Last Wednesday night, like many others members, I had the great pleasure of attending the annual Australian Hotels Association – ACT Branch 2009 Hospitality Awards Night. In partnership with outincanberra.com.au the awards were a showcase of excellence in the ACT hospitality industry.
The evening’s top award went to Socrates (“Soc”) Kochinos who was the ACT Member of the Year for 2009. The People’s Choice Award for Best Bar or Nightclub went to a venture of Mr Kochinos’s, the newly opened Sub-Urban in Dickson. Mr Kochinos has been involved in the Canberra hospitality industry for more than two-decades and has been praised for his success throughout those years. This year the John Press Award, the award named after the AHA-ACT’s first president, was won by King O’Malley’s Owner Peter Barclay. As well as running King O’Malley’s, Mr Barclary contributes to a number of charities.
I congratulate award winners from my electorate including Ellacure Restaurant and the Belconnen Premier Inn.
I would like to congratulate the many other recipients of awards on that night, and recognise the team at the AHA-ACT branch for the successful night of awards. Congratulations in particular to the General Manager Steven Fanner for such a successful event. I also acknowledge the leadership of the organisation including: Michael Capezio, President; Manuel Notaras, Vice President; Mark Sproat, Secretary and Treasurer; Peter Barclay; and, Josh Gray.
The continuing growth and success of the awards reflects Canberra’s growth and development as a city and our growing nightlife. Even The Age newspaper last week, whilst deeply parochial and Victoria centric, has recognised Canberra’s emerging bar, nightclub, and hotel scene and interviewed the manager of Braddon bar Knightsbridge Penthouse, Sebastian Costello.
The Age reports last week on June 16:
Costello, 27, has worked in hospitality for almost a decade and says Canberra has finally come to terms with its small city status.
“A few years ago it was trying to convince itself that it wasn’t a country town,” he says.
Now Canberra has embraced the small town vibe, and its population of 340,000, often transient students and public servants, have plenty of places to share a drink.
The manager of Hippo, Ren Deane, told The Age that “Canberra’s definitely hipper, there’s no doubt.”
The work of the Australian Hotels Association of course goes beyond the annual awards season. They are one of the ACT’s largest associations, and they represent many of the ACT’s “restaurants, cafes, bars/taverns, educational institutions, liquor stores, nightclubs, convention facilities and accommodation hotels”.
These businesses are sometimes small local operations, or part of some of the largest multi-national chains operating around the world. But all these businesses, no matter what their size or hospitality sector, all face the same challenges and Government regulations have a significant impact on their operations.
The AHA-ACT is their voice to Government. Legislation and regulation has a direct impact on the hospitality industry: the areas of industrial relations, liquor licensing, transport regulation, training and tourism are of direct interest to the association and its members. Issues as diverse as late night taxis and development approval processes impact the membership of the AHA. The AHA has a close relationship with the Legislative Assembly and Government and works hard to ensure that industry and government are working in harmony.
The Association also provides its members with training, expert advice in industrial relations and other directly relevant matters, and insurance.
In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I again congratulate all award winners, and commend the association for all the work it does to ensure a vibrant and responsible hospitality industry in the ACT.
