Hotel SA October 2026

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Artificial Intelligence Workplace Relations

The Burger King of Clare

New Hotels October 2026 The Official Publication of the Australian Hotels Association (SA Branch)

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Hotel SA 12

The Burger King of Clare

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Tony Griffin went to Wudinna to help his sister back into hotels and never left. Thirty years on, he runs pubs 784km apart at Wudinna and Keith, and believes a town’s relationship with its pub works both ways.

Hotel owners and senior managers filled The Playford Hotel for a half-day Accommodation Australia (SA) forum on AI and automation. Keynote speaker Mat Lewis warned that AI no longer just helps guests search. It is starting to make the booking decision.

The Accidental Publican

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A Little Different Little National opened 237 rooms on North Terrace on 1 September. General manager Malakai Yeomans has no fear of oversupply as new hotels open across the city. He said Adelaide still runs short of rooms during its biggest events.

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Hotels Prepare for AI Future

A publication by the Australian Hotels Association SA

Published by Boylen

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Hotels Prepare For AI Future

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Shaping Future Workplaces Finding and keeping staff dominated the agenda at the AHA|SA’s second major workplace relations conference, held at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide. Deputy CEO Owen Webb urged hotels to promote hospitality “as a career, not just a job”.

A New Crystal In Adelaide’s Crown The Crystalbrook Collection chose Adelaide over Melbourne for its ninth Australian property. Crystalbrook Sam opens in Halifax Street in December, with 196 rooms, four suites and an entire floor devoted to wellness. COVER Cristian Carbone, Executive Chef for Matthews Hospitality.

#1

October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

When special interest groups demand further restrictions on alcohol, they are wilfully disregarding the facts. Australians are not only drinking less, the sharpest declines are occurring among younger generations.

They Came. They Saw. They Ordered a Mocktail. Official Australian Government data reveals: » The number of 18–24-year-olds who are abstaining has nearly doubled since 2007, with almost one in four choosing to be alcohol-free. » Below them, the 14–17-year-olds are following the same path. In 2007, 39% abstained but the number is now 70%. » While alcohol consumption has been falling, some illicit drugs have been heading in precisely the opposite direction. Cocaine use across Australia is now more than three times its 2001 level.

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Industry News

Alcohol: Less Is The New More It’s not just young people – and it’s not just about abstaining. Australia's total alcohol consumption per capita has fallen substantially over the long term. Compared with the mid-1970s peak, Australians are consuming about 25% less alcohol per person.

The Biggest Drop In 60 Years But dig a little deeper… 2022/23 to 2023/24 saw the largest single-year fall in 60+ years. And consumption is down in all categories: beer, wine, spirits and cider.

But Don’t Let the Facts Spoil a Good Moral Panic Australia is undergoing a generational change in its relationship with alcohol.

Move Funding To Tackle The Drug Problem It’s time to turn off the money tap for anti-alcohol groups and divert those funds into the war on illicit drugs. Consumption of drugs is increasing, while alcohol consumption decreases. Cocaine use? It’s more than tripled in 20 years. Among 18–24-year-olds, roughly one in nine reported using cocaine in the preceding year. The AHA|SA is clear: policy should be driven by the data, not another round of moral panic. Back off on booze and get serious about our drug problem.

This is a cultural shift that will flow through into better health outcomes as the population ages. Not that you would know it if you just listened to the public health puritans, whose future funding relies on crisis narratives.

Source: Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Report entitled “Children and young people’s experiences of alcohol and other drugs”.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Policy Smokescreen Blinds People To The Truth AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION (SA) PRESIDENT, DAVID BASHEER

Illegal tobacco has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons over the last 12 months and there are real fears illegal alcohol could be about to do the same. This month I have turned my column over to the AHA NSW Director of Policy and AHA ACT General Manager, Chris Gatfield, for his views on a topic of interest to South Australian member. I should point out I’ve taken the liberty of ‘localising’ the copy here and there! Over to Chris…

“A

ustralia should be really proud of its tobacco control history. We have not lost the

imposed punitive excise tax increases on tobacco every year since 2013 to try to depress consumption of nicotine. We are

policy battle. This is not a policy disaster.”

now the most expensive country in the

This quote comes from statements

world for a packet of cigarettes, nearly

recently made by an anti-tobacco

50% more expensive than number two

campaigner to a Senate inquiry into the

on that list: our Kiwi cousins across the

illegal tobacco crisis in Australia.

Tasman.

For anybody who hasn’t been asleep for

The result has been a public policy failure

the past five years, this head-in-the-sand

to rival that of the American flirtation with

hogwash should provoke either laughter

prohibition in the 1920s.

or scorn.

The black-market share of the tobacco

However, it highlights the convenient

trade went from 12% in 2017 to 26% in

fictions that are being fed to those who

2020, before exploding to over 80%

regulate the alcohol industry.

today. Firebombings, extortion, shootings

How We Lost The Tobacco War

trade became almost daily occurrences

Successive Australian Governments, urged on by public health activists, have

#4

and murders linked to control of the illicit across the country. While the price of legal cigarettes nearly

tripled, tobacco duty revenue more than halved. This wiped billions of dollars of revenue from the already stressed Federal budget and gifted it to organised crime networks. To top it all off, the quantity of nicotine consumed in the country actually rose by more than 50% between 2021 and 2025. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics) If this isn’t a “policy disaster”, it’s hard to imagine what one might look like. No other country routinely sees convenience stores burned down by gangsters.

Yes, It Is Predictable Economists have developed a sophisticated tool called the Laffer Curve. It shows that raising tax rates will increase government revenue up to a tipping

From the President

point, after which higher rates reduce total revenue because they encourage tax avoidance, smuggling and black markets. Australia’s tobacco policy has become a textbook case: rapid increases in tobacco taxes have driven prices up so significantly that legal tax revenue has collapsed while a highly lucrative black market has boomed.

So What About Alcohol Excise? For years, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) has been the ‘Warrior in Chief’ against Australians enjoying a drink. They unapologetically plagiarised from the anti-tobacco playbook and demanded increased taxation of alcohol

to curb consumption – to make alcohol less affordable for everyday punters, to tax it out of economic reach. » Never mind that Australia already has the third-highest beer and spirits excise tax rates in the world. » Never mind that because of twiceyearly indexation, beer and spirits excise had already been automatically increased 86 times.

What The Research Really Says Recent research by Flinders University has found Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) was nearly 20 times more likely to abstain from alcohol, compared to baby boomers. Their research pointed to the rising cost of living, health awareness and digital entertainment as contributing factors.

» Never mind that a recent report found that Australia is the most expensive place in the world to drink a beer.

It has been observed that young people today are more likely to get up at 5am, not get home at 5am.

» Never mind every credible piece of research shows alcohol consumption in this country is in decline (see pages 4 and 5). Alcohol taxes can never be high enough to placate those with little tolerance for our industry.

And whilst we seem in such a rush these days to save adults from themselves, for many still enjoying a drink, there has been a significant shift to lower alcohol products. We are incredibly grateful to the Prime Minister for freezing on-

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

premise tap beer excise for two years. No Prime Minister or Treasurer in the previous 42 years had bothered to reverse the tax hike trend.

Organised Crime Is Banging At The Door But we must learn from the tobacco lessons to prevent illicit alcohol becoming more attractive to criminals – although the evidence suggests we may have already reached that point. While the total size of the illicit alcohol market is unknown, the Australian Taxation Office estimates it accounted for $767 million in lost taxes in 2023-24. That’s the equivalent of 14 million bottles of vodka, or more than 10% of all spirits consumed legally nationwide. It is also around the point we were at with tobacco in 2018. The National Drug Research Institute recently found 30% of bottle shops it audited across different areas of Melbourne and regional Victoria were stocking illicit alcohol. Victoria Police are probing whether a spate of attacks on Melbourne hospitality venues and an alcohol distribution centre were linked to illicit alcohol. An ever-increasing tax regime, a cheaper illicit alternative, a turf war over control of the black market… is this sounding at all familiar? Apparently the answer is “No” for the current CEO of FARE, who – knowing better than the ATO, Victoria Police, and the National Drug Research Institute – shared her jaundiced views with her

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LinkedIn network: “Executives from distillers, retailers and spirits companies have mobilised in the media in recent weeks, making alarmist comparisons to the illicit tobacco trade, saying high prices are driving illegal markets. It feels like they’re blowing this up into a much bigger issue than the underlying evidence supports, all under the guise of concern for ‘public safety’.” The concern for “public safety” is quite real; chemical testing on some counterfeit alcohol found at Victorian retailers showed the bottles contained methanol and plastic contaminants. Methanol is the substance that killed Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both aged 19, in Laos in 2024. It’s instructive that FARE considers a $767 million shadow economy of dangerous products being sold by criminals to be “alarmism”. This is exactly the view – now proven to be comically, horribly wrong – peddled by the antitobacco forces back in 2015: “If illicit tobacco were as easy to obtain as the tobacco industry argues (some of their estimates being as high as one in six of all cigarettes smoked) how is it that ordinary smokers can find them with alleged consummate ease, while the full resources of the Australian federal police and tax office inspectors cannot manage to do so very often?”

Eleven years later, this has aged like raw milk. Every day, millions of “ordinary smokers” walk into a tobacconist or convenience store, ask for the cheap Marlboros, and $10 later they’re on their way. They feel no obligation to pay three times that in tax alone to a government that has treated them like a golden goose for years. The public health lobby has long asked for this trouble, but now that they have it, they deny the problem has anything to do with them. On current trends, illicit tobacco will comprise over 90% of cigarette sales by 2027. At that point, it wouldn’t be particularly surprising if the international tobacco companies pulled their products from our market and left it to the racketeers to fight over the remaining turf. In fact, British American Tobacco recently warned that it may do just that. Our failed experiment in taxing tobacco into quasi-illegality is now a cautionary tale for any sensible politician. Beer and spirits excise should not, and cannot, go up forever without serious unintended – but clearly foreseeable – consequences. Australia might be on its last legs as a legal tobacco market, but it’s not too late for us to learn the lessons and apply them to alcohol before the tipping point has come and gone.

From the President

As predictable as this fiasco was to economists, the public health crusaders have chosen to ignore the warnings. In 2015, Australia’s most notable antitobacco lobbyist pontificated that raising tobacco excise “is a massively important win-win policy”. No downside here! But even though the facts have changed in the last ten years, that same lobbyist is still in denial, recently pontificating: “If high tobacco tax explains high illicit trade, how is it that so many low-taxing countries are awash with black market cigarettes too?” Of course, illicit trade is not just caused by tax policy; enforcement capacity, border geography, corruption, informaleconomy size and the presence of organised crime all play their part. The fact is that Australia has advantages in each of those areas that other nations don’t. Pointing the finger at other countries and saying, for example, “What about Cambodia?” is a strawman argument at best. It is deployed to deflect the blame that should rightfully sit with the people who crusaded for this failed policy in the first place. Make no mistake – tax is the key issue in this market. There was a regulatory “sweet spot” where anti-tobacco activists were winning the policy war: nicotine consumption was going down, and tobacco excise revenue was rising. Ultimately, it was the militancy of the policy that caused its failure.

Eleven years later, this has aged like raw milk. Every day, millions of “ordinary smokers” walk into a tobacconist or convenience store, ask for the cheap Marlboros, and $10 later they’re on their way. #7

October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

The Future Is AI. Our Focus Remains People. AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION (SA) CEO, ANNA MOELLER

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping our industry. That’s why it attracted strong attendances at two recent AHA|SA and Accommodation Australia SA events (and we have coverage of those events in this issue).

#8

From the CEO

E

ven those members who are resisting AI will acknowledge that it already underpins some of their venue’s key IT. Three quick examples: the advanced capabilities of POS systems, rostering and accounting software. On the other side of the equation, AI is changing the way our patrons find and choose hotels.

We should not fear these changes. AI is like a tsunami and we all need to ride the wave – because you can be 100% certain that your competitors will. As we did during COVID, let’s look for the opportunities it creates to run better businesses. AI can improve productivity and reduce repetitive work, which gives our people more time to do the things that add genuine value.

People Make The Difference One message that came through particularly strongly at both events: hospitality remains a people business. Technology can make a hotel more efficient. It can vacuum a corridor or answer a telephone. But hospitality ultimately comes down to how somebody feels when they walk through our doors. The customer has to remain at the centre of everything we do. That principle should guide the way our industry approaches AI. The question is not simply: “What can we automate?” It is: “Where can technology help our people deliver a better experience?”

That distinction matters. We also need to recognise that this transition raises much bigger questions around skills, employment, regulation, privacy and the way workplaces operate.

Royal Commission

skills and AI, the recurring message was that businesses need to prepare their people for change rather than simply react to it.

Managing Risk, Leveraging Opportunity

That is why AHA|SA will be making a submission to the South Australian Government’s Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence.

There were some important cautions.

The Royal Commission will examine the economic and social opportunities and challenges AI presents for South Australia, including its impact on skills and the workforce, education, public services, regulation and infrastructure. It is expected to commence on 1 October and report to the Government by 1 July 2027.

rostering. Businesses need appropriate

It is important that the voice of hotels and bars is part of that conversation.

about the risks, willing to invest in our

The level of engagement we have already seen from members gives me considerable confidence. Our recent Accommodation Australia SA forum on AI, Robotics and Automation at The Playford was filled with hotel owners and senior managers wanting to understand what is coming and what they can do now.

For example, AI can produce convincing but incorrect information. It can introduce bias into recruitment or policies and human oversight to make up for these flaws. But those cautions should not stop us exploring what is possible. Our industry has always adapted. We should approach AI in the same way: curious about what it can do, sensible people and always conscious of why hospitality exists in the first place. Technology will change. Our commitment to people should not.

As I sign off this column, two members of our team – Anna Caretti and Scott Vaughan – are ‘signing off’ with the AHA|SA. Both have given many years

Importantly, the audience extended beyond accommodation hotels to traditional pub operators, reflecting how widely these changes will be felt across our industry.

of dedicated service and will be greatly

Our Workplace Relations Conference at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide was similarly focused on what comes next. Across recruitment, retention, workplace law,

good about it. I am sure all members

missed. Association staff play a critical role in sustaining our vibrant industry and Scott and Anna epitomise all that is will join me in thanking them for their professional and personal service – and wish them all the best for the future.

#9

October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

The Accidental Publican Who Puts Community First It’s not unusual for Tony Griffin to wake in the morning and not be a hundred percent sure whether he’s in Wudinna, Keith or Adelaide. Tony, 61, splits his time between his two properties – the Wudinna Hotel Motel on the Eyre Peninsula, and the Keith Hotel Motel, 784km away. One is a two-and-a-half-hour drive, the other takes about six hours from his home in Adelaide. It’s a drive he’s done more often than he cares to remember. “It’s a busy life but it’s good,” said Tony, one half of a successful husband-andwife team. “Lynette, the backbone of the operation, handles office duties for the hotels, working the Keith Hotel floor and most importantly staff moral. “I bounce between the two hotels, depending on renovations and events. “In Keith, we have the Keith Show Revved Up in March each year, so I spend a lot of time there in the buildup to that.” The event has attracted up to 10,000

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people each year, commencing as gold coin donation in 2012. “The same goes for Wudinna. We’ve got the 100-year celebrations of the hotel coming up on December 12 which will be a very big weekend for us.” Streets will be closed off to allow for the long-awaited return of the keg roll – men, and the occasional woman, on hands and knees, helmets on, barreling 64kg kegs of beer between two points with nothing but their heads. “We did stop it at COVID time but we’re going to bring it back this year. Everyone’s calling for it.”

More Than A Pub Both venues are one-pub towns, where the hotel plays an important role in community life. “We’re very fortunate we have a good culture within the two communities,” said Tony. “They are very similar – they’re good people.” Acutely community focussed, Tony sat on the Wudinna District Council for nearly eight years.

PHOTO Wudinna Poker Event

He views his pubs as servants of their respective townships and strongly believes the relationship between locals and their watering hole is a two-way street. “The community is very, very important to us. “We’re very mindful that we have to do our job correctly to support the community and not take them for granted. “I’ve got to deliver the best we possibly can in terms of service, quality of staff, staff training, product quality, continuing renovations and giving back to the community.” Those duties also include employing about four per cent of Wudinna’s population among his 25 staff.

Riding For Charity Each Anzac Day, Tony assists in organising the West Coast Annual Poker Run, a motorcycle ride from Wudinna to various towns around the Eyre Peninsula and returning to Wudinna. The run celebrated its 30th anniversary in March.

Member Story

“Thirty years on, the accidental publican is still clocking up the kilometres – and showing no signs of calling last drinks.” Jill had previously owned the District Hotel in Nairne, Wirrulla Hotel and the Coffin Bay Caravan Park and was coaxed to return to the industry by a broker at the time. It is open to bikes, cars or any other mode of transport, and entrants pay $20 per hand of cards.

participating on the Variety Bash

The event was inaugurated to honour a local, Garry Cotton from Poochera, who was killed after crashing his motorbike between Wirrulla and Poochera.

assisted with many overnight and lunch communities, during the past thirty years.

Money raised from the event goes to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Tony’s been a publican now for 30

“This year, we had 74 motorbikes and about 12 hot rods,” Tony said. “Generally people hang around for about three days. “The night after the ride we have an auction; businesses donate prizes, families make jams, chutneys and sauces and we raise money that way. “We raised several thousand dollars this year. A lot of good comes out of it.” Tony and Lynette also are keen supporters of SA Variety, Tony

as often as possible given the busy hotel demands. He has organised and stops, along with fundraising for the

How It All Began years since falling into the calling quite accidentally. Many recognise the Wudinna Hotel as being the first hotel purchased by Peter Hurley in 1975. In 1996, it claimed a new first-time owner. Tony and Lynette sold out of a small earthmoving business and sunk their teeth into running a pub. “We went over to Wudinna from Victor Harbor to support my sister, Jill, and her young children because she wanted to get back into hotels,” said Tony.

“We weren’t intending to stay, within eighteen months my sister headed off to focus on family and 30 years later, we’re still in Wudinna.” He bought the leasehold in Keith in 2005 and was contemplating selling up last year – but changed his mind when the freehold became available. The purchase gave a long overdue opportunity to commence renovations, upgrading various aspects of the venue, most importantly existing accommodation and potentially increasing rooms on the Dukes Highway. They continued to renovate at Wudinna where Jill’s son, Nick Schultz, is now the head chef. While sliding doors seem determined to prevent Tony from leaving the industry, he has few regrets. Thirty years on, the accidental publican is still clocking up the kilometres – and showing no signs of calling last drinks.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

The Burger King Of Clare #12

AHA|SA Best Burger

PHOTOS Left: Cristian with the winning AHA|SA Best Burger. Right: Cristian working at the Sussex Hotel, Walkerville.

DION HAYMAN

D

emand for burgers at Clare’s Bentleys Hotel has skyrocketed since its Deluxe Burger won the title of the AHA|SA Best Burger earlier this year. The burger was created and cooked by Cristian Carbone, executive chef for Matthews Hospitality, which owns the Bentleys as well as multiple other pubs throughout the state including the Maylands, Sussex and Mount Gambier Hotel. Cristian won the bunfight at the Griffin’s Head in July, beating 11 other entrants in the grand final, which was whittled down from a starting field of 38. “It wasn’t just a tremendous feeling for me but it’s a massive deal for the hotel,” Cristian said.

“We’ve got the award displayed proudly in the main bar.

garlic over several weeks in a warm, humid environment.

“We’re already getting huge numbers of customers locally and others travelling to the venue to try the burger.

Gone is the sharpness and pungency of the original bulb, which turns savoury, often with liquorice, caramel, balsamic or even umami notes.

“The response has been enormous and the feedback excellent. “Burger sales were already strong but since the award it’s tripled and it’s only going to grow more and more I think.”

The Secret Ingredient Packed to the brim with fresh, local produce, Cristian says he thinks one rare ingredient might be the secret weapon that rocketed his burger into the stratosphere. Black garlic is the result of ageing normal

“I haven’t seen black garlic on too many menus, especially not hotel menus anyway,” said Cristian. “It’s just a very tasty burger. “There’s a locally sourced Wagyu beef patty nicely seasoned and seared, we have a custom-made sweet bun made by Perryman’s Bakery, some roasted Barossa gypsy speck bacon; we then make a fermented black garlic aioli, add a mature cheddar cheese, fresh oak lettuce leaves and nice ripe tomatoes.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

PHOTO Cristian with General Manager of Hospitality for Matthews Hospitality, Lee Cook.

“It wasn’t just a tremendous feeling for me but it’s a massive deal for the hotel.”

“It’s very simple but all the flavours complement each other beautifully.” The Bentleys sells the burger for $28 and offers the option of two accompaniments, egg and/or caramelised onion. But should you? “We suggest those add-ons if customers want to – but it’s perfect just as it is.”

What Happens Next? The Bentleys changes its menu twice a year but there’s a good chance this Deluxe Burger stands the test of time – at least in the short term. The question now is whether it will find its way onto other menus within the group – or whether Adelaide burger hunters will be forced to take the 90-minute drive to Clare. “Lee the General Manager and I have spoken about it,” Cristian admitted. “Every hotel has its own identity and they’ve all got great burgers. We’ll see.” But he says he has the utmost faith in the Bentleys’ ability to reproduce his award-winning burger in his absence. “I work closely with all the hotels and I do spend a lot of time there. “But there is a head chef there and they make an excellent team. “The burgers look the same, they taste the same. I would say the Bentleys has some of the best pub food in the area.”

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Career Chef The 39-year-old has been cooking for 25 years and is no stranger to success. “I’ve been within the group for six years. Early on, I was head chef at the Maylands Hotel and we won the 2021 Best Hotel Casual Dining - Metropolitan which is another huge AHA|SA award. “That year we were basically voted the best food in metropolitan Adelaide and there are so many excellent hotels.” A lover of all cuisines, Cristian struggles to nominate a favourite. “I just love cooking in general but I do have an Italian background so I have a particular love for cooking traditional Italian dishes,” he said. “I love Middle Eastern, Spanish food, Italian food, all European food and Modern Australian. Every cuisine has such unique flavours I honestly enjoy them all.” Although he concedes his personal favourite is somewhat divisive and if there is ever an award for South Australia’s best parmigiana, he may have to accept defeat. “Not everyone loves it but it’s a very traditionally made eggplant parmigiana full of crispy, rich tomato sugo, basil, parmesan and smoked mozzarella – I think that’s my favourite dish ever.” Perhaps the eggplant parmigiana’s day will come. For now, though, it’s the Deluxe Burger that has bragging rights – and plenty of hungry customers making the drive to Clare.

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W

hat started as a simple idea to bring South Australians together has ended with 115 hotels throwing their weight behind a statewide celebration of mateship and the local pub. The AHA|SA’s inaugural SA Cheers Together campaign ran throughout August. It encouraged people to make a plan, catch up with friends and family, and support their local. From metropolitan Adelaide to some of the State’s smallest towns, hotels embraced the campaign with everything from parmies and shared-plate specials to trivia nights, raffles, community tables and bring-a-mate offers. The final tally of 115 participating venues represented a strong response to a new campaign built around a simple

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proposition – pubs have always been about much more than what’s poured across the bar. AHA|SA CEO Anna Moeller said the campaign also tapped into a much broader issue. Research shows almost 12 per cent of Australians reported having no close friends, providing a timely backdrop to an initiative celebrating places where people can meet. “Catching up with people is really important for people’s mental health, especially in the colder months when people tend to stay home more,” she said. “SA Cheers Together was both our slogan and our message. “It was all about bringing people together all month long and supporting the pubs at the heart of our communities.”

SA Cheers Together Campaign

Cheers To Doing Good More Than A Local The campaign was deliberately broad enough to allow individual hotels to make it their own. Rather than imposing a single promotion across venues, participating pubs were encouraged to create offers and activities suited to their customers and communities. That produced a mix of promotions – but all under the same banner. For many regional communities, that message was particularly relevant. The country pub has traditionally served as far more than somewhere to eat or drink – acting at various times as meeting place, function venue, accommodation provider and

an informal gathering point for the wider community. Importantly, the campaign wasn’t built around alcohol. South Australians were encouraged to visit their local for a meal, coffee or soft drink, join an activity or simply use the occasion to reconnect with someone they had been meaning to see. It was an approach that reflected the changing nature of the modern hotel and the increasingly broad customer base operators are seeking to attract. The AHA|SA provided participating venues with campaign material including posters, social media artwork, digitalscreen graphics and email banners, while hotels were encouraged to promote their own activities under the #SACheersTogether banner.

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Pubs with Heart

Pubs With Heart Drives Child Safety South Australia’s hotel industry is helping Kidsafe SA take vital child safety services directly to families across the state, with funding for a new dedicated outreach vehicle. Through Pubs with Heart, AHA|SA identifies South Australian charities and community initiatives for support, with funding provided by the Independent Gaming Corporation (IGC). The latest recipient is Kidsafe SA. This deserving organisation will receive funding for a new dedicated outreach vehicle to help its team deliver vital child safety services across metropolitan, regional and remote South Australia.

and training, specialised support for children with additional needs, and playground safety services. The new vehicle will increase Kidsafe SA’s capacity to reach regional and remote families, where distance and travel costs can create barriers to accessing specialist child safety support. Kidsafe SA Chief Executive Officer Holly Fitzgerald said the funding would make a significant difference to families across the state. “This support will help us ensure that where a family lives is not a barrier to accessing trusted child safety information, education and support,” she said. Kidsafe SA already travels from the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island to the South East and far west of the state, with further outreach planned across the APY Lands, Riverland, Yorke Peninsula, Far North and other regional areas. Importantly, the dedicated vehicle will allow Kidsafe SA to extend its reach without passing the significant cost of regional travel on to the communities it supports.

The initiative builds on a relationship between AHA|SA and Kidsafe SA spanning more than 14 years, supporting the organisation’s work to prevent childhood deaths and serious injuries.

PHOTO AHA|SA’s Lucy Randall with Kidsafe SA CEO, Holly Fitzgerald.

Demand for Kidsafe SA’s community services has grown significantly. Its team travels throughout the state providing child car restraint services, child safety education

For AHA|SA and its members, the initiative is another tangible example of Pubs with Heart supporting organisations that make a real difference in South Australian communities. After more than 14 years of supporting Kidsafe SA, AHA|SA is proud to see that relationship continue – this time helping put vital child safety services on the road and within reach of even more South Australian families.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

A Little Different, A Lot To Like Adelaide’s premium hotel market is about to get a lot more crowded – and the city’s newest arrival wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Hotel Feature

PHOTOS David Wheeler

DION HAYMAN

L

ittle National opened 237 rooms on North Terrace on September 1, positioning itself

as “luxury with everything you need and nothing that you don’t”. It’s the first of a new wave of hotels attracted by Adelaide's growing visitor economy. But general manager Malakai Yeomans has no fears the rush of new rooms will leave the city oversupplied. Quite the contrary. “When you’ve got all these events, Adelaide is constrained, there aren’t enough hotels here at the moment to be able to facilitate some of those nights. “I think it’s great there are quite a lot of hotels going up at the moment, a lot of new and beautiful five-star properties coming into Adelaide and I think Adelaide needs it.

“It’s about having your own identity and staying true to your brand.” Little National Adelaide is the brand’s fourth and largest hotel, following properties in Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle. Brisbane is in the pipeline, with Perth and Melbourne also slated for consideration in the future. The hotels are owned by Canberrabased property development group DOMA, which sees Adelaide’s increasingly ambitious events calendar as a key driver of demand. “Our owners have seen the potential here and with all the different events which are coming to Adelaide, the economy is booming and is a prime reason why DOMA chose to invest here,” Malakai said. “It gives us the security to continue knowing we have all these peak events driving demand.”

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

“Luxury with everything you need and nothing that you don’t.” #22

Hotel Feature

A Different Model In a market preparing to welcome considerably more hotel rooms, Little National’s strategy is not to try to be everything to everyone. The brand promises ‘luxury with everything you need and nothing that you don’t’ – a philosophy reflected as much in what the hotel leaves out as what it puts in. It has already resolved, for example, that what its guests don’t need is another full-service hotel restaurant. “Our lounge and bar is our food and beverage offering which includes breakfast and all-day dining,” Malakai said. “But we encourage people to get out and explore. We want you to come and stay with us, enjoy a cocktail or wine and soak in the views but we still want people to go out and experience the local areas and amazing restaurants around us like in Peel Street.” What guests do need is built largely around the creature comforts and practical requirements of Little National’s key corporate market. “We are very digital and high-tech,” he said. That includes self-check-in kiosks and a building management system monitoring energy efficiency to reduce environmental impact. The hotel sits directly opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre and has two meeting rooms. On level 21, a library and meeting space provides communal work desks and charging stations as well as four private booths. Then there’s a gym that puts your average hotel set-up to shame. “I think we have Adelaide’s biggest hotel gym, all Technogym equipment with state-of-the-art features – it’s an incredible space to work out.”

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Small Rooms, Big Thinking Perhaps the clearest expression of the Little National model is found inside the rooms themselves. Guests can choose from eight different room types including the Little National signature room, a Little Extra, a Little Luxe, a Big Room, Luxe Apartments and two penthouses. But one of the brand’s key features is its deliberate optimisation of space. “I wouldn’t say there is anything comparable in Adelaide. “Our rooms are modular so our standard room is 18 square metres. “Our designers have put it together so

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thoughtfully to maximise the comfort and still be luxurious. “It is quite boutique and quite different to other hotels, particularly here in Adelaide.” Little National isn’t putting all its eggs in the corporate basket. “We do expect to see a lot of visitors travelling from interstate, especially Melbourne which is a key market for us. “But also local staycations, we’ve got quite a few of those coming through. “It is an incredibly beautiful hotel so we expect to see people over the weekends using the penthouses, wedding stays or experiences for someone’s birthday – it’s the perfect location for that too.”

Hotel Feature

Little National’s approach to differentiation

for the club lounge, but anyone who stays with us gets that exclusive space – and we keep those special spaces just for them.”

extends all the way to level 21, where arguably

The views extend to the rooms themselves.

The View From The Top

its most spectacular asset is deliberately reserved for those staying in the hotel. The rooftop bar offers 360-degree views stretching from the Adelaide Hills to the sea – but you can’t simply wander in for a drink. The area is reserved for guests or those lucky enough to be invited to a private event. Malakai proudly declared the rooftop as “the biggest highlight of the hotel”. “The views on level 21 are unbeatable,” he said. “You can go to some other hotels and pay

“North-facing rooms have incredible views over the River Torrens and Adelaide Oval and on the south side, you are facing the city skyline. I think the views are a huge standout feature for the hotel.”

A Changing Industry If Little National represents a different approach to the traditional hotel model, the person chosen to run its biggest property also reflects an industry in transition. At just 34, Malakai is one of the youngest hotel general managers in the land.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

commissions, it was back when things were a little bit more manual – manual rate loading, credit card reconciliations.” Quickly, his career goals began to shift. “I moved into front office, I worked as duty manager, a GSA, overnight audit, conferencing and events. “I had that broader scope of understanding the business and I think that’s really helped me.

His appointment in April came less than 13 years after he began working as a housekeeper for AHS Hospitality. Running a hotel had not been his dream. “I actually used to want to be a musician. “I fell into hospitality. My first job was at the Mars Bar in about 2012.” But after joining AHS, he quickly rose through the industry ranks and credits starting at the bottom as a critical foundation of his journey. “When I moved out of housekeeping and into reception, I was getting exposure to reservations and learning about the different

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“I enjoyed seeing how all the moving pieces worked together. I think that’s when I became quite ambitious. “I’ve never said I want to be GM, it’s just been, ‘What’s next?’” None of it, he said, would have been possible without the considerable faith put in him by DOMA, which he has worked for over the last seven years in Canberra. “I’ve worked with great people who have not looked at me and thought ‘You’re young’, they’ve thought, ‘All right, you’ve put in the work’.

Leveraging COVID COVID gave him the opportunity to add an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management to his growing résumé. Nevertheless, certifications were just one piece of the puzzle. “I think a lot of learning is on the job,” he said. “I’ve seen many people with great qualifications but learning on the job is just as crucial so having a combination of both is really important.” He now stands as an example of the opportunities available to those entering an industry which, like Adelaide’s hotel market itself, is changing. “The industry is definitely changing. A lot of people are younger and getting into fantastic roles which is great.

“There’s been such a level of trust with DOMA so I’ve really appreciated that.”

“But also, it’s a balance about understanding that a lot of people who have been in the industry a long time have been there for a reason – they’ve got a lot of knowledge and we need to soak up as much of that as we can.

When Adelaide came up as an opportunity, he didn’t hesitate to put up his hand to return home.

“I think it’s great to be ambitious but not to try to rush it too much and just enjoy the journey along the way.”

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

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A New Crystal in Adelaide’s Crown

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Feature Hotel

T

he idea of a luxury hotel chain choosing to expand into Adelaide rather than Melbourne would have been fanciful a decade ago.

Yet that was the business decision made by the Crystalbrook Collection, which opens its ninth Australian property in Halifax Street in December. Badged ‘Crystalbrook Sam’, the striking 12-storey, five-star hotel will feature 196 rooms including four suites.

DION HAYMAN

The top floor will boast a 120-seat restaurant with two private dining rooms and a show kitchen promoting local produce and wine and a signature bar and lounge area for up to 45 people. One floor will be devoted entirely to wellness with a day spa, relaxation lounge, pool, sauna and gymnasium as well as three single treatment rooms and a fourth designed for couples. Corporates will have their own floor, with the primary space seating 100 for dinner as well as three smaller meeting rooms and a dedicated boardroom. The Collection promotes #responsibleLuxury with sustainability at the core of its brand ethos. That means zero-waste targets, conservation of water and energy via automatic timers, cash-free transactions and no single-use plastics. It also embraces everything from bamboo key cards at check-in to sustainable coat hangers in rooms.

RENDERS Crystalbrook Sam exterior and lobby.

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What’s In A Name?

A Destination Choice

The Crystalbrook moniker derives from the Queensland town west of Cairns where the Australian-headquartered hospitality group bought its first property.

Hence Adelaide is very much the outlier – the wild west for a chain of hotels that, until now, has remained loyal to the eastern seaboard.

Each hotel is individually named. It also has its own unique identity and personality – with “centred and generous” for Sam’s. The name is a nod to the Samaras Group, which built and owns the $130 million property as part of a hotel management agreement model. Crystalbrook runs the property, along with three sites in Cairns, two in Sydney and one each in Brisbane, Newcastle and Byron Bay. A tenth hotel will open next year in Canberra.

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But the case for Adelaide, according to Sam’s general manager Kelvin Dodt, was not so much wild as utterly compelling. “Adelaide has become a destination of demand, a destination choice,” Kelvin said. “It’s very progressive at the moment with a lot of signature events whether it be Gather Round, LIV Golf, now the MotoGP.” The business-generation capacity of the Convention Centre also played a key role in the decision to establish the group in SA.

Feature Hotel RENDERS Crystalbrook Sam restaurant fireplace and pool.

“The Collection promotes #responsibleLuxury with sustainability at the core of its brand ethos.”

Ripple Effect

would be too simplistic. He also pointed to the

Kelvin believes that Adelaide’s determination to build its brand is having a ripple effect far beyond local waters.

the Michelin Guide has chosen Adelaide for its

“Adelaide is presenting itself on the national and potentially the world stage as a real alternative to other destinations throughout Australia.

being stimulated which is not necessarily happening

“But they are doing it collegiately – winning the business for South Australia is first and foremost. “Nothing attracts demand better than events, whether it’s a medical conference, a defence conference, an executive retreat.

State’s ‘can-do’ attitude and referenced how Australian launch. “There’s something being created here, a market across other markets at the present time,” he said. “A lot of that is being driven by the aggressiveness of the government in securing Adelaide’s events. “But from a demand perspective, the beauty about Adelaide and SA is that there’s just so much here. “You’ve got the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Kangaroo

“It’s about the destination first and then everyone wins.”

Island and they’re all within close proximity.

However, Kelvin said attributing Adelaide’s attraction purely to its ever-expanding calendar of events

amazing and now you’ve got an awesome selection

“It’s a great place to meet, the food and beverage is of hotels to choose from.”

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

RENDERS Crystalbrook Sam bar.

Site Choice

But Kelvin isn’t limiting his thoughts on who the hotel’s main clientele is likely to be.

Sam’s location in Halifax Street is slightly removed from the epicentre of Adelaide’s hotel battleground, giving its guests a little space to breathe.

“It’s a diverse market and we’re not tipping all of our efforts into one specific area.

“I actually think it works to our advantage in that we are right opposite the city tram stop and only one stop away from the heart of the city. “We are located in an area that has a lot of corporate, government and legal firms. That goes to the heart of the business that will be attracted to the hotel. “And Halifax Street has real personality with its cafes, restaurants and coffee shops, so our arrival is going to complement that in the neighbourhood.”

Christmas Opening The hotel will use its opening in the third week of December as a valuable opportunity to iron out any kinks. Kelvin explained that it would “give us the ability to embed our service philosophy over the Christmas and New Year period where the demand in Adelaide goes up”. “It will allow us to drive that consistency so that once the corporate world comes back at the end of January, we’ll be ready to hit our straps.”

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“As you’d expect, being a CBD hotel, there will be a fair degree of corporate during the course of the week. There will also be some residential and medium convention business that we’ll also target that’s suitable for our size property. “But the staycay market is one we are certainly looking forward to interacting with. “Then of course, there’s the general leisure market coming into Adelaide.” Indeed, Kelvin has found himself on something of a staycation of his own. Born and raised in Gympie and a long-time resident of Brisbane where he previously opened the city’s Queen’s Wharf Development, he has no plans to parachute into another hotel development once Sam’s doors are opened. “I’m actually really enjoying Adelaide. “This might be home and I’m looking into buying a house here so that should tell you something.”

October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

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Partner Editorial

Pour Your Way to Tokyo Australian bartenders are being challenged to perfect the art of pouring a Sapporo, with a trip to Tokyo up for grabs for those who can impress one particularly demanding Japanese beer expert.

S

apporo has launched The Sapporo Pour, a national bartender competition centred on the traditional two-part pouring technique used in Japan. The promotion comes as the brand enjoys growing popularity in Australia, with Sapporo sales increasing by more than 11 per cent over the past year. Bartenders working at Sapporo tap venues are being invited to film their best attempt using the brand’s two-partpour tap, capturing the process from the initial pull through to the final push. Their efforts will be judged against the exacting standards of Sapporo Beer Sensei Shimo-san. Sapporo Marketing Manager Amy Kearney said the technique was designed to bring out the beer’s aroma

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

and flavour while producing its distinctive silky, creamy head. The process begins with a chilled Sapporo glass, with the tap pulled forward to pour the beer into the glass at a 45-degree angle. The glass is gradually straightened before the tap is pushed in the opposite direction to dispense foam, producing the finebubbled, velvety head that completes the Sapporo Pour. The winning bartender and a guest will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Tokyo, with the winner’s bar manager or owner and their guest also joining the trip. Entries are now open, with the winner to be drawn on March 11, 2027. Sapporo is distributed in Australia by Coopers.

Artificial Intelligence in Hotels 

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Port Augusta | Port Pirie | Whyalla | Far North |

Regional Meeting & Lunch TRAVELLERS RE ST HOTEL STIRLING NORTH - 21 JULY Members and corporate partners came together on 21 July for the Port Augusta and Far North, Whyalla and Port Pirie Regional meeting and lunch. A big thank you to our incredible food and beverage partners for their generous support and to our wonderful hosts, Bec, Alicia, Bradley and Patrick from Travellers Rest Hotel Stirling North, along with their fantastic staff. The morning presentation provided members with valuable updates on a range of matters currently affecting the hospitality industry, followed by a networking lunch with our corporate partners.

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Regional Meetings

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Murray Mallee |

Regional Meeting & Lunch GOLDEN GRAIN HOTEL - 28 JULY It’s been nine years in the making for Jessie Simon to host the Murray Mallee AHA|SA Regional meeting at the Golden Grain Hotel. Massive thanks to Jessie’s team for hosting the event, along with fellow members and corporate partners who attended the meeting in large numbers. It was great to see so many hoteliers and industry suppliers come together in Pinnaroo to connect, share ideas, discuss industry challenges and opportunities, and strengthen relationships across the region.

QPH #40

Regional Meetings

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Lower | Mid | Upper North | East |

QPH #42

Regional Meeting & Lunch TAMINGA HOTEL CLARE - 11 AUGUSTA Hoteliers and corporate partners gathered at the Taminga Hotel Clare on 11 August for the Clare Regional meeting and network. The attendance of Bill Gebhardt, Mayor of the Regional Council of Goyder, and Allan Aughey OAM, Mayor of the Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council was greatly appreciated. Thank you to our hosts Barbara, Brett, Stewart and John for a sensational day! Lenny the chef and his team delivered a wonderful lunch.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

South Coast | Regional Hills |

Meetings

Regional XX Regional Meeting & Lunch McCRACKEN SORT - 25 AUGUST Meeting &RELunch X

Hotel members and corporate partners enjoyed the hospitality of the McCracken X Resort Country Club on 25 August for the South Coast and Adelaide Hills Regional Meeting. It was great to bring together hotel members and corporate partners to connect, share insights and discuss issues impacting our industry. We were delighted to welcome Moira Jenkins Mayor, City of Victor Harbor and Mayor David Leach of Mount Barker District Council and thank them for joining the conversation. A huge thank you to Stuart Riddell and the team for their warm hospitality and for being outstanding hosts.

QPH #44

Regional Meetings

• • • •

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Industry Event

National Leaders Gather In Adelaide South Australia hosted the AHA National Executive Meeting and Dinner at the iconic Coopers Brewery Brand Home in late August. The event brought together major corporate partners, industry leaders and VIP guests, including State and Federal politicians. The Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, spoke about the opportunities and challenges facing Australia’s hotel, hospitality, tourism, food and beverage industries. A special thank you to Coopers Brewery for generously hosting the evening.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

PHOTO Andrew Bullock, Chair of the Accommodation Australia (SA) Advisory Committee.

Hotels Prepare For AI Future

H

otel owners and senior managers filled The Playford Hotel in mid-September for a half-day forum examining the impact of artificial intelligence, robotics and automation on hotels. The event, staged by Accommodation Australia South Australia and sponsored by Hostplus, included two keynote addresses, a panel discussion, a group table activity and a closing session gathering feedback from delegates. Andrew Bullock, Chair of the Accommodation Australia (South Australia) Advisory Committee, spoke about the magnitude of change AI is bringing. Within 10 years, some 85 million jobs will be lost globally to artificial intelligence, while 97 million new jobs will be created in the same period.

potential to ease some of that margin squeeze by automating processes, while stressing that people would remain central to the business. “The reality is hotels and hospitality are and always will be people businesses,” he said. Andrew said the size and make-up of the audience reflected the level of interest in the topic. He noted the room included both core accommodation members and a substantial number of traditional pub operators, which he put down to the fact that AI would affect every part of the sector. “It doesn't matter which part of the sector we're coming from, AI is going to make a big difference,” he said. The event was organised by Ben Patten, Manager – Accommodation, Tourism and Strategy.

“That is an incredible statistic,” he said. “This period of time that we're going into is bigger than the industrial revolution. It is a complete change to the way we operate as a society.”

He said conversations with hoteliers over the

Andrew, who is Executive Chairman of 1834 Hotels, said AI would be a critical factor in the state's prosperity within Australia and the wider region.

that operators tended to discuss website design,

While the sector continues to grow revenue, controlling costs is becoming harder. AI has the

“One third of all searches start with AI and that

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past year had convinced him the industry was not yet mastering AI and its influence on search and booking behaviour. As an example, he noted photography, and guest reviews as separate issues rather than as part of the same picture. makes it very relevant, very topical.”

Accommodation Australia (SA) Event

How Robots Are Helping In Hospo

R

obots in hotels are no longer a novelty. They are genuine tools working full shifts and delivering measurable returns.

situation has changed substantially,

That was the message from Matthew White, founder and chief executive of McLaren Technologies Asia Pacific, who delivered the second keynote address of the Accommodation Australia South Australia event at The Playford Hotel.

struggles to fill repetitive roles such

About half of the world’s hotel robots are deployed in the Asia Pacific region, with the vast majority in China. He said almost every branded full-service hotel in China now deploys robots in some capacity, placing the market three to four years ahead of Australia. The first hotel robot deployment took place in 2015 in Japan. Since then, the

driven largely by labour costs and staff scarcity. Matthew said Australian hospitality

1. Cleaning 2. Room delivery 3. Conversational robots used at concierge desks

as vacuuming corridors or delivering

4. Food and beverage service.

items to rooms, and that robots are

Cost and ROI

increasingly filling that gap. Staff acceptance depends on how the technology is introduced. “Staff acceptance depends heavily on whether it removes drudgery, whether it removes repetitive tasks, whether it removes menial tasks, rather than threatening our identity as hospitality professionals,” he said.

Matthew said cleaning robots represented the clearest return on investment for most Australian properties. He presented figures showing that a robot purchased outright for around $25,000 dollars could deliver a return on investment within six to seven months, based on cleaning around 3,000 square metres a day. Over

There are four main categories of hotel

three years, he said, the saving on one

robot in use today:

property would total $113,000.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

However, cost remains a barrier in Australia relative to China. A robot costing around $23,000 to $24,000 locally can be purchased for closer to $8,000 in China, although Australian prices have fallen around 20% over the past 18 months. He also pointed out that the Singapore government subsidises around half the cost of robotics and AI technology for hospitality businesses, suggesting the Australian government should look at this model.

Australian Examples Matthew described a demonstration at a five-star Sydney property where a robot was run over a boardroom floor immediately after a contract cleaning team had finished vacuuming it. “It filled the bag on the robot after it had just been vacuumed,” he said. A deployment at the M Social hotel in Auckland sees a delivery robot complete around 25 deliveries a day across 180 rooms. He said the general manager there was strongly supportive of the technology, partly because of the guest attention it generates. However, for multi-storey

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properties, lift integration is critical. Matthew pointed to Hilton Gold Coast as an example of robotics already paying for themselves in an Australian property. The hotel has two robots in operation, each working around eight hours a day.

The Future Looking ahead, Matthew pointed to conversational voice AI as the next major area of growth. Platforms are available to answer phone calls, take restaurant and room bookings, and log maintenance or housekeeping requests. He cited a 600-room Ibis property in Kuala Lumpur that believes it loses up to half of the calls attempting to book its restaurant. Work is steadily advancing on humanoid robots that can make beds, automated security patrols and drones capable of cleaning building exteriors (such as window cleaning). Matthew cautioned that the technology remains a work in progress, referencing footage from a recent robotics competition in China in which several robots failed basic tasks, while one broke a human sprinting record. “We’re not there yet. They’re improving and they’re smart, but they’re not that smart yet,” he said.

Accommodation Australia (SA) Event

Robots In The Kitchen

R

obotics is increasingly being used to take on repetitive kitchen and beverage preparation tasks. Guest speaker Matthew White, who trained as a chef before moving into hospitality technology, pointed to examples of robots now capable of making cocktails and coffee, describing them as suited to the "menial jobs that kitchens do." He also referenced a use case for meat processing where a robot can butcher a full carcass, using a laser to get within a millimetre of the bone. It processes meat with less wastage and greater speed than manual butchery. At the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC), the drudgery of working an entire shift polishing and sorting cutlery is a thing of the past. A $500,000 automation project that replaced up to twelve manual cutlery polishing roles with a single staff member has delivered a return on investment within nine months – and allowed staff to work on more meaningful tasks. Sarah Goldfinch, Adelaide Convention Centre’s General Manager, was clear that robotics would not replace skilled

TOP Photo: Speaker Mat Lewis, Big Outcomes. MIDDLE Photo: Speaker Matthew White, McLaren Technologies. BOTTOM Photo: Panellist Sarah Goldfinch, Adelaide Convention Centre.

kitchen staff. She described plating services where a chef works alongside a robotic arm rather than being replaced by it, with individual elements of a dish still requiring a human hand. "You will always still need the human chef to work side by side with the robotic arm," she said. On workforce transition, Sarah returned to a theme raised earlier in the day. "In terms of helping people continue to upskill, keep learning. It’s absolutely mission-critical," she said.

Large-Scale Opportunity "Where I see the greatest opportunity in our venue is time," said Sarah. She said reducing the time required to set up and pack down large-scale events, such as an exhibition hall for between 1,000 and 3,000 people, directly increased how often a space could be resold. The venue is also exploring robotic arms capable of folding napkins for large-scale breakfast and dinner services, and transport robots capable of moving furniture from storerooms at an industrial scale.

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AI Is Rewriting How Guests Book A Room MAT LEWIS - KEYNOTE ON AI

T

he tools guests use to research and book accommodation have changed dramatically – but most properties are yet to catch up. Mat Lewis, founder of the Barossa Valley-based advisory firm Big Outcomes, delivered the opening keynote at the Accommodation Australia South Australia event held at The Playford Hotel in Adelaide on 14 September. His session, titled Search and AI: What's Happening Now?, argued that artificial intelligence is no longer simply assisting the search for accommodation. It is beginning to make the decision.

the growing importance of guest reviews as data rather than reputation. Mat said artificial intelligence tools can read hundreds of reviews and detect patterns that a property's own marketing might not reflect. If a hotel described itself as tranquil while guests repeatedly complain about street noise, AI would notice the contradiction. He warned that this creates what he called an expectations loop. An AI tool tells a guest what to expect. If the experience does not match, the gap becomes the substance of the next review, which then feeds back into the AI's assessment of the property.

Mat illustrated this argument with his own recent holiday to China. Rather than opening booking websites and applying filters, he said he described his preferences to an AI tool and let it recommend properties.

“You can change your website tonight. But you can't change directly what AI says about you," Mat said.

“I described the neighbourhoods we liked, the kind of foods and hotels we liked, what irritates us, what we were prepared to spend and then I let AI make the decisions.”

He cited research suggesting that one in three trip-planning sessions in the United States now begins with an AI tool, although only around 17 per cent of travellers have used AI to complete an actual booking.

He said this shift represents a reversal of 25 years of digital marketing practice. Properties had trained guests to translate their preferences into search terms. Now the technology is adapting itself to the guest.

Guest Reviews A central theme of the address was

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“All you can do is influence the evidence that it's reading."

This gap is closing quickly. For example, Google has trialled end-to-end hotel bookings inside its AI search mode, paid for through Google Pay, in partnership with Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott, Hilton and IHG. Mat distinguished between traditional search engine optimisation and AI optimisation.

“We think SEO was substantially about helping a machine decide where you should rank,” he said. “AI optimisation is increasingly about helping a machine understand what is actually true about your business.” He suggested delegates take four immediate steps. » Build genuinely useful frequently asked question (FAQ) content addressing real guest concerns such as parking, breakfast times and noise. » Check that information is consistent across every platform, from their own website to online travel agencies and review sites. » Keep reviews current rather than relying on old ratings. » Regularly check what AI tools say about their own property, in the same way operators have long checked their Google search ranking. He closed with a warning that within roughly two years, many hotels would begin receiving bookings from guests who had never visited their website, describing an emerging path into the property through AI assistants that could recreate the reliance on thirdparty platforms hotels have spent years trying to reduce.

Accommodation Australia (SA) Event

TOP LEFT Photo: (L-R) Matthew White - McLaren Technologies, Mat Lewis - Big Outcomes, Sarah Goldfinch - Adelaide Convention Centre and Ben Patten - AHA|SA Manager – Accommodation, Tourism and Strategy. PHOTOS Attendees of AA(SA)’s AI, Robotics and Automation industry event.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

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#54

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Partner Editorial

Bepoz mPOS: Service That Moves With Your Customer

In hospitality, service begins the moment a customer steps into the venue. From there, staff need to be ready to meet them wherever they land, at the table, the bar, or the beer garden. Bepoz mPOS makes that possible.

and reservation details sync in real time, so staff are always working from accurate information no matter which device they're holding. Less time spent doublechecking, more time spent with guests.

One device puts the power of your POS into your staff's hands, making every seat the best seat in the house. Orders get taken tableside. Payments get processed on the spot. Bills get split without a trip back to the counter. Every interaction adapts to where the customer actually is, with service that leaves your guests feeling looked after.

For staff, mPOS means faster service during peak periods and fewer bottlenecks at busy bars, with more time to focus on the guests. For guests, it means a memorable experience built on faster, more attentive service, the kind that keeps them coming back.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

#56

Workplace Relations Conference

“Shaping the Future of Hospitality Workplaces” was the theme for the AHA|SA’s second major workplace relations conference held at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide on Tuesday, 22 September.

Preparing Hospitality Workplaces for What Comes Next

T

he event provided highly strategic insights into key issues such as recruitment and retention, compliance, AI from a people and culture perspective, and skills and development. 110 people attended the event. AHA|SA Deputy CEO Owen Webb opened the day by describing the difficulty of finding and keeping staff as one of the biggest challenges facing hotels. He said recent announcements on net migration targets and temporary visas meant that challenge was not going away.

“Today is obviously about coming together as industry peers to look at the future of hospitality workplaces.” Owen Webb thanked principal conference partners Hostplus and EML and supporting partners Wallmans Lawyers, Tanda, DMAW Lawyers, A-Plus Agency and Alliance College. Interviews on the day were conducted by Owen, Sarah Legoe - Senior Advisor in Workplace Relations, Liquor Licensing and Gaming, and Lucy Randall - Manager of Events and Partnerships.

“So we really need to look at innovative ways in which we can attract staff to our industry and really promote hospitality as a career, not just a job,” he said. “Importantly as well, it's also about training and developing our hospitality workforce to ensure that they stay within our industry and are well prepared for what lies ahead.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

#58

Workplace Relations Conference

Staff Have Growing Appetite For Super Knowledge There is growing demand from hospitality workers to understand more about their superannuation, according to Hostplus Account Manager Peter Barry. He told the AHA|SA conference that more than 22,500 members used Hostplus’ SuperSmart digital education and advice service during the year to 30 June 2026.

Health Checks On Shift

H

ostplus has visited venues for decades to talk with staff.

However, Peter said workers now wanted more structure. The fund runs super health check days, where staff book a 10-to 20-minute session around shift changes. Peter recently ran one at an employer venue. “I think it went a long way

towards the morale and support of the staff there,” he said.

the efficient processing and allocation of super contributions.

In the past year about 70,000 people used the fund’s digital tools and over 6,000 members were reached through Super Health Checks and group Q&A sessions. More than 27,500 people attended Hostplus seminars delivered in person and virtually.

Health Support For Families

Hostplus has eight super advisers in Adelaide, split between comprehensive advice and general advice.

Payday Super Peter said the arrival of Payday Super, which requires super to be paid alongside each pay run, has been smoother than feared. He said good onboarding data was the key to avoiding problems. Accurate employee data is important to support

He also updated employers on MetLife 360 Health, launched to Hostplus members at last year’s conference. » MetLife is the fund’s group insurer. » The service offers telehealth consultations with clinicians, including paediatric doctors, and also covers nutrition and fitness. » Members returning to work can get support. » It extends to members’ families, including their parents. » There is no extra fee. Peter said it was not designed to replace a GP

or an employee assistance program. However, MetLife surveys showed staff who felt supported by their employer were more engaged and more likely to stay. Women have been the main users so far and the most active age group is 41 to 50. He encouraged employers to promote the service on staff intranets and noticeboards.

Help In Other Languages Hostplus is connecting members with the Government translation and interpreting service. It has also printed key information in the languages most used by its members. Peter said this would help visa workers and others for whom English is not a first language.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

#60

Workplace Relations Conference

Hotels Praised For Safety Improvements

H

otels Praised for Safety Improvements

AHA|SA members have been praised for their cooperation with SafeWork SA inspectors during a 12-month campaign that audited 45 pubs, bars

“We were working with really good people, and we were able to deal with things there and then,” he said. “Most people that we dealt with were genuinely interested in the issues we’d identified and how they could

and taverns across South

improve.”

Australia.

The campaign resulted in

Reflecting on the campaign, SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said inspectors found venue operators highly engaged and willing to address issues as they were identified.

around 400 notices being issued, all of which have been complied with. Farrell said the industry’s professionalism was reflected in the 100 per cent compliance rate and noted that the campaign delivered hundreds of tangible safety improvements. “Every intervention that we have with a business, regardless of the industry, leads to some level of improvement,” he said. “Our proactive campaigns are focused on making workplaces safer. Ultimately, that’s what we’re trying to achieve.”

Farrell emphasised that notices should be viewed as opportunities to improve rather than something to be feared. “It’s a notice to make an improvement, to make a change. That’s really all it is,” he said. “So it’s nothing to fear. Embrace the notice, that’s what I say.” He added that both regulators and employers share the same objective. “I don’t think there’s anybody in this room who would want to see harm come to one of their workers. That’s what we’re all about - preventing harm.”

What Inspectors Found Shelving and storage attracted the highest number of notices. Inspectors observed bowing shelves, overloaded storage systems and instances of staff climbing shelving to access stock. Emergency preparedness was another common area of concern. While many venues had evacuation plans in place, inspectors often found limited evidence that those plans had been put to the test or practised.

Noise management also emerged as an issue. Farrell noted a significant increase in claims for noise-induced hearing loss. While venues are required to monitor worker exposure to noise, he acknowledged that many claims relate to hearing damage sustained years earlier, and in some cases may not be linked to the current employer.

The Good News Traditional safety risks were generally being managed well across the sector. Fire safety equipment and electrical testing generated the fewest notices, which Farrell attributed to venues using specialist contractors on regular maintenance schedules. He encouraged venues to apply the same disciplined approach to other high-risk areas, particularly cool rooms and cellars. These areas were the subject of two prohibition notices during the campaign, requiring potentially dangerous conditions to be rectified before work could continue. Farrell urged hotel managers to take the time to inspect storerooms, cool rooms and cellars as part of their regular safety checks.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Employment Law: The Process Is Your Protection

S

omething as minor as support person involvement can turn a routine workplace investigation into a successful workers compensation claim, according to Michael Kay, employment partner and practice leader at Wallmans Lawyers.

He told the AHA|SA conference that investigations were the area that employers most often got wrong in employment law. Michael said the focus was not to build a case against anyone: “an investigation isn’t about proving something, it’s about finding out what happened”.

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A flawed process exposes employers on several fronts, with unfair dismissal being the main risk, and general protections and workers compensation claims not far behind.

amounted to reasonable management action. He said a single missed step could be enough to tip that test against the employer.

‘New’ Claim Types

Michael told conference delegates that safety must always come before process. For example, if separating two staff members means reasonably reshuffling the roster, that should happen before any suspension letter goes out.

Michael heads up Wallmans’ employment law practice for employers. He said general protections claims are increasingly being lodged by workers terminated during probation, when unfair dismissal is not available to them. “General protections claims made in probation are increasingly what we call ‘backdoor unfair dismissal claims’,” he said. In addition, psychological injury claims now take up about half of an employment lawyer’s desk. In those cases, increasingly involving a mix of workers compensation, discrimination, and work health and safety complaints to the regulator, the question is effectively whether an employer’s actions

First Things First

Employers also need to act quickly. Delays, even those caused by annual leave, could undermine a claim that a complaint was taken seriously. He said hospitality has its own unique “traps” and made the following points: » CCTV footage is often overwritten within about 28 days. » Casual staff who witnessed an incident may have left by the time an investigation starts.

» The most useful evidence is usually witness recollection, gathered while memories are fresh. » Confidentiality is where well-meaning managers often stumble. For example, calling a meeting or emailing 80 staff to announce that an alleged assault is being handled “is often well-intentioned, but you’re potentially trampling over multiple confidentiality and process obligations”. » Staff chat groups carry the same risk. » He said managers who became aware of staff discussing a sensitive incident on a group chat needed to step in.

Words Matter Language can really affect how your case might be assessed; well before the evidence does. Michael urged managers to use the word alleged, even if it felt awkward.

Workplace Relations Conference

The reverse onus of proof on employers in general protections claims means the bar is high to disprove a claim – and language matters.

clearly enough for the person to respond – but they should never be overstated.

He also warned against telling a distressed complainant “we believe you”, however kindly meant.

Weighing The Evidence

Separating people during an investigation should be justified on operational grounds rather than presented as a punishment, because even that step could now be argued as adverse action.

Complex Issues Scope needs the same level of care. Michael said employers trying to save money often threw every issue into one investigation. The result is usually an open-ended saga that is harder to defend, and more difficult to ensure appropriate procedural guard rails for those involved. Allegations must be put

“The evidence is what it is,” he said.

The more serious the allegation and its consequences, the stronger the evidence needs to be. He advised managers not to play amateur psychologist, that nervousness is not a sign of dishonesty and not to “mistake confidence for accuracy”. Corroboration and direct evidence carries the most weight. But “he said/he said” with no independent witnesses, is complicated. Get advice. Recording interviews is simple with today’s technology but all parties need to agree.

Finishing properly Michael made a series of recommendations throughout

his presentation, including: » Issue a show cause letter as a matter of course for serious misconduct you think will warrant termination, because it gives a worker a final chance to respond before making a decision that cannot be undone. Resignations or agreed departures can sometimes be negotiated (but don’t presume this). » Before finalising a report, managers should ask whether it would make sense to a commissioner or insurer who knew nothing about the workplace.

to avoid treading on their inquiry. » Don’t over burden yourself with red-tape. Avoid building too many investigation steps into your policies or enterprise agreements, as missing a step can tip a dismissal into being unfair, or in the case of an agreement, can be punishable by a significant fine » Sexual harassment claims are on a “meteoric rise”, which he cautiously attributed to greater awareness and visible legislative change, rather than more harassment.

» Where a matter could be criminal, the advice is to report it to police and speak with the investigating officer before starting an internal process.

» While most employers cannot afford external investigators for every complaint, it is wise to do so for potential criminal conduct, discrimination, sexual harassment, serious bullying and WHS matters.

» For workplace theft, police often leave it to the employer but a call to the investigating officer first

» Whistleblower complaints are rare in hospitality but complex; get advice immediately.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

#64

The Visa Tap Runs Dry

T

he short-term visas that have long propped up hospitality rosters are disappearing fast and employers are being urged to plan for sponsorship instead. Manny Patel, Business Development Manager at A-Plus Agency, told the AHA|SA conference that places for third-year working holiday visas had been slashed from about 30,000 to 5,000. Candidates now enter a ballot for those places. He said the change hit regional South Australia hardest. The panel, facilitated by AHA|SA deputy CEO Owen Webb, explored how migration and sponsorship could help ease workforce shortages.

Training Visas Collapse Manny said the rejection rate for 407 visas has risen from about 7% in 2023 to about 80% from 1 July this year. Processing has slowed as well. He said skills shortage visas that took one or two months last year now took nine months or more. “These short-term solutions, which we have been used to, especially in the hospitality industry, they’re diminishing very quickly,” Manny said.

Where The Places Go Sean Maloney is Team Leader of Migrant Attraction and Connection at the Department of State Development. He pointed out that decisions on working holiday visas belonged to the Federal Government. Each year the Commonwealth gives South Australia a quota of state-nominated visas. Last financial year that quota was 2,200 across all sectors. By contrast, SA received between 60,000 and 70,000 expressions of interest. Trades and construction top the State’s priority list, followed closely by health and education, which leaves little room for occupations such as chefs. “If we gave that 2,200 to the trades industry, they would use it in a week,” said Sean. His team markets South Australia overseas, stating that SA’s biggest problem abroad is lack of profile.

DAMA On The Rise The strongest remaining pathway is employer sponsorship. Sean said South Australia’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) had become far more important

as State nominations have shrunk since COVID. The agreement offers concessions on minimum salary and allows workers up to 55 years old, compared with 45 for other visas. However, he conceded it is complex and costly. Even so the uptake of DAMAs in SA has grown over the last 18 months at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country. Almost 200 chefs and cooks have been sponsored through the agreement in the past 15 months. About 100 restaurant or venue managers have also come through.

Common Traps Matthew Fisher, a Principal at DMAW Lawyers who heads its hospitality practice, said preparation was the key. Employers often misunderstand income thresholds, which are higher than award rates. Many also overlook the requirement to match market pay for the role and region. He also reiterated that the labour market testing required for a 494 visa is strict. Matthew said multi-venue groups can also come unstuck.

Operators often assumed they could move a sponsored chef between venues without checking whether those venues were run by related businesses. Sponsors generally cannot allow that employee to work for an unrelated business. He said the migration regulations also prevented employers from recovering sponsorship and nomination costs from workers. Recovering a contribution to visa application costs might be possible but it raises questions of reasonableness under workplace law. “There’s no flex in visas,” he said. “The rules are the rules, and you’ve got to abide by them.” For example, a candidate one month over the age limit will be refused. However, Matthew did not want employers to walk away discouraged. “It works for a lot of businesses and a lot of businesses get really good people out of it,” he said. Manny reinforced that point, saying “knowledge is power” and urging anyone “even 1%” considering sponsorship to seek advice early in the process. #65

October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

#66

Workplace Relations Conference

Hotels and UWU Earn The Regulator’s Trust

I

n a ground-breaking pilot project, the Fair Work Ombudsman is preparing to hand routine pay disputes in South Australian hotels to a joint panel of employer and union representatives. The trial would be a first for the regulator. Steve Ronson, the Executive Director of Operations for the Fair Work Ombudsman, told the AHA|SA conference the scheme would involve AHA|SA and the United Workers Union.

He said South Australia had been chosen because the key ingredient – trust - was already in place.

approached the association and the union. It has been two years in development. The agreement is yet to be signed, with the union’s recent leadership change delaying the final step - but Steve said it was not far away.

How It Will Work The pilot will cover routine complaints about pay or conditions, usually involving one or two workers. When a worker contacts the ombudsman about an AHA|SA member business operating in South Australia, the ombudsman will explain the pathway and ask whether they want to use it. The chief advantage of the pathway is that it will be ‘quick’ and involves professionals that have a deep understanding of the sector. If the worker agrees, the business will be asked the same question.

“High trust, high collaboration; low trust, no collaboration,” Steve said.

A panel of one AHA|SA representative and one union representative will then review the documents and aim to reach a view within seven days.

The idea emerged in late 2024 after Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth

A Dispute Assistance Officer from the Ombudsman will be available to assist.

Key Points: » If the panel finds an underpayment, the business will have 20 working days to fix it. » The worker does not need to be a union member. » There are no penalties or fines under the pilot. » If the panel cannot agree, the matter returns to the Ombudsman as normal. » If it uncovers something more serious, the ombudsman takes the dispute back. He said the alternative was an Ombudsman “all over you like a rash” in what could be a very time and resource expensive exercise for both parties.

Hotel Heaven Steve said the hotel sector was among the most compliant in Australia. He compared it with the other areas he regulates, which include horticulture, disability, security and labour hire. “When you get to the hotel sector, it’s rare to find any serious non-compliance,” he said. “It’s like a little workplace relations heaven.”

The Ombudsman has also produced a video and resources for new business owners, developed with an industry reference group where the AHA sits alongside unions.

Issues Running Hot Steve flagged the issues most likely to affect hotels. The first is sexual harassment. Since March 2023 the ombudsman has had power to investigate workplace sexual harassment and it has a dedicated team of trauma-informed inspectors. Businesses can now be held liable for an employee’s harassment if they have not taken reasonable steps to prevent it. He said one in three workers had experienced workplace sexual harassment in the past five years. The ombudsman had 49 active cases at the end of August and many investigations were in hospitality. Labour hire is another focus, particularly in security and cleaning. Mr Ronson said businesses knowingly involved in a labour hire provider’s contraventions could be held responsible. Sham contracting is also a concern for the regulator. He urged hotels to make sure contractors in security and cleaning really were independent contractors and not employees in disguise.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

TROPICA L

#68

NEW

PINEAPPLE

PINEAPPLE

Workplace Relations Conference

Fair Work Claims Jump As AI Joins The Queue

A

pplications to the Fair Work Commission have almost doubled in five years and artificial intelligence is a significant part of the reason.

envelope’ now coming as 10page submissions in quasilegal English, complete with references to case law.

“In particular, AI is sycophantic,” he said. Unless instructed otherwise, it tells users what they want to hear.

agent is being dealt with

Where The Growth Is

new powers.

Deputy President Peter Hampton told the AHA|SA conference that applications had risen from about 29,000 in 2021 to 53,417 in 2025-26.

The rise is concentrated in individual claims.

It is also capable of inventing facts and cases.

» Compared with the three-year average, general protections claims involving a dismissal rose 63% in 2025-26. » Those not involving a dismissal rose 111%. » Unfair dismissal applications were up 32%. The number of selfrepresented applicants has also climbed sharply since late 2025, which he said was further evidence of AI’s influence.

Changes to legislation and a growing workforce do not explain the jump. “It’s now reasonably clear that AI is playing a significant role in that regard,” he said. The Deputy President, who is the Commission’s longest-serving member, said employers would already recognise the pattern, with correspondence that once arrived ‘on the back of an

A Sycophantic Helper

The Missing 20% The Deputy President estimated that, in this area of the law, if properly instructed AI was about 80% accurate. He compared its output to a first-year law student’s essay. While the Commission does not ban AI, it expects parties and their representatives to disclose when they have used it. Further, Ai should be used cautiously in terms of evidence and this matters most for witness statements, which must be in the witness’s own words.

earlier in the process and recent amendments have also given the Commission These include: » A full bench can now declare a person a vexatious applicant, which bars them from lodging applications without permission. » The Commission can more readily dismiss claims with no reasonable prospects. » Unfair dismissal matters can be decided on the papers where appropriate and both parties agree. » And general protections conferences can now be delegated to senior Commission staff.

Tighter Processes

In addition, a new online become the main way parties

It can equally tell a small business about the small business code and the minimum employment period.

The Commission has redesigned its general protections forms so that applicants must spell out proper grounds and employers must spell out any jurisdictional objection rather than tick a box.

But he said AI had two serious flaws.

Permission to be represented by an external lawyer or paid

The Deputy President said AI was not all bad. It can tell a sacked worker they have 21 days to lodge an unfair dismissal claim.

portal, My FWC, will soon deal with the Commission. The Commission is reforming internal processes and will use AI itself, with Peter noting that “AI is not evil, it’s a tool”. Guidance note and research on AI use are on the Commission website.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

When the Gig Comes with Super: Employer Superannuation Obligations for Musicians and Entertainers AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION (SA) DEPUTY CEO, OWEN WEBB

Disclaimer: This article contains general information only and does not contain financial or legal advice. Members should obtain advice from a lawyer or financial advisor/accountant on their specific circumstances.

Over the last six months, the AHA|SA has seen an increase in the number of queries relating to an employer’s obligations to pay superannuation to musicians and entertainers (performers). While superannuation is generally only payable to employees who are directly engaged by an employer, there are some circumstances where an employer will be liable to pay superannuation to people who are otherwise engaged as independent contractors. In the context of performers, this will depend on the nature of the engagement and how the performer or band is structured. In this article we examine the different scenarios in which performers are engaged by a venue and the circumstances in which superannuation may be payable to performers.

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Workplace Relations

Employees and Minimum Earnings Thresholds

T

he Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) (Act) governs employer superannuation obligations in Australia, including amongst other matters the quantum of the charge and when the charge is payable. The payment of superannuation to entertainers is not a new concept, however it has recently gained attention due to the removal of the minimum earnings threshold in the Act. Until 1 July 2022, superannuation was not payable unless the employee earnt above the minimum earnings threshold of $450 per month. The minimum earnings threshold was removed as of 1 July 2022 and now superannuation must be paid on any ordinary time earnings of an employee. Employers are required to pay the compulsory superannuation guarantee (currently 12%) to employees on any ordinary time earnings, other than in some limited circumstances such as employees under the age of 18 who work 30 hours or less per week. The Act expands upon the ordinary meaning of an employee to include certain individuals that are not otherwise

deemed to be an employee under the Fair Work Act 2009. One such category of individuals is performers. Section 12(8) of the Act states the following:

Is superannuation payable to the performer(s) if the venue engages them directly and not through a booking agent or service provider?

“(8) The following are employees for the purposes of this Act:

The venue would not be required to pay

(a) a person who is paid to perform or present, or to participate in the performance or presentation of, any music, play, dance, entertainment, sport, display or promotional activity or any similar activity involving the exercise of intellectual, artistic, musical, physical or other personal skills is an employee of the person liable to make the payment;

following circumstances:

(b) a person who is paid to provide services in connection with an activity referred to in paragraph (a) is an employee of the person liable to make the payment; … “

(c) The performer(s) is a duo/band/

Section 12(8) only applies to those performers who are engaged in their personal capacity, and not those who are part of a company, partnership or trust. How this applies in practice is set out below.

When Is Superannuation Payable To A Performer? VENUE ENGAGE S PERFORMER DIRECTLY

the performer(s) superannuation in the (a) The performer(s) is an individual or group that uses a corporate entity (e.g. Bob’s Band Pty Ltd). (b) The performer(s) is an individual or partnership who is or which is acting as trustee of a trust (for example if Bob Smith was trustee for Bob Smith Family Trust). group who are not a corporate entity and the partnership is not acting as trustee but the venue makes one payment to the band, and the band distributes that payment amongst the band members. The venue would be required to pay the performer(s) superannuation in the following circumstances: (a) The performer is a solo artist who is engaged as an individual in their own right and not acting as trustee of a trust and is not set up as a corporate entity.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

“Venues should review any agreements or arrangements with booking agents or service providers to ascertain the legal status of that arrangement.”

(b) The performer(s) is a duo/band/ group who are not a corporate entity and the partnership is not acting as trustee of a trust and the venue

VENUE ENGAGE S PERFORMER THROUGH A BOOKING AGENT Booking agent as service provider

super if the support crew are providing

Where the booking agent is a service provider rather than a true legal agent and the venue enters into a written contractual agreement with the booking agency and the venue has contractual rights against the booking agency rather than the performer(s), the obligation to pay super would fall back on the booking agent rather than the venue. However, venues need to refer to the terms of the agreement with the booking agent.

services in connection with the

Booking agent as a true legal agent

pays each of the band members separately (for example, there are three members of the band, each is paid $200 by the venue rather than one payment of $600 being paid to the band). What happens with superannuation obligations for support crew? Support crew may also be entitled to

performance. Whether this is the case depends on whether they are paid in their own right as an individual directly by the venue or whether the group or band pays them from the monies they receive from the venue. How can I check whether a performer(s) is part of a partnership, corporate entity or a trust? The easiest way to identify what structure the performer(s) has in place is to obtain their ABN, ACN, or name and place those details into the search function in ABN Lookup. Alternatively, ask the performer or the booking agent how the performer is structured.

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Where a booking agent is used and the agent acts on behalf of the performer(s), the rules set out above under the heading “venue engages the performer directly” would apply. An example of where the booking agent is a true legal agent rather than a service provider is where the agent may sign on behalf of the performer or the venue pays the performer directly and makes a separate commission payment to the booking agency. Venues should review any agreements or arrangements with booking agents or service providers to ascertain the legal status of that arrangement. Alternatively,

legal advice should be obtained as to the nature of the agreement.

Obtaining Performers Superannuation Fund Details The venue needs to undertake a similar process to how they obtain one of their employee’s superannuation fund details when they commence. They need to provide the individual(s) with a standard superannuation choice form within 28 days. Superannuation would need to be paid into the individual(s) chosen superannuation fund. If fund details are not provided, the venue would need to check the individual(s) stapled fund with the Australian Taxation Office. If a stapled fund is not found, the venue would need to make the payment into the venue’s default fund. We have seen scenarios where the booking agent has included a 12% charge on the tax invoice for the performer, regardless of whether superannuation needs to be paid by the venue or not. We recommend venues firstly seek further information from the agent as to how the performer is structured and secondly take steps to ensure the booking agent makes the payment into the performers superannuation fund as it is ultimately the venue that is liable for any failure to

Workplace Relations

pay superannuation. In the alternative, venues should refuse to pay the 12% charge on the invoice and make the superannuation payment directly to the performer (this is the preferred approach).

Recommendations For Venues We recommend venues do the following: 1. Where a venue engages a performer(s) directly check the performer(s) set-up to determine whether they are an individual, part of a partnership, a company or part of a trust. This information can be ascertained by asking the performer for certain details (ideally before they perform). 2. Where a venue uses a booking agency, check the terms and conditions of any written agency agreement to determine whether the venue has contractual rights against the booking agency rather than the performer. 3. Do not just pay the additional 12% added to an agent’s invoice. Ask the booking agent for more information on a performer’s structure and where possible pay the performer’s superannuation directly to the

relevant superannuation fund. 4. Members should review each engagement carefully and seek advice where needed to ensure superannuation is paid correctly. It is important that members check whether superannuation needs to be paid to performers as failure to pay

superannuation in circumstances where superannuation should be paid may result in penalties, fines or other action being imposed on or taken against the venue. For further information on superannuation obligations please contact Sarah, Owen or Gary at the AHA|SA.

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October 2026 | ahasa.asn.au

Regional Meetings

G

AMING CARE works with all South Australian Hotels with gaming machines to reduce the risk of gambling harm. » Providing the hotel industry with the capacity to respond to community concerns related to the risk associated with gambling harm by contributing to early intervention and support for gamblers and their families. » Minimising the risk of harm by fostering a compliant and proactive industry that works with regulators, gambling help services and gaming patrons to minimise harm caused by gambling.

Gaming Care

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.

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» Assisting licensees and hotel staff with their compliance obligations, and supporting venue staff through education and training regarding the recognition of gambling harm 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 gambling harm, enabling them to intervene early and refer the patron to a gambling help service, or other support options if required.

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GBay/Aruze Gaming 0424 700 888 CLEANING COMPANIES Exiis 1800 888 998 CLEANING & HYGIENE SUPPLIES

GAMING FLOAT RECONCILIATION GBay/Aruze Gaming 0424 700 888 GAMING MACHINE & TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

MIGRATION A Plus Agency 0435 563 920 DMAW Lawyers 8210 2287 Migration Solutions 8210 9800 MUSIC LICENSING One Music 8331 5807

Ainsworth Game Technology 0409 171 616

ON HOLD/MESSAGING

Aristocrat Technologies Australia 8273 9907

PAYROLL & HR RESOURCES

1800 ON HOLD 8125 9370

Bluize Solutions 0411 174 448

Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300

Bunnings Group 0418 559 527

COMS Systems 1800 324 918

Tanda 1300 859 117

Bunzl 08 8245 6222

GBay 0424 700 888

Winnall & Co. 8379 3159

Salute Better Solutions 0466 745 968

IGT 8231 8430

POS SYSTEMS Bepoz 1300 023 769

DATA ANALYTICS

Konami Australia Pty Ltd 0409 047 899

STR 02 8091 2009

Light & Wonder 0400 002 229 MAX 8275 9700

PROPERTY & VALUATIONS

DEFIBRILLATORS St John 1300 78 5646 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING Class A Energy Solutions 8391 4853 ENERGY & SOLAR SOLUTIONS Class A Energy Solutions 8391 4853 Energy Alliance 03 9872 6869 Trans Tasman Energy 1300 118 834 EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES & HARDWARE Bunnings Group 0418 559 527

H&L Australia Pty Ltd 1800 778 340

GAMBLING SERVICES

Knight Frank Valuations & Advisory 8233 5222

SA Lotteries 13 18 68

RETAIL LIQUOR MARKETING

HEALTH INSURANCE

Liquor Marketing Group 8416 7575

Bupa 0417 608 751

RISK & ASSURANCE SERVICES

HOTEL BROKERS

Aceia Pty Ltd 8133 4901

McGees Property Hotel Brokers 8414 7800

Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300

HOTEL MANAGEMENT

SIGNAGE & PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

H&L Australia Pty Ltd 1800 778 340

Invicium 03 9371 0600

Bunzl 08 8245 6222

INFORMATION SYSTEMS & SITE PREP

Globe Importers 0467 425 314

Max Systems 8275 9700

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA

Salute Better Solutions 0466 745 968

INSURANCE

Foxtel 1300 790 182

Aon Risk Solutions 8301 1111

Tabcorp 0436 636 774

IT SERVICES

STAFF TRAINING & RECRUITMENT

Stoddart 1300 79 1954 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

Rockfort Global 1300 00 RFIT (7348) KITCHEN & BAR EQUIPMENT Bunnings Group 0418 559 527 Cookers 1300 88 22 99 Globe Importers 0467 425 314 Reward Hospitality 1800 473 927 Salute Better Solutions 0466 745 968

The Banner Crew 8240 0242

A Plus Australia Agency 0435 563 920 Alliance College 1300 665 065 OMC Group 0402 146 059 St John 1300 78 5646 Zest Hospitality 1300 033 474 SUPERANNUATION Hostplus 0418 327 607

Cookers 1300 88 22 99

Stoddart Food Service Equipment 1300 79 1954

Farm Frites 0410 449 720

LEGAL SERVICES

Tabcorp 0436 636 774

Galipo Foods 8168 2000

DMAW Lawyers 8210 2287

WEBSITES

BOOKKEEPING

McCain Foods 0417 811 753

Eckermann Lawyers 8235 3933

Boylen 8233 9433

Perks Accountants & Wealth Advisers 8273 9300

PFD Foodservice 8114 2300

Ryan & Co Solicitors 0421 595 815

WORKERS COMPENSATION

Thomas Foods 8162 8400

Wallmans Lawyers 8235 3018

EML 08 8127 1368

Suntory 0427 971 426 Treasury Wine Estates 8301 5400 Vinarchy Wines 8392 2222

WAGERING

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Office Holders Folio LICENSEE TRANSFERS JUNE-SEPTEMBER 2026 The Rosey 05.06.26 Rosemont Adelaide Pty Ltd Crafers Inn 12.06.26 Crafers Custodian Pty Ltd Crystalbrook SAM 12.06.26 15 Halifax Opco Pty Ltd Hotel Augusta 22.06.26 Barreau Augusta Pty Ltd Railway Hotel, Freeling 25.06.26 PM Hotels Pty Ltd Port Kenny Hotel 29.06.26 Kim Marie Minisini & Rodney Grant Minisini Kingoonya Hotel 01.07.26 Jeffrey Raymond Verning and Catherine Michelle Verning Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta 01.07.26 Outback Investment Group Pty Ltd

Junction Hotel, Brinkworth 06.07.26 Trevor John Bell Lucindale Hotel 27.07.26 Firstlite Pty Ltd Red Lion Hotel 27.07.26 Red Lion Hotel SA Pty Ltd The Green Man Inn 30.07.26 Red Wilbur Pty Ltd Mismatch Brewhouse Adelaide 13.08.26 Black Badger Group Pty Ltd Grand Hotel Millicent 25.08.26 Black Rhino (Grand Millicent) Pty Ltd Sandy Creek Hotel 04.09.26 Lot 728 Bevvy Pty ltd Light Hotel 25.09.26 SLG Light Investments Pty Ltd

ABOVE Photo: AHA|SA Council Members as at December 2025.

Natarsha Stevenson Manager – Policy & Industry Affairs

Level 4, 60 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000

Sarah Legoe Senior Advisor – Workplace Relations, Liquor Licensing & Gaming

PO Box 3092, Rundle Mall SA 5000

Gary Coppola Manager – Legal & Advocacy

P (08) 8232 4525

Lucy Randall Manager – Events & Partnerships

CONTACT

P 1800 814 525 Toll Free F (08) 8232 4979 E information@ahasa.asn.au www.ahasa.asn.au

ADMINISTRATION Anna Moeller Chief Executive Officer Owen Webb Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alisa Wenzel Manager – Finance & Administration

Liz Turley Training Coordinator Adam Moore Training & Development Specialist

Matthew Binns Vice President

John Giannitto

Luke Donaldson Deputy Vice President

Nick King

Sam McInnes Secretary Treasurer

Rob Mitchell

Matthew Brien Executive Council Matt Rogers Executive Council Anna Hurley Executive Council

Tom Hannah Karen Milesi Damian Peterson Andrew Plush Rob Rankine Margy Raymond Darren Steele

Andrew Kemp Executive Council

COUNCIL

Ben Patten Manager – Accommodation, Tourism & Strategy

Andrew Bullock

Mellissa Barter Membership Manager

Jason Fahey

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Elise Fassina

David Basheer President

James Franzon

Daniel Cassin Danielle Donaldson Trent Fahey

Tony Franzon

PUBLISHER 3/288 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton SA 5063 (08) 8233 9433 www.boylen.com.au Tim Boylen Managing Director Madelaine Raschella Design Manager

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