Posts by aha-admin

Media Release – Workplace Relations Productivity Inquiry

Media Release Workplace Relations Productivity Inquiry Tuesday 17 March, 2015 The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Accommodation Association of Australia (AAoA) have made a joint submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Workplace Relations. Industrial relations and economic data indicate that Australia’s labour productivity requires significant improvement. “Despite most regulations having worthwhile objectives, many are developed without sufficient regard to productivity and consideration about how objectives could be achieved in more cost effective ways” commented AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson. Businesses that require a large proportion of labour to operate will be heavily influenced by the degree of
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Media Release – Powdered Alcohol

Media Release Powdered Alcohol Monday 16 March, 2015 Reports have begun to emerge of “powdered alcohol” products being offered for sale in the US which is likely to reach Australian shores soon. The powdered alcohol branded “Palcohol” is a dry powder which is mixed with water to create an alcoholic beverage. Whilst the full scale of potential health harms are yet to be understood, the capacity for the product to be snorted through the nostrils, to be concealed by underage persons and to be taken into licensed venues and ‘no alcohol’ public events is of great community concern. The AHA
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Four Year review of Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010 (“The HIGA”)

The hospitality industry is one of Australia’s largest employing industries, employing some 640,000 people across the sectors of hotels (170,000), accommodation (90,000), casinos (20,000), clubs (100,000) and restaurants & caterers (250,000). In contrast to other industries such as manufacturing or mining, the hospitality industry employs people in every Australian state, city, town and electorate.   The vast majority of hospitality businesses are small-to-medium-enterprises (SMEs) for whom it is impractical to engage in collective bargaining and rely on award conditions set by the Fair Work Commission. The highest demand for hospitality businesses is generally outside normal Monday to Friday business hours,
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AHA supports review of workplace relations framework

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) supports the release today of five issues papers for the Productivity Commission review into the Fair Work Act. The AHA sees the review as an opportunity to create more employment opportunities by reviewing the current workplace relations framework. Stephen Ferguson, AHA National CEO, said the current inflexibility and award system structure is stifling employment and business growth. “The level of penalty rates is a particular concern.  The AHA agrees that additional remuneration should be provided for employees working overtime, weekends and public holidays.  However, a better balance is required to enable more businesses to open
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Government called on to support event-related tourism

Stephen Ferguson, AHA National CEO, said today, “With State elections in both Queensland and NSW taking place in the next three months, the value of event-related tourism should become mainstream issues. Both States have seen downturns in mining and other industries; whereas events and tourism have continued to surge. It is impressive that the NSW Government has shown its support of the sector with the re-development of Sydney’s convention and exhibition centre. Queensland has also been active in the domestic and international tourism sector. But what is needed now is more flexible working conditions to boost productivity, a strong international
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Capacity of hotels to pay existing level of broadcast rights fees

Stephen Ferguson, National CEO of the Australian Hotels Association, said today that the push by the racing industry to diversify into other broadcast channels will adversely impact the capacity of the hotel industry to continue paying the current levels of broadcast rights fees. “We understand the desire of the racing industry to expand the coverage of racing and to use new digital platforms and free-to-air television to do so. A few years ago, with minor exceptions, the only way to watch racing in a pub was via Sky Channel and the only way to have a punt was with a
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Presentation: “Staying on course in uncertain times”

Presentation: “Staying on course in uncertain times” Delivered to Hostplus 1 December 2014 – Melbourne Presented by Stephen Ferguson, National CEO of the Australian Hotels Association Transcript of the AHA CEO’s presentation to Hostplus on “Staying on course in uncertain times” – Click here.  
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Presentation: Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs

Presentation: Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs National Stakeholder Meeting on Alcohol Related Violence and Harm 19 November 2014 – Hotel Realm – Canberra Presented by Stephen Ferguson, National CEO of the Australian Hotels Association   Transcript of the AHA CEO’s presentation at the National Stakeholder Meeting on Alcohol Related Violence and Harm – Click here.  
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Position Statement: Hotels right to refuse or cancel bookings

POSITION STATEMENT 13 January, 2015 Hotels right to refuse or cancel a booking Hotel venues are sometimes faced with the issue of whether or not to take a booking, or cancel a booking, based on the person/organisation involved in the booking. This was the position faced recently by venues booked for anti-vaccination lectures and has also applied in the past to venues that cancelled forums by controversial figures such as Philip Nitschke and the Dutch right winger Gert Wilders. Hotel venues must place the safety of their guests and staff as their first priority. They must also take into account the
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TVN called on to look after punters in country pubs

Stephen Ferguson, National CEO of the Australian Hotels Association (AHA), has today backed calls by its members for Sky Racing to be given permission by TVN to broadcast NSW and Victorian thoroughbred racing into pubs and clubs across the country this weekend. Mr Ferguson said he had been in close contact with Sky Racing and TVN in the few days since they had announced that they had been unable to reach an agreement over broadcasting rights. “We thank FOXTEL and TVN for their efforts to minimise any disruption by providing a broadcast into pubs and clubs that have FOX SPORTS;
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