Stratospheric Strathmore Stays True to Pub Roots
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION (SA BRANCH) APR/MAY 2020 STRATOSPHERIC STRATHMORE STAYS TRUE TO PUB ROOTS WWW.BOYLEN.COM.AU WWW.AHASA.ASN.AU 2 | Hotel SA | WWW.AHASA.ASN.AU APRIL - MAY 2020 CONTENTS 08 Corporate Partners Function The AHA|SA hosted the annual new year celebration for Major Corporate Partners at the Robin Hood Hotel in early March 2020. 10 The Strathmore - City Icon Launches Into Stratosphere In the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, The Strathmore Hotel has emerged as a stunning success story, blending the original heritage of colonial Adelaide with contemporary pub design. At a deeper level, it has become a beacon of hope during a time of unprecedented adversity – and a poignant reminder to the community and 27 political leaders that pubs are family affairs, with personal livelihoods on the line. Hotels Respond to Lockdowns IN THIS ISSUE South Australian hotels have responded ingeniously to the shutdown in a bid to retain 04 From the President 27 Hotels Respond to Lockdowns with links with customers and add new revenue. Ingenuity 06 From the General Manager 28 Ravo’s Bush Telegraph 08 2020 AHA|SA Corporate Partners Function 30 A Foothold Amidst COVID-19 Uncertainty 09 AHA|SA Staff Spotlight: Bronte McCarthy 31 Charity Golf Day Scores $2.7 Million for SA Kids in Need 10 The Strathmore: City Icon Launches Into Stratosphere 31 Ainsworth Launches New A-Star™ Cabinet! 20 Scott’s Spot: Staying Strong During the We’re Here for You Fight of Our Lives 31 Vale John Schneebichler 30 22 What to Do in an Economic Downturn 32 AHA|SA Corporate Partner Directory 24 What Does Regular and Systematic 33 AHA|SA Corporate Partners 2019-20 A Foothold Amidst Uncertainty Mean for Casuals? The hotel industry is facing its greatest 34 AHA|SA Member Licensee Transfers challenge in living memory, due to the effects 26 Hotel Manager Q&A: Mary-Lou Corcoran and New Members of coronavirus (COVID-19). Our industry faces an unprecedented challenge in COVID-19. We’ve developed a central Resource Hub to help our communities navigate the sea of information and find the critical resources that can help them to weather this storm. The Hub is for everyone – it’s free and you don’t need to sign up for anything to access it. perks.com.au/covid19 (08) 8273 9300 20200401_Hotels_SA_Apr-May_OSB.indd 1 2/04/2020 10:50:13 AM WWW.AHASA.ASN.AU | Hotel SA | 3 Striving for the Best Outcome to the COVID-19 Crisis When I originally penned this column in early March, the following issues were front of mind for the AHA. • The twice annual excise rises was a headline item. It was (and remains) time for all of Industry to get on the same page and fight the Federal Government to halt 71 tax rises in 35 years. Paying $2.26 per litre excise on beer in tax is simply beyond acceptable. It makes us the fourth highest taxed nation on earth for beer – 17 times more than Germany. • I also raised concerns about the effect of the devastating bushfires and a concern in Asia called coronavirus, which, combined with the bushfires was having a negative effect on our accommodation venues. That downturn demanded South Australia From the President finally fall into line with major overseas DAVID BASHEER – AHA|SA PRESIDENT regions and properly regulate Airbnb. • Other issues of industry concern and interest were also raised. The AHA|SA has not lost sight of these issues and there will be an appropriate time to act on members’ behalf. But our lives right now are consumed with the COVID-19. It affected our industry first - and has hit us the hardest. It has taken a heavy toll on our members, our amazing staff who have suddenly found themselves in Centrelink queues for the first time in their lives, and our sponsors who have seen their supply chain destroyed and had to deal with their own circumstances. This is a national and global upheaval that suddenly our members – from large city operators though to the mum and dad country pubs - find themselves in the middle of. Hotels have always been the custodians of people’s good times. People’s happy memories. People’s social circle. This will continue when the time allows. 4 | Hotel SA | WWW.AHASA.ASN.AU The AHA has lobbied extensively on accelerate what we all desperately need; personnel in a dynamic and highly behalf of our membership. With so normal trading to return. challenging environment. Alongside that, many competing calls for government Ian has had to ensure our office response What has become obvious though this assistance, we have ensured the AHA to members has been elevated. crisis is the strength of the AHAISA office. voice continues to be heard loudest. All of our membership is very grateful for Our team has done a remarkable job Important meetings have been held on the combined efforts and we say thank fielding an unprecedented level of calls multiple occasions with the Premier you on a job well done. and emails from virtually every member. Steven Marshall, along with the Attorney They have done this calmly, patiently and It is our membership that has copped it General Vickie Chapman and Treasurer provided the most accurate, up-to-date hardest. Hard-working individuals and Rob Lucas. information available in what has been a families that have had their efforts and The Leader of the Opposition Peter rapidly moving environment. plans scuttled. Malinauskas and Shadow Treasurer This whole episode is hurting us all now Stephen Mullighan have been widely In the period around the closure of our but for some it will leave lifelong scars. engaged to ensure there is a bi-partisan venues, it was the IR team that bore I urge you to reach out to organisations approach to our needs. the brunt. Owen Webb has illustrated why he is considered a leader in his such as BeyondBlue (1800 512 348) for Several meetings have also taken place field. Gary Coppola and Didier Vollerin help if the emotional and mental stress is getting too great. with key Government officials and provided invaluable support, along with agencies ranging from the SA Health Chief Katherine Taylor who spearheads our Looking forward, as we have done Medical Officer Dr Nicola Spurrier, SAPOL, accommodation division. throughout every challenge placed before the local Government Association and the us over our time together ... we will prevail. Small Business Commissioner The ability to use We shall remain. We will rebuild. There has been a high degree of RICK LOVELL RETIREMENT collaboration with our national office and our nationwide all state branches as we share experiences I don’t want to let this opportunity go and opportunities. strength with by without acknowledging Rick Lovell. Rick will retire from AHA|SA duties at the For example: the Federal upcoming election. The ability to use our nationwide strength He has served on the AHA|SA Council for with the Federal Treasurer and the Treasurer and the almost 40 years. In that time, we have Australian Bankers Association when had one secretary/ treasurer, providing many of our members were excluded Australian Bankers us with stability and incredible depth of from the original bank guarantees has knowledge. meant many of our members have the Association when best possible chance to survive this crisis. Rick is a Life Member for good reason. His many of our wise counsel has been exemplary and he Our negotiations with the Fair Work has transformed our financial position so Commission to change the HIGA in that we are now in a very solid position. an extremely short time frame saved members were members’ both wage expense and jobs. His stewardship has meant we have excluded from always had funds available to fight At a State and Federal level, we were able major campaigns, including the wine-in- to negotiate agreeable payment terms the original bank supermarket battle and Xenophon threat. with many sponsors, including Foxtel, Sky Channel and One Music. guarantees. Even though we have been forced to spend aggressively recently, he has FUTURE ACTIONS ensured AHA|SA coffers remain well- Anna Moeller has supported Ian Horne Now the focus is two-fold. Firstly, to resourced for the next challenge, which brilliantly in crafting a document to seems to materialise quicker and quicker. extract the maximum benefit from the government that sets out our members’ State government’s $300m industry immediate and long-term requirements And Rick’s final legacy is the solid state rescue package. This is required for from the $300m industry package. of the AHA|SA finances which allows us survival during this current difficult period to approach times of uncertainty with but also for critical financial assistance Others in our office have all stepped up - confidence. On behalf of all Members, I during the recovery mode. often working in areas outside their normal wish Rick and Cynthia best wishes for environments to support where possible. Secondly, what does a partial reopening next chapter of their lives. look like? Enormous work has gone into As always, in a time of crisis we look this to give government the confidence for leadership, and Ian Horne has been that we have the model for our venues simply outstanding. Co-ordinating our to be safe. Being able to successfully entire response, he has lobbied, advised demonstrate this point means that we can and worked with a range of government David Basheer, AHA|SA President WWW.AHASA.ASN.AU | Hotel SA | 5 Forward Focus At the time of writing there is great speculation as to the likelihood of some level of relaxation of the industry shut From the General down.