|
We made it! One year of amalgamation down and we have been working stronger and harder than ever before.
Migration still seems to be our major focus as the Federal Government continues work on the migration review. I was fortunate enough to chair a Board Room lunch with Minister Giles and his senior advisor in Melbourne recently. It was great to have member representatives around the table and the engagement and banter across the table was first class. Whilst there has now been a reshuffle of ministry, we are pleased to see that Minister Giles is now looking after Skills & Training. This is still critical as it will be responsible for Jobs & Skills Australia (JSA) recommendations for the migration core occupation skill list.
I look forward to our next Board Meeting in Canberra in August that will be followed by dinner with The Hon Don Farrell MP, Minister for Trade & Tourism, and hosted by Speaker of the House The Hon Milton Dick MP.
Whilst we have enjoyed the busy time, I must advise that our CEO, Michael Johnson, has announced his retirement. Michael has contributed significantly to Accommodation Australia and the industry and will be missed by his team and the many stakeholders he worked closely with.. We wish him the very best in retirement.
A new CEO has been appointed and will commence on 1 September 2024. A formal announcement of the incoming CEO is being prepared and will be distributed next week.
And finally, I would like to thank you, our members, for your support. It is pleasing to see our industry grow and the reputation of our association continue to flourish as we take on the many challenges ahead of us in 2024.
Regards,
| |
Message from the CEO's Desk | |
It is hard to believe the first year of Accommodation Australia has already passed following amalgamation. We have seen some great successes in our efforts of advocacy, membership retention and financial results. Hotels around the country have continued to normalise as tourism arrivals improve and corporate markets return to reasonable levels. We have continued to see the pipeline of hotels opening across the country although not necessarily being absorbed as easily i.e. Melbourne & Sydney.
The last three months has seen an extensive focus on migration, with submission done on core skills occupations list and more recently on regional migration. Jenny continues to excel in this space and we always seem to be well resourced.
The Hospitality Tourism & Travel Employment Skills platform is progressing well with Tomahawk leading the platform IT and DDB heading up the marketing program. We will be in contact shortly to gain your support to register for the platform in preparation for it going live later this year.
Thank you again to our very supportive Corporate Partners. Articles of interest and offers are included below for you review.
Finally, I would like to thank all of our members and key stakeholders for their support over the past five years as I prepare for my retirement. I believe our industry is in a strong position including a healthy pipeline for the future and I am sure it will continue to grow from strength to strength. We look forward to the announcement of the new CEO after which a thorough handover will occur to ensure we don’t lose any momentum.
Once again thank you for all your support. I am sure I will see you all somewhere soon.
Kind Regards,
|  | |
Michael Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
| |
By Jenny Lambert, National Policy & Research Advisor | |
|
Over the last three months, migration has moved to head up the list of advocacy issues with which Accommodation Australia has been engaged. As mentioned in the last Key News Update, earlier this year Jobs & Skills Australia (JSA) released a draft Core Skills List which will be critically important to the sponsorship of temporary skilled migrants under the new migration program which commences at the end of the year. JSA had classified our key occupations into either a category that requires further consultation (including cooks, chefs, hotel & motel managers, finance managers), or a category that indicates that JSA is confident that the job roles will not be included on the final list (such as restaurant manager). Occupations not on the final core skills list will not be eligible for migration sponsorship unless the salary level is over $135,000.
We responded to this draft list by undertaking extensive consultation with members before finalising a detailed submission in May 2024 not only providing evidence in support of keeping those occupations available for sponsorship, but also calling for an orderly transition and improvements in the evaluation model.
Given the ministerial reshuffle this month impacted Home Affairs, it may be some months before we have a final decision. AA will ensure the new Minister, Tony Burke, is very clear about our concerns in this area.
Also on the subject of migration, the government released a discussion paper on regional migration settings, including the important issue of working holiday makers and their current requirement to work in the specified regional areas. In good news for the industry, and in acknowledgement of our strong advocacy on this issue, in the discussion the Government has delivered a strong signal that it will not be accepting a recommendation of last year's immigration review panel to limit the Working Holiday Maker visa to one year. The government's discussion paper says, in part, that such a limitation would "would significantly damage local economies in regional Australia."
Our submission in July sought a broader definition of regional work, including that working holiday makers should be eligible for second and third year visas if they work in tourism and hospitality outside any of the capital cities, except that Darwin should also be considered regional. The key theme of our advocacy was that regional migration settings should be as responsive as possible to local needs and also enable regional employers to compete more strongly in the labour market for the workforce they need.
| |
|
To reinforce our strong migration advocacy we met with the then Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles and his advisor in Melbourne. The meeting was hosted by AA National Chair David Mansfield shown in the picture on the right, with the Minister (centre) and the National President of the AHA, David Canny (left).
Although the minister has now shifted his portfolio, he remains a valuable and engaged connection given that he has taken up the portfolio in skills and training.
The current review of apprenticeship incentives is finalising its consultation prior to issuing its final report at the end of August. This month, the panel undertaking the review has issued a summary of what they have heard from stakeholders including many of the comments raised in the AA submission. It may be somewhat pessimistic, but the summary does not give the impression that there will be any major improvement in the incentives available to hospitality employers. As at the 1st of July 2024, the employer incentives for taking on a hospitality trainee were removed, with support now limited to the cooking trade apprenticeship, where the number of commencements continue to fall. We will continue to raise concerns about this loss of support to a growth industry such as ours, including with the new minister for Skills & Training.
In June, we met with both the Minister for Housing and the Shadow Minister to progress arguments over short term rental accommodation. To aid our advocacy, we updated our STRA policy as a joint position of the AHA and AA, and have made it available on our website. The (then) Minister was very receptive to our arguments and although Julie Collins is no longer in that portfolio, we will keenly take up the arguments with new Minister Clare O’Neil.
Of particular interest in our arguments was the recent actions of the Canadian Government, given that their constitutional structure and powers are so similar, as the regulatory power is with the provinces (state) and municipal governments. The Canadian government has provided a fund to support the enforcement of state and local regulations as well as proposing a change to the tax laws to deny deductions to all STRA property owners who breach the STRA rules. The Shadow Minister, and the Coalition in general, will be more difficult to win over to the arguments for stronger STRA regulation, as we saw in the WA Liberal opposition's lukewarm response to the very modest WA Government changes to STRA regulation.
in contrast to the inaction or very limited action in Australia, internationally governments at all levels are bringing in significantly more stringent regulation on STRA. Apart from the actions of the Canadian government there has been a lot of attention on the decision of New York City to ban all non-hosted STRA. This has seen a dramatic drop in listings in New Yort or Air BNB, and those that do still list on Air BNB are mostly offering on terms greater than 30 days. Most recently, Barcelona has announced plans to ban all holiday apartments by 2028. STRA in that city already is subject to a licensing scheme, but the city plans to scrap the ten thousand apartment licences currently issued. According to media reports, the city government has also ordered the closure of 9,700 illegal tourist apartments since 2016.
Regards
| |
Accommodation Australia is hosting numerous events across the country. Please visit the links below for updated list of events in each state/territory. | |
Other events include Hotel Market Updates across Australia. Please keep an eye out for the calendar of events from your state /territory representatives. | |
|
Homelessness Is A Housing Problem: An Industry Event For Real Change | MELB + SYD + BRIS
In partnership with Housing All Australians, the business-led movement helping Australia's homelessness crisis, we invite you our Accommodation Australia members to their first national breakfast tour.
Read More and book tickets
| |
| Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | | Tuesday, September 3, 2024
7:30 am – 9:30 am
ZINC @ Fed Square | Wednesday, September 4, 2024
7:30 am – 9:30 am
Ivy @ 330 George St
| Thursday, September 5, 2024
7:30 am – 9:30 am
| | Including an exclusive panel moderated by Alan Kohler (ABC Financial Journalist) | Including an exclusive panel moderated by Robert Harley (The Australian Financial Review's former property editor) | More details to come | | |
|
Super training made simple through Hostplus’ Employer Education Hub
Hostplus’ Employer Education Hub houses a range of toolkits that participating employers can use. They’re available to be distributed to employees who are Hostplus members.
Each toolkit includes resources such as posters, videos and digital images that reinforce simple, action-oriented messages about super. New topics are added to the hub regularly.
Access the Employer Education Hub online, or, if you’re a Hostplus employer partner, you can also find a link to the toolkits in the Fund’s latest newsletter. Read More
| | |
|
|
The long wait is over!
Pre-Announcement: Aussie-Owned Low-Commission Direct-OTA
Introducing aroom, a new Low-Commission Direct-OTA platform
transforming accommodation booking in Australia. Backed by the Accommodation Australia (AA) and key stakeholders, aroom supports local businesses and keeps revenue within our economy. Launching early 2025. Operator registration starts September 2024.
Learn more and join us!
| | |
|
Discover how Ecotourism Australia and Accommodation Australia have transformed sustainable tourism in 12 months! Our partnership has set new benchmarks, helping many providers meet global sustainability standards. Learn how your business can join the movement and benefit from exclusive incentives. Read more! | | |
|
|
STR launches expanded offering to all accommodation subscribers
All STR subscribers now have access to CoStar + Benchmark giving all accommodation subscribers the only market share product that provides a comprehensive view into the entire lifecycle from acquisition to operations to divestment. Know the market, know your benchmark!
Read More
| | |
|
|
Since its inception, IHS has deployed numerous innovations and rolled out many projects, aligning with and supporting our client's mission, values, and sustainability initiatives.
Recent IHS Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that have assisted our clients in achieving their goals include:
- Ecovadis Gold Medal
- CarbonSuite - Emissions Measurement and Reporting
- Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Click here for more information.
| | |
|
|
Elevate your brand with New Creation Print
Australia's leading hospitatlity print business is here to enhance your brand with premium, sustainable solutions. Download our FREE eBook here.
| | |
|
Experience the ultimate in-room entertainment with LG Hotel TVs featuring built-in AirServer. Elevate guest stays with seamless device mirroring and Google Cast compatibility for effortless content streaming. Upgrade to LG Hotel TVs with AirServer for unparalleled entertainment options. Contact us for exclusive Hotel TV solution plan demo and offers on LG Commercial TVs x AirServer. Read More. | | |
|
|
Enriching the guest experience with premium news access
Accommodation providers can now offer premium digital news access via the guest Wi-Fi to normally locked content from leading newspapers like The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun and more. News Corp’s premium news service offers a valuable opportunity to enhance guest wellbeing and engagement. To learn how integrating digital news access can enhance customer experience click here
| | | | |
