Alcohol legislation major threat to small businesses says HNZ –
Proposed changes to alcohol legislation could threaten the future of many small license holders, says Hospitality New Zealand. The select committee considering the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill has ignored pleasure from license holders in its report back to Parliament, says Chief Executive, Julie White.* “This bill is likely to cause great uncertainty for license holders and could even threaten the very future of their businesses,” says White. “Allowing District Licensing Committees to take new Local Alcohol Policies (LAP) into account when considering renewals, including giving them the ability to decline license renewals if they are…
Disappointment at APTR decision –
The accommodation industry has expressed its disappointment with the Supreme Court ruling that the Auckland Council’s Accommodation Provider Targeted Rate (APTR) funding for tourism is valid. The contentious hotel bed tax was introduced in 2017 by the Auckland Council to boost tourism funding and has now been given the green light after being suspended in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality economy. Hospitality New Zealand’s Accommodation Association Lead & Sector Chair, Troy Clarry, says the decision to overturn the Court of Appeal ruling will have long-term implications for operators; not only for Auckland but…
Training investment leads RANZ’ Budget wish list –
The Restaurant Association of New Zealand has produced its own budget wish list ahead of Thursday’s 2023 financial announcements from the Government. “While the hospitality industry itself is leading the long-term work that will make our sector more resilient, we also know that ongoing skills shortages, increased costs of doing business and the ever-changing regulatory environment only add to the pressures we have experienced over the past three years. “Increased investment in training to address the national skills shortage is one of our top priorities, so we would like to see investment in work-based training initiatives, to both fill the…
7 Ways to Save on Summer Travel in 2023
Key points Travel credit cards can help you save in multiple ways, from redeeming rewards and travel credits to making use of valuable perks and benefits. The more flexible you are about your travels, the more affordable it will be. Pack less, travel together, and be creative about when, where, and how you travel. Check out our picks for the best credit cards Depending on your destination, the cost of a family summer vacation can easily get into the four digits. But you don’t necessarily need to drain your bank account just to have a good time this summer. There…
Sixty hospitality venues join Ponsonby festival month –
Ponsonby’s month long restaurant festival, Eat, Drink, Love Ponsonby, is back for another year and is bursting with the flavors of a culinary melting pot of cuisines, from Bangkok to Bali, Mexico to Malaysia, India to Italy–and beyond. Taking place from 4-28 May along the length of Ponsonby Road, the popular festival is in its fourth year and is once again highlighting specific food and beverage offers for every appetite and budget. Bird On A Wire. A record 60 establishments are taking part this year, including bars, cocktail bars, casual restaurants, food court eateries, cafes, gourmet burger bars, hole in…
Sarin Group unviels Thordon Quay apartment hotel –
New Zealand-owned family business Sarin Hotels has opened a 72-room apartment hotel on Thorndon Quay – the eponymously named Proximity Apartments, located near Sky Stadium and The Beehive. The project has been four years in the making, with delays caused by Covid-19. The new 9-storey building is owned by Wellington property developer Craig Stewart and is his first hotel development. As the third hotel operated by Sarin in the Wellington area, and its eighth throughout New Zealand, the 4.5-star Proximity Apartments join the Sarin-managed DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington and The Sebel Lower Hutt, which opens in May/June. The group also…
Finalists named in Southern Lakes Hospitality Awards –
The finalists have been announced at the Southern Lakes Hospitality awards and locals are being invited to vote for their favorite place to dine out. The finalists represent excellent dining establishments in the region as voted by the hospitality industry, including Queenstown restaurant Jervois Steakhousenominated in four award categories, including outstanding restaurant. Also up for outstanding restaurant is Ben Bayly’s Arrowtown restaurant Aosta, a small 50 seat restaurant that brings a taste of Northern Italy to the gold-rush village of Arrowtown. The restaurant is nominated in the category of outstanding restaurants, and best regional establishments. Aosta and Jervois Steak House…