations, Sam Shinohara, said United had a strong focus on providing better access for travellers.
“We know that direct flights are a big factor in people deciding where to travel,” he said.
“This game-changing new flight will add almost 25,000 more seats between the US and Australia each year and makes United the only airline to offer nonstop service between the US and four major cities in Australia.”
He also stressed the importance of “our strong partnership with Virgin Australia and our comprehensive US domestic network provide(s) unparalleled connectivity”.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said direct flights with the USA had been “out of reach” for many years.
“With our State’s economy outperforming the nation, and the historic AUKUS agreement set to drive unprecedented investment into South Australia – now is the right time for direct flights to the US,” he said.
Adelaide Airport Ltd Managing Director, Brenton Cox, business, investment and SA’s broader tourism economy all stood to benefit.
“We will now have even greater business connectivity and export and supply chain opportunities with North America – improving links with what is already our State’s second biggest export market,” he said.
THE SPECIFICS
• Commencing as a seasonal service departing San Francisco on 11 December 2025 and subject to government approvals, the 15-hour flight will operate three times per week until March – with a possibility to increase in the future as demand grows.
• The first flight will depart Adelaide for San Francisco on 13 December 2025.
• The flight will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 257 seats, including 48 in United Polaris Business Class and 21 in United Premium Plus.
• Flights will arrive into Adelaide at 9:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and departing the same day for San Francisco at 2:55pm.
THE NUMBERS
United Airlines is the world’s largest airline as measured by available seat miles.
It operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers.
This deal with United Airlines will see direct flights from the 3rd largest international visitor market for Australia. For the year ending December 2024, there were 669,000 trips from the U.S. to Australia with visitors spending $2.0 billion.
The USA injected $77 million to South Australia's visitor economy in 2024, up a massive 48% on 2023, and is now set to grow even further.
AHA|SA Rallies For Drought Affected Communities
Most people accept that South Australian pubs are the beating heart of their communities.
This was demonstrated in spades on 14 April when The Advertiser and AHA|SA joined forces to present a free Community Lunch at the Peterborough Hotel, where an estimated 1,000 people flocked to the Railway Street party.
We were joined by SA Premier, Hon. Peter Malinauskas, and his cabinet ministers, who announced $1,500 drought relief grants to drought-affected farming families and rural small business owners, delivered through the government’s drought-support package.
RESPITE
AHA|SA CEO, Anna Moeller, opened the event saying: "We couldn’t bring the rain today. But what we could bring was a bit of respite.
“Resilience, persistence and determination. That is what people in our country towns have. We all see what you're going through. You do it tough. But goodness me, you do it well.”
The Premier also hailed the resilience and determination of South Australia’s farmers and rural communities.
“Do not underestimate how much city folk have a degree of consciousness of the difficulty of the lack of rain and drought at the moment,” he said.
“Thank you for bringing to life the stories of so many people from different backgrounds, but in particular, the power of telling stories from regional South Australia.”
Lion’s Field Sales Director, Jared Shattock, organised the display of the iconic Sheffield Shield and brought along footy legend, Tony Modra, and former Adelaide Oval curator, Les Burdett, to pour beers in the hotel, which delighted hundreds of local sports fans!
“Their eyes light up when I tell them it’s my shout. People just love it. I’m glad we could put a smile on their faces,” said Tony.
PETERBOROUGH HOTEL
Publican and owner of the Peterborough Hotel, James Phillips, told the story of a local who frequents the front bar most days.
“When the Sheffield Shield was put on the stand he asked me, ‘Is that what I think it is?’”
James took over the hotel in April last year, when he moved from Coffs Harbour NSW with his wife Urnaa
and daughter Sophia. Owning a hotel had a been lifelong dream in between working as a FIFO machine fitter in the Pilbara mines.
“There was definitely a time, about six months ago, I thought ‘I’ve done the wrong thing’.
“There just weren’t any people coming through the door, but we’ve come through all right.”
So take a trip to drought affected regions in South Australia, call into the local pub, and show your support for communities doing it tough at the moment.
We thank our amazing corporate partners who contributed to making the day a success!
Hotels Boost Funding For Mental Health
The AHA|SA has committed to extending its groundbreaking partnership to support mental health in South Australia.
This follows the Independent Gaming Corporation Ltd (IGC) approval of a two-year funding for Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation to continue the initiative with AHA|SA and Clubs SA.
As part of this continued commitment, Breakthrough will develop targeted strategies to support mental health in the hospitality sector. Industry staff will be equipped with practical tools and education to promote mental
“It’s great to see the hospitality industry taking the Mental Health conversation seriously,” said Breakthrough CEO John Mannion.
“Hospitality venues across South Australia are not just places of
social connection but also environments that actively support mental well-being.
“We hope more organisations nationwide get involved.”
The ‘Mental Health First Aid Workshops’ and ‘Wellbeing Programs’ will be delivered to clubs and hotel venues across both metro and regional areas. To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, sessions will also be available at Breakthrough’s head office and online.
The $200,000 commitment builds upon the successful support provided in 2023-2024 and represents a significant investment in mental health initiatives within the club and
Representing more than 700 clubs and hotel venues across South Australia, AHA|SA and Clubs SA play a crucial role in providing
social hubs for communities and employment for thousands of staff.
“In collaboration with Breakthrough and Clubs SA, the AHA|SA is working towards a shared vision of enhancing mental health and driving meaningful change within the hospitality sector,” said AHA|SA CEO, Anna Moeller.
“It's great to see the mental health space taken seriously. In our industry, staff are working in challenging customer-facing roles.
“We are thrilled that the IGC has acknowledged the need for dedicated support and research in this area,” Peter Apostolopoulos, CEO of Clubs SA, echoed this sentiment.
“By equipping clubs with the right resources and knowledge, we can create environments where people feel supported and connected,” he said.
Mental health is a crucial issue that affects all Australians. One in five Australians experiences a mental health issue, and suicide remains the leading cause of death among young Australians aged 15-44. These statistics highlight the urgent need for continued support and investment in mental health research and initiatives.
AHA|SA and Clubs SA remain dedicated to fostering healthier, more supportive environments for their staff and patrons.
Through their partnership with Breakthrough, they are taking meaningful steps towards a future where mental health is prioritised, supported, and openly discussed within the hospitality sector.
For more information on Breakthrough’s mental health initiatives, visit their website
Persistence Pays Off For Outback Hotel
Hotel SA caught up with Shane Swinton from the William Creek Hotel, which won the AHA|SA’s early bird membership renewal prize, worth $7,000.
The fortunes of few Australian pubs fluctuate with the seasons more than the William Creek Hotel
More than 800km north of Adelaide and a three hour drive due east of Coober Pedy, William Creek is one of the world’s most remote watering holes.
It proudly trumpets it is in the middle of nowhere, on the way to somewhere.
That somewhere is often Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre - but many adventurers are simply there to drive the iconic 617 kms of the unsealed Oodnadatta Track.
Both have served as the lifebloods of the hotel since The Ghan became a diesel train and was redirected through the interior in 1980.
That decision alone should have condemned William Creek to the history books.
But this is a town that refuses to stop breathing.
It appears very much on life support during the height of summer when the mercury tickles past 50°C and the hotel’s staff – indeed the entire town’s population –shrinks to just two or three people.
But in winter, or during one of the town’s several big events on the calendar, its business might well be the envy of many a pub in the big smoke.
“Were very much like a ski business. The middle of winter is our busiest time,” said the hotel’s general manager, Shane Swinton.
“Our kitchen can pump out in excess of 500 meals a a day and three dinner rotations to ensure the weary travelers get fed.
“When we first met, he owned one plane and one house and no w he owns the whole of William Creek and a fleet of aircraft.”
Our turnover fluctuates substantially over the four seasons of the year.
The business stays open over summer acting as an essential service to the travelers and local stations.
Shane, who travels from Adelaide to William Creek several times a year, calls himself a ‘remote publican’. and has the support of couple Taylor and Sam who manage the day to day runnings of the business.
He is the business partner of the hotel’s owner, Trevor Wright, one of the Outback’s most likable and well known characters, a lifelong pilot and firsttime publican.
He was referred to Shane, who is also a mortgage
broker and in turned helped turn Trevor’s long term vision into a reality, buying the hotel in 2012 and the township of William Creek.
“When we first met, Trevor owned one plane and one house and now he owns the whole of William Creek and a fleet of aircraft.”
Now in his late 60s, Trevor runs the pub in tandem with Wrightsair which offers tourists flights over the great lake, Kati-Thanda, Anna Creek Painted Hills, the channel country and other local points of interest.
“Trevor’s an outback icon.
“He’s been out in that part of the world for 30-odd years.
“What he doesn’t know about aviation isn’t worth knowing.
“...we also get scientists who travel internationally to view the night sky around William Creek and in their view we have one of the best, and cleanest light skies in Australia, and the world.”
In busy times, like AFL grand final weekend we run an event called the William Creek Fly-in when more than 200 people fly in to watch the game on a big screen and dance to live music.
Staffing can exceed in excess of 15 hospitalityworkers and 15 young pilots.
The pub’s caravan park offers in excess of 50 types of accommodation rooms including new Glamping tents and both ensuited and non ensuited cabins and these will fill for the annual William Creek Gymkhana and Motokhana, and the Bronco Branding.
“It’s an incredible part of the world.
“The people you meet out there are mostly on holidays.
“Every day is like Groundhog Day – you keep meeting amazing people from all walks of life who are passionate to explore outback Australia.
They come from afar for any number of reasons – the lake, the birds, photography, stargazing and the
tranquility. We also get scientists who travel internationally to view the night sky around William Creek and in their view we have one of the best, and cleanest light skies in Australia, and the world."
PRIZE WINNER
But the wear and tear on the property demands constant maintenance and its own full-time handyman.
“We’re a very good customer of Bunnings!” Shane said.
So it was with no concealed amount of delight that the William Creek Hotel accepted the $7000 prize after winning the AHA|SA’s early bird membership renewal prize.
“I’ve been trying to pay the account on time every year to win the early bird prize.
“When you’ve got 50-odd rooms there is always constant maintenance so it’s fantastic to win the $7000 and every cent is valued and will go to a good cause.
“We’ve been members of the AHA since Trevor bought the pub.
“We need to constantly upgrade furnishings and interior fittings.
“We run our own diesel generators, water and bores."
The pub’s heritage listing makes renovations challenging.
Trevor originally only owned the leasehold of the pub but that quickly changed, just a year after taking over the operation.
It now serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with outback offerings such as kangaroo yiros with tzatziki and rogan josh goat curry.
“RFDS also fly in roughly 10 times a year to run regular medical and dental clinics for our staff, stations and travellers.”
But in William Creek, one thing you can’t have is a coldie on tap.
“We’re all packaged beer because the bore water is highly salty and calcifies so no-one was ever able to install lines for tap beer.
“We’re a combination of a fuel roadhouse coupled with a cafe - and throw in the accommodation facilities and camp ground and on top of this a hotel to boot.
Our little town can swell from 2 people to upwards of 200 people during a busy day.
Nothing comes cheaply in the outback.
Prices of pub meals and cold beers resemble prices in the CBD. “We have maintained a holistic philosophy to keep our services affordable to help as many travelers experience the outback. Even though with our location, we need to freight everything in and can pay upwards of $5000 a fortnight during the busy season to get freight from Adelaide.
“Sometimes during the busy season we even need freight weekly.
“The Hotel is the lifeblood of this region and the track and we see ourselves as an as an Essential Service. William Creek Hotel is about much more than gas, food and lodging.
“‘Cause when there are hundreds of cars/caravaners travelling the track and or it’s 50-odd degrees, there are a lot of people who can break down or have accidents and need our help. We are there first point of call for mechanical needs and in the case of medical emergencies the lifeline to support and help coordinate with the RFDS tele-services doctors. The RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) only recently built a new remote medical clinic in William Creek - the first of its kind in Australia and repaces what was a stretcher in the hotel restauarant or a clinic in a hotel room - which opened last March.
“RFDS also fly in roughly 10 times a year to run regular medical and dental clinics for our staff, stations and travellers.
This has been amazing for the whole community.
“Getting to William Creek can be challenging at times however that is part of the romance of travelling the Oodnadatta track - the undulating roads, the changing landscape and colors and the vast ruins of a past railway history.
“Because of our remoteness and the lack of bitumen roads we are reliant on mother nature. Whilst rain is wonderful for the country it poses its own issues for us and can lead to the track being instantly closed and travelers being locked in for a few days and limiting our ability to receive basic food and supplies.When there is rain it makes traveling the track very challenging and always pays to check the SA Department of
Transport outback road warnings prior to travelling website
“When the roads are dry a standard 2WD can travel the track (with care). The Oodnadatta track is not affected by the NSW and QLD flooding. For those looking to travel the outback to see Kati Thanda we encourage people to book early - we are receiving substantial enquiries."
SAY G'DAY
So next time you venture north, make a point to stop in at the William Creek Hotel, one of SA’s great country pubs. It might be, as Shane says, “in the middle of nowhere”, but it’s the beating heart of the outback that’s worth the drive, every time.
Second Chance Win for Crown Inn Kingston
In another life, Tom Gardner might be rising daily before dawn and fishing the Kingston waters as one of the South-East’s pre-eminent lobster fishermen.
But in this one, he sells lagers instead of lobsters as owner of the town’s Crown Inn Hotel.
Although the prized delicacy of the sea is not entirely off the table at the Crown.
“We sell lobster in season,” said Tom.
“Whilst lobster does not feature on our main menu, we have a great relationship with our local processors Lacepede Seafood who will have a freshly cooked one to us in quick time to accompany our beautiful salad bar for any lobster wanting visitor."
Tom might just tuck into one himself to celebrate winning the AHA|SA’s $3,000 second chance draw for early renewal of his association membership.
“We always pay on time to try to win one of these awards and we’ve finally managed to win a prize so it’s fantastic,” he said.
Tom’s path to becoming a publican was a cocktail of mathematics and fate with a generous sprinkle of family support.
He was born into one of Kingston’s long-established lobster fishing empires.
“But there wasn’t a spot on the boat when I was growing up,” he said.
“I was the youngest son so I had to find something else.
“After travelling in my early twenties the opportunity came to purchase the hotel and I was fortunate to have members of my wider family who could help me realise my dream.”
That was back in 2008 and he has been an AHA member since pouring his first beer.
For Tom, AHA membership is a no-brainer.
“I’m really happy with the guidance and help they give us, they’re always only a phone call away.
“They’re always going in to bat for the hotel industry in South Australia.
INVESTING IN THE BUSINESS
Now with just the immediate family owning the hotel, Tom remains committed to investing in the business and quickly settled on plans about how to spend his winnings.
“We just finished (updating) our dining room through Concept Collections and we’ve got some outdoor dining we’d like to replace so we’re probably going to go down the track of getting some new tables and chairs for our alfresco area,” Tom said.
But his ambitions for the Crown don’t end there.
“We’re building a big bottle shop this year,” he said.
“We’ve got a small bottle shop – a little section literally four metres by three metres. It’s over the counter and it’s labour intensive so we’re building a new one from scratch.”
He also has longer term plans to expand and upgrade the pub’s accommodation arm and is in the process of acquiring land behind the property.
“Nothing five star, just clean and comfortable rooms for weary travellers who will appreciate accommodation better than our old fashioned pub rooms,” he said.
“They help with all aspects, everything from IR, HR, pay rates, signage and helping with a couple of areas where we’ve had our licence adjusted.”
It will complement the Crown’s homely and cozy front bar which Tom laments is becoming a rarity.
“We still have a decent front bar trade which is a little bit unusual in this day and age.
“We’ve got a happy hour and some regulars with a nice feel to our front bar.
“It’s not too big so 30 people in there looks quite busy.
“We’d like to think that everywhere had a full front bar every night but it’s just not a reality.”
Miller Apartments On Event Surge and Hospitality Challenges
The investment that has been put into South Australia’s festivals and events has proven to be money well spent.
The return on this investment that our state has seen is critical to the ongoing success of our economy, and the accommodation sector continues to play a key role in providing the bed nights that keep our visitors coming back for more!
We caught up with Group General Manager – Miller Apartments, Alex Schumann, to get an inside view of the premium offerings the accommodation sector provides in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD.
Alex also addresses the challenges facing the sector that governments need to address, to ensure our festivals can continue to thrive.
Make yourself a coffee or pour a glass of wine and tune into our videocast on right.
Watch Video
Emerging Leaders –Supporting our Future Industry Champions
South Australia's hospitality industry is a cornerstone of local communities and events. That is why it’s so important we continue to develop our future industry leaders!
The AHA|SA’s new initiative, Emerging Leaders, is designed to encourage growth through education, mentoring, and collaboration between those aspiring to bigger careers in hospitality.
The inaugural event was held at Pirate Life in Port Adelaide, facilitated by Asahi Group and Carlton & United Breweries, with Mark Moran, Pirate Life Brewery GM and Emcee.
Panellists on the day shared their leadership experience with a crowd of 100 members and corporate partners. The messaging to kick off the new initiative was perfect – Telling yourself you can make it, embracing diversity, and having the courage to step into the unknown and bringing your people on the journey.
Rebecca O’Mahony - Sales Manager Asahi Lifestyle Beverages SA/NT, kicked off the panel discussion, sharing her management insights and how the brewing industry has a critical role in supporting our front bars.
“The most important thing for me was having passion. I was quite nervous about my career in the first few roles I had. But acquiring all that experience and taking opportunities, even if they seemed daunting at the time, was essential to gaining leadership in this industry for me," Rebecca said.
“Sometimes even leaders think, Am I going to make it?, but having a support network around you and mentors and leaders to lean on who instead tell you, You can make it, is a key to success - Having a network you can rely on. Leaders need to pass on that mindset to others – you can make it”.
Katie van de Merwe – Head of Hospitality Pirate Life, is taking her experience as a leader to inspire the next generation as well.
“Our industry is changing and it’s important that as leaders, we shape what that change looks like.
“I fell in love with the magic of this industry at 21 in Western Australia. I was obsessed with the way people interacted over food and beverages. After a few years in big beer venues, I started working in restaurants. I moved onto London and gained valuable experience learning how hospitality works from a business perspective. I also learned a lot about how I don’t want to run a business from a people and culture perspective and got pretty clear on what aligns with my values.
“In 2019 I was fortunate enough to work with a hospitality coach who taught me to stand up and change the way we can operate businesses. I really embraced diversity and figured out what our people need to succeed.
“A week before this (Emerging Leaders) event, we had a massive weekend here at Pirate Life hosting a 4,500-person party. We really saw the benefits of the systems that we have in place for our people to fall back on. Through this process, we've eliminated a lot of the ‘guess work’ and the crew just got stuck into what needed to be done,” Katie said.
George Georgiadis - Managing Director Never - Never Distilling, took his skills in the finance and banking industry to underpin business models.
“The idea was to do something regional - it was actually between gin and cheese! Especially something in McLaren Vale as it's such a special part of the world. We were stepping into the unknown, with an ambition to leave a mark on the global spirits industry.
“It was a commitment to adventure.
“We are witnessing a generational shift and people are increasingly aware of their entitlements, priorities, and their overall wellbeing. Gone are the days of ruling with an iron fist - It’s becoming more and more critical to explore ways of supporting people inside and outside of work, nurturing culture and focussing on emotional
“We are witnessing a generational shift and people are increasingly aware of their entitlements, priorities, and their overall wellbeing.”
wellbeing. Leaders need to be accountable for this as well as strategic direction,” George said.
We have two more Emerging Leaders networking events in 2025, and we can’t wait to see how this new initiative strengthens our industry.
We thank all our Corporate Partners who have been involved, particularly our Platinum-level brewery partners who helped drive this initiative; Asahi Group, Carlton & United Breweries, Coopers, and Lion.
Swan Reach Hotel – Your Gateway to the Galaxy
Just two hours north of Adelaide’s CBD, Craig and Tammie Fromm, have big plans for the Swan Reach community.
The husband-and-wife duo are continuing the legacy built by Swan Reach Publicans and current business partners, John and Margaret George, since taking over management of the iconic riverside hotel four years ago.
“We were proud to return to Swan Reach. I was a local and grew up here. It’s been a great ride so far, fulfilling John and Margaret’s dreams for the hotel and reinvigorating it,” Craig said.
“The first thing we did was build a brand-new kitchen – I think that’s the lifeblood of any venue. The next project we have on the agenda is a new dining room to lift our overall goal of turning the venue into Australia’s premier ‘Darksky’ holidaydestinations.”
built circa 1856 and has undergone many transformations in its 170-year history. But the most exciting addition is already underway!
“You wouldn’t believe it, but Swan Reach is one of the best spots in Australia, the world even, for star gazing, situated within the Murray International Dark Sky Reserve,” Craig said.
“We recently capitalised on the star gazing opportunity to build new apartments adjacent to the historic part of the hotel. We’ve affectionately called our new accommodation, Gateway to the Galaxy, which offers one and two-bedroom selfcontained apartments with kitchens, plus a dog-friendly and fenced outdoor area.”
The Swan Reach Hotel was originally a Homestead,
“What makes Swan Reach unique are the cloudless nights we get, and being far enough from Adelaide, there is very little light pollution here, yet close enough to easily get here. It’s just an ideal spot for relaxing and watching the stars with the family.”
“You wouldn’t believe it, but Swan Reach is one of the best spots in Australia, the world even, for star gazing, situated within the Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.”
Speaking about the historic hotel, Craig said, “I’ve been lucky with staff. They were really good when it came to the changes we implemented. We are employing more locals but due to our industry’s labour and skills shortage, we’ve hired two non-locals, who we provide accommodation for.”
“What we don’t want to see here are similar situations that have happened in Victoria and New South Wales. I’ve been in the hotel game for over 20 years and in that time, I’ve seen many venues close interstate due to economic pressures. Some country towns have seen three pubs revert down to just one. CPI, red tape, and other taxes really make it hard for a family to run the front bar. I don’t like passing on costs to our customers, and I try my hardest to make sure that doesn’t happen, instead focusing on the experience. But our industry needs a break from high costs to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
“I just love being the on the river, taking people out the boat and showing them the spectacular landscape the Riverland has to offer. I want to continue doing that and providing new avenues for tourists to explore the region and other amazing venues and towns in the area,” Craig said.
Blanchetown Hotel – New Life
Just 30km north of Swan Reach sits Blachetown, on the Sturt Highway.
Cindy and Adam Peters purchased the historic hotel nearly 12 months ago, joining the AHA|SA straight away, becoming a valued part of the Riverland hotels community.
“We always thought about buying our own business. We’d worked at a couple of hotels and ran a footy club, so we’re no strangers to hospitality. We used to drive up from Adelaide and stay in a shack in Blanchetown for about 8 years and we were part of the hotel’s social club. The pub was put on the market about 10 months ago, and we grabbed the opportunity,” Adam said. “My wife used to be cleaner, and she takes
immense pride in keeping the place clean. When we took over, we gave the whole place a lot of elbow grease and got it sparkling again.”
“Our values are – cold beer, good service and smiles.”
As passionate locals, Adam and Cindy are passionate about supporting the community. Adam said, “We support the local bowling club, the RSL, and footy clubs in the area – all Blanchetown.”
It’s been over two years since the Murray River floods impacted locals. Reflecting on that period, Adam said,
“I’m in awe that the locals managed to get through it. The flood was a tough time for a lot of people who had their homes and land flooded. We were just getting out of COVID, then the flood happened soon after. For many it felt like –
what’s next? But, we’re a resilient community, and we’re steadily seeing more people get back to the Riverland.”
Adam and Cindy have a five-year plan for the hotel, after getting new systems up and running. Adam said, “We’ve always committed to that duration in our previous venues. It works. It gives you clear goals and enough time to achieve what you want. We were fortunate to have the help of Terminus Morgan owners, Phil and Heather, support us when we took over this hotel. We were very thankful for that and represents how close our membership can be – helping each other out.”
“We put new lighting and fans out on the deck, cleaned up the front bar. We also replaced a lot of signage,” Adam said.
The hotel does face a unique challenge, amidst broader industry issues such as taxes, red tape, and cost of doing business. Adam said, “Our biggest issue is actually that there’s no caravan park within acceptable walking distance to the hotel. We used to have the BIG4 park down the hill just a few minutes away, but that’s been closed since before we opened. It’s a bit heart breaking to see tourists drive into town, back up the hill and out again because there’s not many places to stop and set up a camp for the night near our venue.
There is the Blanchetown Caravan Park, but that’s across the bridge and the hotel’s an almost 90-minute return walk. We’re the only pub in town - What we need is another caravan park closer to the pub. It would really make a difference to our trading and bringing life into the centre of the town, making sure we’re capturing those weekend travellers. We’d really like the Mid Murray Council to have a look at what can be done.”
“The Blanchetown Hotel is a quaint little pub. We love it, and so do the locals,” Adam said.
“Our values are – cold beer, good service and smiles.”
REGIONAL MEETINGS
A big thank you to Lucy and Peter Burchell, and their whole team, putting on a great show for the South East Regional at the South Australian Hotel ! Members and corporate partners enjoyed the fantastic canapes, local wines, and perfect weather.
A fantastic day on the Murray River at the for the Murray Mallee Regional! Thanks to owners Tammie, Craig, and their business partners John and Margaret, and chef Gavin, for spectacular hospitality for members and corporate partners.
Our regions are so important in making South Australia the Destination State, and it’s clear from discussions at the luncheon (and on the river!) that members continue to do great things in the Riverland to attract tourism. We also thank Tim Whetstone, Liberal Member for Chaffey, for attending and listening to member views.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
There’s a lot of advocacy on our agenda this year. Regional meetings and luncheons are one of the best ways members can ask us questions, network, make the most of our wonderful corporate partners, and tell us what’s happening in their local area.
Our Lower, Mid, and Upper North East Regional was a huge success, with over 70 members and corporate partners in attendance for the luncheon! A big thank you to Clare Hotel Owner Ben Kerslake, Manager Aimee Wilson, and their entire staff for hosting everyone. We also thank South Australian Commissioner for Equal Opportunity SA, Jodeen Carney, for attending and once again highlighting the importance in creating safe and inclusive workplaces.
Awa 2025rds
The AHA|SA Awards for Excellence are recognised as the most prestigious awards in the hospitality industry, honouring the achievement of excellence in a wide range of categories. This on-going commitment to excellence ensures our state’s hotels are some of the best in Australia. We strongly encourage AHA|SA members to enter!
NOMINATIONS OPEN: TUESDAY 22 APRIL 2025
NOMINATIONS CLOSE: FRIDAY 4 JULY 2025
JUDGING PERIOD: MONDAY 14 JULY – FRIDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2025
NATIONAL AWARDS: 2025 HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE - TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2025 AWARDS.AHASA.COM.AU
FOR EXCELLENCE
A message from the Sammy D Foundation - #schnitty4sam
AHA | SA and the Sammy D Foundation are inviting your venue to join the #schnitty4sam movement in 2025. If schnitties are on your menu, then we’re asking you to join us in May as we work to stop youth violence.
Why? Because in May 2008, 17-year-old Sam Davis played a game of football, had a schnitty in his clubrooms and then went to a party with his mates. Only this time, Sam fell victim to a one-punch assault and never came home. 17 years on, violence is still an alarming trend amongst young people –one we can put an end to if we work together.
This is where you come in – we’re asking you to join the #schnitty4sam movement by pledging to make a donation per schnitzel sold on our around 4 May.
Whilst most venues donate $5 per schnitzel for a week or the month of May – your involvement is entirely up to you! The only requirement? For the anniversary of Sam’s passing (4 May) – to be included in your chosen dates.
OUR PROMISE?
• To promote your participation and drive supporters to your venue through all our platforms and through PR and media opportunities as they arise
• We’re currently working on some new and exciting website integrations that will allow supporters to see if their local is on board!
• To provide you with everything you need to shout your involvement from the rooftops including a social media package, digital marketing for venue screens, posters and more!
• To feature our top fundraising venues and share their impact on all platforms
• To share our 3 top fundraising venues with AHA to be featured in a Hotel SA article (June/July) and on AHA | SA social media
There may also be the opportunity to have a Sammy D Foundation Ambassador attend your venue for a special visit – if this is something that interests you, let us know!
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
We want to make it as easy as possible for us to work together – simply follow the link to fill out a brief form so that we have everything we need to promote your venue!
Please join us and the #schnitty4sam movement and help us to stop youth violence.
Strengthening the Visitor Economy Workforce
The South Australian Tourism Commission has set a bold vision to our grow our state’s Visitor Economy to $12.8 billion by 2030, providing 52,000 jobs in our state. View their 23-24 Annual Report
Achieving this seems like a herculean task amid a hospitality industry skills shortage, but it’s an absolute necessity to continue breaking record numbers seen from events such as LIV Golf, Fringe, Adelaide Festival, Gather Round, and WOMAdelaide.
The AHA|SA’s CEO, Anna Moeller, sits on the South Australian Industry Skills Council, Major Events Attraction Committee, and Business Events Adelaide Council. She said achieving this additional workforce will require venues to work together, in addition to extra support from the State and Federal Government.
“The hospitality industry remains an essential part of South Australia’s visitor economy, making us the Destination State.
“But the skills shortage we’re seeing is one of the biggest issues our hotel members are facing today, in particular, the chronic lack of cooks, chefs, and bar staff.
“There are three key areas we are continuing to ask government to partner with us to help address the skills shortage, which will ultimately achieve their vision for growth.
Attraction – Using hospitality industry ambassadors to showcase opportunities to ‘home grown’ talent and overseas workers
Recruitment – Encouraging hospitality apprentice, training, and career pathways
Retention – Increased investment in mentoring, training relevancy, and trainee incentives
“We have so many opportunities in South Australia –the best produce and wine in the nation, world-class accommodation, and experiences on offer. With all these opportunities, encouraging new people to our industry seems like it would be easy, but unfortunately, our industry experiences some of the highest rates of trainee non-completions.
“The AHA|SA will be continuing our proposal to shorten the length of training while improving the relevancy and currency of content for traineeships. There needs
“The hospitality industry remains an essential part of South Australia’s visitor economy, making us the Destination State.”
to be increased investment in providing mentoring support for training participants, removing barriers to employment, as well as attractive concessions and incentive payments to keep young people engaged in the industry,” Anna said.
Elizabeth Bell, General Manager of the Adelaide Institute of Hospitality, shares Anna’s views. She sees our hospitality workforce as a ‘pillar’ in South Australia’s economy, fundamental to attracting big business to our state.
“LIV Golf is a great example of a world-wide promotion for our state, but we need engaged, passionate people who can underpin events like this. If South Australia’s visitor economy wants to grow, it all starts with supporting the emerging people and dedicated businesses who are providing the service,” Elizabeth said.
“There are incentives in place for people looking at a hospitality career - A Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, for example, would cost over $13,000 without funding by the State Government. It’s a great way for passionate people, both young and mature-aged, to get a career kickstart without a HECS debt.
"With changes to subsides where once upon a time a venue would take on two apprentices, they’re now only taking one because they can’t afford to take on more. From an employer point of view, I think government needs to be providing more incentives and removing barriers that hotels are facing to support them in bringing on new staff.
“Once people enter our workforce, planning career progression becomes very important – finding growth opportunities for your staff and celebrating their achievements is vital to increasing retention rates in our industry. Our trainers are passionate about mentoring and retaining young people in employment, but we need more government funding for in-venue support services for trainees/apprentices and for employers to showcase the amazing career opportunities and pathways available,” Elizabeth said.
Ben Mayne, Chief Operating Officer of Alliance College, shares Elizabeth’s views for hospitality growth, but emphasises the importance of improving the skilled
migration process as another way of solving the skills shortage.
“A large part of South Australia’s narrative is weaving cultural diversity into our employment mix,” he said “We have so many languages in global hospitality and many businesses are looking at different ways to diversify. It’s so important to leverage international connections and create something that stems from the ‘SA brand’. International travellers and migrants want to be a part of the South Australian narrative.
“Quite simply, skilled migration has an enormous amount of red tape attached to it. The Federal Government needs to make the process for employers and training providers more transparent and streamlined. At the moment, it’s too complicated. The flow on effect, is that it hurts our diversity as an industry. Recent migrants I’ve spoken to are hungry for work - There is demand but they’re unfortunately stuck in the system. I’d also like to see more transparency around regional invitations or ‘State Nominations’ as they’re commonly referred to. That would help us better plan the training pipeline, identifying where the learning
AIOH General Manager, Elizabeth Bell, with Trainers - Steve and Cole.
gaps are and extra resources needed for our trainers and mentors,” Ben said.
Putting more money in the pockets of trainees and addressing the cost of living will go a long way to improving recruitment and retention rates.
“Cost of living and competition for jobs in other industry sectors further impacts the hospitality sector’s issues. The government can be doing more to support hospitality trainee subsidies – payments that help them out alongside their wage. It doesn’t have to be direct payments to their bank accounts, it could be things like free transport, shopping discounts, access to more mentoring services, and lowering taxes. Giving businesses subsidies to employ more trainees is a great start, but we also need to help new hospitality workers directly to keep them engaged, retained, and feeling supported,” Ben said.
Ben agrees that improving workplace culture and celebrating employee achievements is a simple, yet effective way of improving retention rates in the industry.
“In a capitalist world, career progression really rests with the employer. I’ve seen people move through a hospitality pathway from entry-level to General Manager positions in just 10 years or less if they have the right mechanisms in place. If you don’t sit down with your team, especially your future leaders, we’ll lose good people.
“Ask your employees where they want to be and how you can get there together. When you invest in someone early on, it pays off in the long run,” Ben said.
“Look for opportunities that your staff can get involved in. Engage with your local communities –schools, groups, charities, and forging partnerships with local producers will go a long way to strengthening collaboration while broadening employee horizons.”
recognising future leaders, and investing in development will help your business in the long run.
“Look for opportunities that your staff can get involved in. Engage with your local communities – schools, groups, charities, and forging partnerships with local producers will go a long way to strengthening collaboration while broadening employee horizons.”
The AHA|SA will be posting a series of videos on our social media channels over the next few months showcasing standout trainees employed in member venues. These trainees have been given opportunities to explore the industry and what our state has on offer.
“There are so many training success stories in our industry that have been flying under the radar,” said Anna. “By sharing these stories, we’ll be playing our part with the AIOH, Alliance College, and any other training and employment bodies, who wish to get involved in the promotion of career pathways.”
Anna also made the point that “it is important, now more than ever, that business owners create progressive cultures. Bringing staff on the journey, Watch Video
Alliance COO, Ben Mayne.
platform unveiled to help address workforce shortages in Tourism, Hospitality and Travel
eeger - where people people grow
ourism, Hospitality and Travel industries in Australia are set to experience a transformative shift with the announcement today of eeger - a careers and training platform address the challenges of workforce development, skills shortages and career these vital sectors.
platform’s introduction comes at a pivotal time for the sector with 691,000 direct tourism Australian economy in 20241 , up 5.7 percent on last year and a massive increase 443,000 jobs in 2022.
Sign Up To Hospitality’s New Employment Platform
platform: eeger - where people people grow, is the first of its kind in Australia bringing innovative technology, industry expertise and tailored resources within the one digital meet the needs of both employers and job seekers.
Members are being urged to sign up to the eeger employment platform, a new initiative "by the industry, for the industry."
eeger is designed to connect job seekers with employers across tourism, hospitality, and travel.
“eeger will be more than a job board - it’s a career hub designed to attract and retain talent in Australia’s visitor economy,” said eeger GM, Emilie Howe.
just a job board, eeger is a central hub for education, training and career development. The platform is developed and managed by Accommodation Australia, the peak representing the accommodation sector, and supported by an industry advisory representing the diverse industries across travel, hospitality and tourism.
AHA|SA members can register now and post job listings for free during the first 12 months.
“It will be a central resource for job listings, career pathways, training programs and industry insights.
“This is an industry initiative, so we need all AHA|SA members to support it and help overcome the staff shortages that many venues are experiencing.”
these industries are projected to grow six per cent in the next five years and 12 per next decade.2
eeger is managed by Accommodation Australia on behalf of the tourism, hospitality, and travel industries, with funding from the Australian Government via Austrade.
HOW THE PLATFORM WORKS
For businesses, eeger provides a one-stop recruitment solution, allowing them to promote job vacancies and access workforce development resources.
A GAME - CHANGER FOR THE INDUSTRY
With labour shortages impacting the visitor economy, eeger aims to attract passionate and skilled professionals to the sector.
Tourism Minister, Don Farrell, said “This one stop shop will help tourism and workers grow their skill sets to continue to build their careers and help businesses employees they need.
Job seekers can explore career options, access learning opportunities, and connect with employers actively looking for new talent.
It will also help businesses build a sustainable workforce by offering free job listings for the first year.
As the mid-year launch approaches, industry members and job seekers are encouraged to sign up early to stay ahead of opportunities in the tourism, hospitality, and travel industries.
was in tourism and I know firsthand the opportunities, development and growth it continued.
Register now at eeger.com.au.
Labor Government is proud to partner with Accommodation Australia to deliver
Patron Car Keys and Your Duty of Care
BY GARY COPPOLA, AHA | SA MANAGER –LEGAL AND ADVOCACY
It’s a busy night in the hotel. A regular patron is enjoying a few drinks, and after a while he drops his car keys over the bar and says “Don’t let me drive, OK? I’ll get a lift home”.
Later, he is one of the last remaining, and his lifts have disappeared. No taxis are available. He demands his keys back.
What do you do? What, if any, is your “duty of care”?
You may remember a case on Kangaroo Island where a patron tragically died after a vehicle accident - He had consumed 22 drinks in 9 hours and was sold a six pack of rum cans as he left. His BAC was found to have been 0.292. In that case, the RP on duty was alleged to have consumed 2 bottles of wine during his shift.
The hotel and the RP were charged with 7 counts of serving to an intoxicated person, to which guilty pleas were entered. However, there was nothing said about a duty to try and prevent an intoxicated patron from driving, and there were no reports that the hotel had been sued for allowing him to drive.
I am reminded of a more directly relevant case that happened in Tasmania many years ago.
On 24 January 2002, Shane Scott went to the Tandara Motor Inn in Triabunna for a drink after work. He remained there for about three hours, consuming alcohol. He left the motor inn on his motor bike to ride to his home in Orford. As he approached the Prosser River bridge, he lost control of his bike, collided with the
bridge and was killed. His widow, Sandra Scott, sued the owner and licensee of the motor inn, alleging they owed her husband a duty of care. The Motor Accidents Insurance Board sued the same parties to recover benefits it had paid out arising from Mr Scott's death.
At the time of his death, Mr Scott had a blood alcohol level of 0.253. At trial, Mrs Scott and the MAIB asserted that the defendants owed a duty of care to Mr Scott arising out of the service to him of alcohol while he was at the motor inn and then facilitating his use of his motor bike to drive away from the inn, making no attempt to stop him doing so. Before he commenced drinking, he secured his motorcycle in a lockup room, as there was a rumour that a breathalyser unit was set up nearby. The vehicle’s keys were placed in the petty cash tin. Some time later, another patron offered Mr Scott a lift home, which he refused. He also refused to have the licensee call his wife to come and collect him.
He demanded that his keys and the bike be returned to him. After several conversations about his ability to drive, the licensee returned his property. Mr Scott died in the crash soon after.
The High Court decided that there was no duty to prevent him driving, nor a duty to call his wife. Three of the judges remarked:
The reason [that there is no duty] is that outside exceptional cases, which this case is not, persons in the position of the Proprietor and the Licensee, while bound by important statutory duties in relation to the service
of alcohol and the conduct of the premises in which it is served, owe no general duty of care at common law to customers which requires them to monitor and minimise the service of alcohol or to protect customers from the consequences of the alcohol they choose to consume. That conclusion is correct because the opposite view would create enormous difficulties…
Nor was there a duty owed to the world at large to prevent him from driving:
The conclusion that, save in exceptional circumstances, publicans owe no duty of care to their customers in relation to how much alcohol is served and the consequences of serving it says nothing about whether publicans owe a duty to third parties who may be damaged by reason of the intoxication of those customers. Defendants owe duties of care not to the world, but to particular plaintiffs….
Hence the legal position is that no duty is owed save in exceptional circumstances, and the Court did not identify what they might be.
Our practical advice is as follows.
1. Do not allow customers to become intoxicated in the first place. Observe RSA rules closely.
2. If they do exhibit signs of intoxication, encourage them not to drive. Do not ask for their keys. Suggest taxis, ride share (now permitted in regional areas) walking etc. Offer to call a friend or family member.
3. If they offer to leave their keys, tell the patron that they can leave them behind the bar. Do not physically handle the keys and tell the patron quite clearly that you will not be responsible for their safe keeping.
4. If the patron wants their keys back, you cannot refuse. Offer to call a friend or family member. Suggest (again) a taxi or rideshare. Call SAPOL and tell the patron you are calling SAPOL. Tell them they will be barred for 28 days if they drive. Do not ever try to physically restrain the patron. Talk to them and delay them until SAPOL arrive. In the worst possible case – that is, they insist on their keys being returned and then drive – ensure your staff make detailed notes of the interactions.
Please stay safe!
Latest Wine Trends
Hotels can gain insights from the release of an in-depth research report by Wine Australia in January this year.
Published in “Insights Report”, it examines alcohol trends in the off-premise liquor market, based on data from Endeavour Group outlets Dan Murphy’s and BWS. Key takeaways include:
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF VALUE
“Moving into the 2010s, the concept of value began to shift. Time became a significant factor alongside price. Customers started weighing the trade-off between the cost savings and the time spent to achieve them. The convenience of finding good deals without excessive travel became increasingly important.
“Today, the 2020s social media generation has introduced a new dimension to value: experience. While price and time remain crucial, there's a growing emphasis on how purchases reflect on social media and in social settings. We see that our younger generations are not only value-conscious but also willing to pay more for ultra-convenience offered by services like DoorDash, Uber, Menulog and MilkRun.
“It is important to understand this evolution of our customers’ perceptions of value. As convenience and experience are prioritised, opportunities exist right now to innovate in product offerings and marketing strategies.”
MARKETING FOR DIVERSITY
“As our population becomes more diverse, with shifts in age, cultural backgrounds, and lifestyle preferences, naturally the more diverse our range needs to become… younger generations, such as Millennials and Gen Z, are bringing fresh perspectives and preferences to the table. They tend to value experiences, authenticity, and brands that align with their values.
“At the same time, Australia's multicultural landscape continues to evolve, leading to a growing demand for products that reflect a variety of cultural tastes and traditions such as Korean Soju, Japanese Shochu, Chinese Baijiu and Asian Beer. Soju, for example, has experienced unprecedented growth (10x) since 2019. Similarly, our calendar of key selling events has also expanded to include celebrations for Chinese New Year
“Rosé was in growth leading into the pandemic and has established its position since. Rosé has enjoyed the highest percentage growth in wine over the past five years and shows no sign of slowing.”
and Lunar New Year, for example, and we see great success and engagement from our customers.”
YOUNGER TASTES
“By 2034, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha will account for 60% of the Australian adult population, which will likely impact the future category mix.”
“Unlike previous generations, Gen Z and Millennials are not transitioning to wine at the same rate. This presents an opportunity for wine to drive interest through education, engagement, and new product development to gain relevance among these future core customers.”
“The tendency that we see for MilZ to remain engaged with the premix category as they age poses challenges for both beer and wine, with forecasts suggesting a potential decline in value share.”
GROWTH LEADERS
“In recent years, lighter varietals and styles have emerged as growth leaders, although Shiraz and
Sauvignon Blanc remain our dominant sales varietals representing over 25% of all wine sales.
“Rosé was in growth leading into the pandemic and has established its position since. Rosé has enjoyed the highest percentage growth in wine over the past five years and shows no sign of slowing. Pinot Gris/Grigio, Pinot Noir and Grenache continue to gain popularity, particularly with younger consumers.
“It is also worth noting the growth of styles and varietals such as Sangiovese and Sangiovese blends and NonAlc gaining favour with customers. Although off small bases now, it will be interesting to watch how these sub-categories develop.
“Since COVID, Sparkling Wine has gained market share within Wine, driven by the Prosecco and the Spritz trend.”
GET THE REPORT
The full Wine Australia report can be accessed here
PEANUT BUTTER BRITTLE
THAT WON’T BREAK YOUR TEETH
Golf Day Trio Retires With Record Result
This year’s Liquor Industry Charity Golf Day not only achieved a record result, it marked a significant milestone for three long-term organisers of the event.
Rob Gillies (25 years as Chairman), Robbi Timms (21 years as Coordinator) Phil Hallett Treasurer (20 years as Treasurer) have served a combined 66 years and have retired as part of a staged succession plan.
During their tenure, the Golf Day donated approximately $3.1 million to over 30 different children’s charities.
“The history of the Golf Day, is significant,” said Rob.
“It goes back to the days of industry legends, five or six of them, particularly Kerry Moore and Peter Vaughton, and after serving on the committee, I took over in 2000 as chairperson from John Murphy.
“We anticipated that our income would be down this year because of just the general economy, but we had a record year. The net result, still to be finalised, is going to exceed $105,000.”
The new Chairman is retired hotelier Evan Katsaros, club member David Lipman is Treasurer and Illona Tan comes in as the Events Coordinator.
“Looking back, and speaking on behalf of Robbi and Phil, I can say our roles have given us all great personal satisfaction,” said Rob.
“It is very rewarding to be able to give away anywhere between $80,000 to $110,000 each year to charity.”
He said exceptional on-going sponsorship has been provided by major partners in BankSA and Grange Golf Club, as well as key corporates including Thomas Foods Australia, West End/Lion Beverages, Coopers Brewery, CocaCola Europacific Partners, CUB/ Asahi Beverages and many other allied liquor industry providers.
“Without them, we would be able to donate maybe $50,000, not $105,000 as we did this year,” said Rob.
Many Children’s charities have received funds to assist their vital services – from providing funds for accommodation costs at children’s camps for Camp Quality, Childhood Cancer SA to fund clown doctors at the Women’s and Children’s hospital, or even Life Education programs such as drug, alcohol and cyber-safety providing learning devices to educate children to ensure their choices in life are the right ones.
CHARITIES
HELPED THIS YEAR :
• Back Pack For Kids
• Camp Quality SA
• Can Do Group
• Childhood Cancer Assoc
• Cystic Fibrosis SA
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Int
• Leukaemia Foundation
• Childhood Dementia c/- Mark Soderstrom
• Novita
• Operation Flinders
• Sammy D Foundation
• Starlight Foundation
• United Way SA
• Variety SA
• Vine Inn Charity Golf Day
• Women & Children's Hospital Foundation
Katherine and Scott with Crowne Plaza GM, Faisal Sayed.
The 2026 date will be set once LIV Golf date is announced.
South Australia Channelling Its
Inner ‘Shark’
“Our product’s not gonna go anywhere. We‘re gonna keep going, we’re gonna keep innovating. We just keep growing.”
Those words - which Australian golfing legend, Greg Norman, used to describe LIV Golf - are a perfect description for the South Australian events scene. Our growing list of world-class events are driving tourism, boosting the economy and filling hotels to capacity.
The numbers speak for themselves.
• The recent Adelaide Fringe 2025 shattered records, selling over 1 million tickets
• LIV Golf Adelaide drew an incredible 104,000 attendees
• The Adelaide Festival and WOMADelaide once again delivered a series of “Adelaide-only” experiences, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
• The Santos Tour Down Under goes from strength to strength and pushes into the regions
Media praise has been overwhelming. As The Advertiser noted: “Adelaide is no longer a hidden gem – it’s the
beating heart of Australia’s festival and events scene.” We truly are the nation’s “Destination State”.
SO, WHAT’S NEXT?
The momentum doesn’t stop here. Gather Round, the AFL’s newest blockbuster event, returned after delivering over 90%+ hotel occupancy on the Friday and Saturday nights last year. That was up from 83 and 82 per cent respectively the year before.
Hotels should also be planning to maximise the impact of the Adelaide 500, Australia’s premier street circuit motor race.
Add to this an exciting lineup of concerts, food and wine festivals, and sporting events, and South Australia’s tourism economy is set to thrive.
MAXIMISING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• Here are a few ideas on how to maximise revenue during these periods:
• Offer Event Packages: Accommodation deals that include tickets, transport and dining options will appeal to visitors looking for convenience.
WOMAdelaide Photo © SATC.
Adelaide Fringe Photo © Brad Griffin.
• Busy Streets: Look at ways to capture the high levels of foot traffic.
• Develop and promote themed menus, extended trading hours, and live entertainment.
• Event Partnerships: Can you collaborate with event organisers – and even influencers – to boost your visibility and attract bookings.
LEVERAGE BRAND SA
Since Brand SA was relaunched in late 2022, thousands more businesses from across the state have jumped on board to represent SA.
With so many interstate and overseas tourists flocking to the State, it makes sense to push your “local” bona fides.
Applying to use the State Brand is free and takes only a few minutes.
It’s been widely adopted by a range of industries including food, wine, hospitality and tourism, as well as technology, retail, trades, services and sports.
Any South Australian business stands to benefit from its widespread recognition.
You join a community of members and gain access to a suite of assets to elevate their marketing.
THE LAST WORD
For hospitality businesses, the opportunity is clear: embrace the event economy, and capitalise on visitor demand.
Santos Tour Down Under, Photo ©SATC.
AFL Gather Round Photo © SATC.
WOMAdelaide Photo © SATC.
ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES
• Bentleys SA 8372 7900
• Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300
• Winnall & Co. 8379 3159
ATMS
• Banktech 0408 462 321
• Cashzone 1300 305 600
• Next Payments 1300 659 918
ARCHITECTS & INTERIOR DESIGNERS
• Studio Nine Architects 8132 3999
BEVERAGES
• Samuel Smith & Son 8112 4200
• Sazerac 0410 449 720
• Suntory Food & Beverage Oceania 427 971 426
• Treasury Wine Estates 8301 5400
BOOKKEEPING
• Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300
• Winnall & Co. 8379 3159
BUILDING & DESIGN
• Bunnings Group 0435 630 660
• Forward Creations 0468 923320
• Mr Wet Wall 1800 938 925
• Paynter Dixon 0418 621 196 ART, CONSULTATION & FRAMING
• Art Images Gallery 8363 0806
AUDIO VISUAL
• Big Screen Video 1300 244 727
• Novatech Creative Event Technology 8352 0300
BACKGROUND MUSIC
• Foxtel Music 1300 148 729
• Moov Music 1300 139 913
• Zoo Business Media 07 5587 7222
BANKING & FINANCE
• BankSA 0403 603 018
• Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300
BEVERAGE GASES
• BOC Limited 0424 647 568
• Supagas Adelaide 08 8480 4500
BEVERAGES
• Accolade Wines 8392 2238
• Australian Liquor Marketers 8405 7744
• Campari 02 9478 2727
• Carlton & United Breweries
• 13 BEER (13 2337)
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners 13Coke 132653
• Coopers Brewery 8440 1800
• Diageo Australia 0401 120 872
• Empire Liquor 8371 0088
• Lion 8354 8888
• Liquor Marketing Group 8416 7575
• Oatley Fine Wine Merchants 1800 628 539
• Options Craft Liquor Merchants 8346 9111
• Pernod Ricard Australia 8208 2400
CASH HANDLING / TERMINALS
• Banktech 0408 462 321
• BK Electronics 0431 509 409
• Cardtronics 03 9574 4878
• Coms Systems 0408 462 321
• GBay/Aruze Gaming 0424 700 888
• Next Payments 1300 659 918
CLEANING COMPANIES
• A Cleaner World 0426 887 364
• Service FM 1300 300 595
CLEANING & HYGIENE
SUPPLIES
• Bunnings Group 0435 630 660
• Bunzl 08 8245 6222
DATA ANALYTICS
• STR 02 8091 2009
DEFIBS
• AED Authority
1300 AED 123 (233 123)
• Alsco 8346 1391
• St John 1300 78 5646
EV CHARGING
• RAA Charge 0419 405 235
• Class A Energy Solutions 8391 4853
ENERGY & SOLAR
SOLUTIONS
• Class A Energy Solutions 8391 4853
• Energy Alliance 03 9872 6869
• PowerMaintenance 1300 700 500
• RAA Charge 0419 405 235
• Trans Tasman Energy 1300 118 834
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES/ HARDWARE
• Bunnings Group 0435 630 660
• Bunzl 088245 6222
• Forward Creations 0468 923320
• Mr Wet Wall 1800 938 925
• Stoddart 1300 79 1954
FACILITY MANAGEMENT
• Service FM 1300 300 595
FINANCIAL PLANNING
• Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300
• Winnall & Co. 8379 3159
FACIAL RECOGNITION
TECHNOLOGY
• COMS Systems 1800 324 918
FOOD SERVICES
• Bidfood 0403 664 376
• Cookers 1300 88 22 99
• Galipo Foods 8168 2000
• McCain Foods 0417 811 753
• PFD Foodservice 8114 2300
• Thomas Foods 8162 8400
• Timpecha Foods 8244 8940
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
• Wirely 0427 984 951
FIRST AID
• St John 1300 78 5646
FURNISHINGS
• Concept Collections 1300 269 800
GAMING ANALYSIS
• Independant Gaming Analysis 8376 6966
• Winnall & Co 8379 3159
GAMING FLOAT
RECONCILIATION
• GBay Gaming 0424 700 888
• GFR Pro 03 9018 4000
GAMING MACHINE & TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
• Ainsworth Game Technology 0409 171 616
• Aristocrat Technologies Australia 8273 9907
• Coms Systems 0409 283 066
• Everi 0429 579 605
• GBay 0424 700 888
• IGT 8231 8430
• Independant Gaming Analysis 8376 6966
• Konami Australia Pty Ltd 0409 047 899
• Light & Wonder 0400 002 229
• MAX 8275 9700
GAMING LOYALTY
• Bluize 1300 557 587
GAMBLING SERVICES
• SA Lotteries 13 18 68
HEALTH INSURANCE
• Bupa 0417 608 751
HOTEL BROKERS
• Langfords Hotel Brokers 0410 605 224
• JLL 0407 710 389
• McGees Property Hotel Brokers 8414 7800
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
• H&L Australia Pty Ltd 1800 778 340
HOTEL MARKETING
• Digital Marketing AOK 1300 658 543
INFORMATION SYSTEMS/ SITE PREP
• Max Systems 8275 9700
INSURANCE
• Aon Risk Solutions 8301 1111
IT SERVICES
• Rockfor t Global 1300 00 RFIT (7348)
KITCHEN & BAR
EQUIPMENT
• Bunnings Group 0435 630 660
• Bunzl 8245 6222
• Cookers 1300 88 22 99
• Globe Importers 0467 425 314
• Stoddart Food Service 1300 79 1954
EQUIPMENT
• Stoddart Food Service
1300 79 1954
LEGAL SERVICES
• DMAW Lawyers 8210 2287
• Eckermann Lawyers 8235 3990
• Ryan & Co Solicitors 0421595815
• Wallmans Lawyers 8235 3018
LINEN & UNIFORM
SERVICES
• Alsco 1300 659 892
• The Banner Crew 8240 0242
MEDIA
• FIVEAA 8419 1395
• Foxtel 1300 138 898
• Solstice Media 8224 1600
MIGRATION
• A Plus Australia Agency 0435 563 920
• Migration Solutions 8210 9800
ONHOLD/MESSAGING
• 1800 ON HOLD 8125 9370
PAYROLL & HR RESOURCES
• Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers8273 9300
• Tanda 1300 859 117
• Winnall & Co. 8379 3159
POS SYSTEMS
• Bepoz 1300 023 769
• Bluize 1300 557 587
• H&L Australia Pty Ltd 1800 778 340
• My Venue 0415 890 999
PROPERTY & VALUATIONS
• JLL 0407 710 389
• Knight Frank Valuations & Advisory 8233 5222
RETAIL LIQUOR
MARKETING
• Liquor Marketing Group 8416 7575
SIGNAGE & PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
• The Banner Crew 8240 0242
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MEDIA
• Foxtel 1300 790 182
STAFF TRAINING & RECRUITMENT
• A Plus Australia Agency 0435 563 920
• Adelaide Institute of Hospitality 8338 1492
• Alliance College 1300 665 065
• St John 1300 78 5646
SUPERANNUATION
• HostPlus 0418 327 607
TEST AND TAG
• Service FM 1300 300 595
WEBSITES
• Boylen 8233 9433
WORKERS COMPENSATION
• EML 08 8127 1368
GAMING CARE works with all South Australian Hotels with gaming machines to reduce the harm caused by problem gambling.
Providing the hotel industry with the capacity to respond to community concerns related to the harm associated with gambling by contributing to early intervention and support for problem gamblers and their families.
Minimising the harm caused by problem gambling behaviour by fostering a compliant and proactive industry that works with regulators, gambling help services and gaming patrons to minimise harm caused by gambling.
Assisting licensees and hotel staff with their compliance obligations, and suppor ting venue staff through education and training regarding the recognition of problem gambling indicators and assisting in accurately documenting patron behaviour.
Providing licensees and hotel staff with the confidence and skills required to engage directly with patrons who are showing indicators of potential problem gambling, enabling them to intervene early and refer the patron to a gambling help service, or other support options if required.
Contact your local Gaming Care Officer, or our Office, for information on how Gaming Care can assist your venue.
For any assistance or support please contact your local Gaming Care Officer, or our office for information on how Gaming Care can assist your venue.
CORPORATE PARTNERS 2024/25
GAMING CARE
131 733
Ainsworth Game Technology
Australian Liquor Marketers
Pty Ltd
BankSA
Big Screen Video
Bluize
Boylen
Bunnings Group
Bunzl
Campari Group
Digital Marketing AOK
Empire Liquor
1800 ON HOLD
A Plus Agency
A Cleaner World
Adelaide Institute of Hospitality
AED Authority
Alliance College
Alsco
Banktech
Bentleys SA
BK Electronics
BOC Limited
Cashzone
Class A Energy Solutions
COMS Systems
Concept Collections
Cookers
DMAW Lawyers
Eckermann Lawyers
Energy Alliance
Everi
Forward Creations
Globe Importers
Foxtel
GFR Pro
IGT Australia
Konami Australia Pty Ltd
Light & Wonder
Liquor Marketing Group
Novatech Creative Event Technology
Oatley Fine Wine Merchants
Rockfort Global
Samuel Smith & Son
Service FM
Stoddart Food Equipment
STR
Tanda
Independant Gaming Analysis
JLL
Knight Frank Valuations & Advisory SA
Langford’s Hotel Brokers
McGees Property Hotel Brokers
Mr Wet Wall
MyVenue
Next Payments
Options Craft Liquor Merchants
Perks Accountants & Wealth
Advisers
Art Images Gallery
BUPA
Migration Solutions
PowerMaintenance
RAA Charge
Ryan & Co Solicitors
Solstice Media
St John
Supagas
The Banner Crew
Trans Tasman Energy Group
Wallmans Lawyers
Winnall & Co
Wirely
Sazerac
Studio Nine
CONTACT
OFFICE
Level 4, 60 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Postal PO Box 3092, Rundle Mall SA 5000
P (08) 8232 4525
P 1800 814 525 Toll Free
F (08) 8232 4979
E information@ahasa.asn.au
W www.ahasa.asn.au
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
DAVID BASHEER President
MATTHEW BINNS Vice President
LUKE DONALDSON Deputy Vice President
ANDREW BULLOCK
DANIEL CASSIN
SIMONE DOUGLAS
JASON FAHEY
TRENT FAHEY
SAM M c INNES Secretary Treasurer
MATTHEW BRIEN Executive Council
MATT ROGERS Executive Council
ELISE FASSINA
JAMES FRANZON
TONY FRANZON
JOHN GIANNITTO
TOM HANNAH
ANNA HURLEY Executive Council
ANDREW KEMP Executive Council
ADMINISTRATION
ANNA MOELLER CEO
OWEN WEBB Deputy CEO
ALISA WENZEL Manager – Finance and Administration
GARY COPPOLA Manager – Legal and Advocacy
SCOTT VAUGHAN Manager – Membership & Business Services
COREY FARMER
PETER JOHNSON
GUY MATTHEWS
KAREN MILESI
ANDREW PLUSH
ROB RANKINE
DARREN STEELE COUNCIL
MARGY RAYMOND
Views expressed in Hotel SA are not necessarily those of the AHA|SA or the publisher and neither can accept, and therefore disclaims any liability, to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. We do not endorse any advertising materials, services offered within advertisements or products, special offers or goods promoted therein.
PUBLISHER
3/288 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton SA 5063
P (08) 8233 9433 W www.boylen.com.au
TIM BOYLEN Managing Director tboylen@boylen.com.au
KATHERINE TAYLOR Manager – Accommodation Australia SA and Tourism
NATARSHA STEVENSON Manager – Policy & Industry Affairs
SARAH LEGOE Senior Advisor –Workplace Relations, Liquor Licensing & Gaming
LUCY RANDALL Manager – Events & Partnerships
LIZ TURLEY Training Coordinator
JOSH BEVAN Manager –Communications and Marketing
BELINDA RICHARD Executive Assistant
PATRYCJA WHIPP Studio Manager/Graphic Designer
