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REDUCING WATER GOOD FOR THE HOTEL BUSINESS RSA Training

EMPLOYEES NOT WANTING TO TAKE MEAL BREAKS? EMPLOYER STILL HELD RESPONSIBLE!

Following a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation (which was initiated after complaints from casual employees), the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia has penalised a South Australian hotel for breaching the applicable Award’s meal breaks clause along with a failure to

comply with the record-keeping requirements. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigation identified that a long term practice had been in place at the Hotel where casual employees requested not to have meal breaks as they did not want to be at work an extra half hour. Whilst this was acknowledged by the Federal Magistrate, it was stated that “this is no good reason for employers to ignore the Legislative provisions”. The above circumstances were compounded by the hotel’s management creating false and misleading records in the employees’ time books that falsely indicated that meal breaks were being taken during shifts. The hotel received the following penalties: · $39,500.00 (12 breaches); · $7,900 and $8,500 (respectively for each director); · $48,098.71 plus interest (underpayment of wages for five employees). The practice of employees not wanting to take meal breaks has been an ongoing issue within the hospitality industry. As clearly illustrated in the above decision, this practice does not provide the hotel with any legal protection. The provisions of the Award must be provided whereby all employees must be released for a meal break of at least 30 minutes after no more

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RSA Training

Online Nationally Accredited Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol, complete online in your own time. Click to start online training

Management of

Licensed

Premises MLP1

Approved

Manager Training

than five hours work.

NEW 1 DAY CLASSROOM OR ONLINE COURSE IN MANAGEMENT OF LICENSED PREMISES - MLP1

A new liquor licensing training requirement for approved managers was recently announced by the Department of Racing Gaming and Liquor (DRGL). Following consultation between the Australian Hotels Association (WA)and DRGL the Director has now amended the

minimum requirements for Approved Managers to a one day course and a further announcement (29 May 2012) means from 1 June 2012, the AHA(WA), the industry’s leading liquor licensing training provider, will deliver a new 1 day classroom or online course to meet the DRGL requirement. The Director of Liquor Licensing has advised that he now accepts the completion of a one-day or online core unit (MLP1) as the minimum standard of training for Approved Managers with Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) as a pre-requisite. This is a positive outcome for the industry and the AHA welcomes the decision to approve the new oneday MLP1 course. Licensees and managers already approved under the current requirements will not be required to undertake further training. The new Course in Management of Licensed Premises (MLP1) will:

Be recognised by the licensing authority from June 1, 2012 Be a one-day classroom or online course Require participants to have prior successful completion of RSA Licensees and managers approved under the current

requirements will not be required to undertake further training. The new course will be available from 1

June: www.ahawa.asn.au/training

Future 2 Day Advanced Course for New Venues In the future DRGL may consider introducing a requirement that new licensed premises be conditioned to have one person who has successfully completed a 2 day advanced version of the course in Management of Licensed Premises (52473WA). The full course comprises the core unit MLP1, and additionally either MLP2 or MLP3, depending on the licence category relevant to the application. The following policies of the Director of Liquor Licensing have been amended: Public Interest Assessment – Pursuant to section 38 of the Liquor Control Act 1988 The Public Interest Assessment policy has been amended to reinforce that the public interest assessment must include sufficient supporting evidence that is objective, accurate and relevant to the application. Small Bar Licences The Small Bar Licences policy has been amended to clarify that a small bar licence is a type of hotel licence. Further, it now reinforces that the

Online Managment of Licensed

Premises MLP1 - $229

Management of

Licensed Premises

MLP1 including RSA -

$269

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training

Classroom

Management of

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MLP1

12 June

26 June

All classroom courses

are conducted at the

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To book click here or call

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Customer Service Tip

Recruit people with passion! The people you choose to become your employees should all have the overriding desire to be of service, not only to your customers, but to each other. Do your best to create a good mix of different personalities suitable to your pub/tavern, which

public interest assessment must include sufficient supporting evidence that is objective, accurate and relevant to the application. For more information, visit http://www.rgl.wa.gov.au/

ARE YOU EMPLOYING ILLEGAL WORKERS?

Employers need to take reasonable steps to ensure prospective (and current!) employees have rights to work in Australia. In accordance with the Migration Act 1958, it is

considered a criminal offence to knowingly or recklessly allow an illegal worker to work. It is important not to single out particular applicants for visa entitlement checking based simply on their appearance or accent. The easiest way to avoid discrimination and ensure everyone is treated equally is to check the work entitlements of allprospective workers. Not all visas allow a person to work in Australia. If a job applicant refuses to cooperate with the check, you should explain that you will not be able to employ them until their work entitlement can be verified. Listed below is a summary of the documents which prove a person’s entitlement to work: · An Australian passport; · An Australian citizenship certificate; · An Australian birth certificate; Note: a person born on or after 20 August 1986 must have at least one parent born in Australia · A valid visa with permission to work.

HOW DO I KNOW IF A VISA PERMITS THE PERSON TO WORK?

AHA(WA) members are reminded that they should be using the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) System to

check the work entitlements of all overseas workersbefore employing the person. VEVO is a service that makes it quick and easy for employers to check the work entitlements of new employees. The service provides current visa information and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information on these services is available at the department’s website at http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/info-employers/evo-orgs.htm or by contacting the Employer’s Immigration Hotline on 1800 070 040.

STATE WAGE CASE 2012

The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission

eventually will become part of the unique culture of your venue. wasmiles.com.au

is required before 1 July in each year to set the minimum wage to apply to employers and employees covered by the WA industrial relations system (i.e. NON Constitutional Corporations). Interested persons or organisations were invited to make a submission to the Commission on what minimum wage should be set in 2012. In making our submission to the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, AHA(WA) recommended; · The Federal minimum wage and the State minimum wage should be on par. Therefore, the State wage should remain the same, or alternatively, transition this difference over the next two years until the Federal minimum wage catches up. · If there was to be a wage increase, consideration should be given for a $10.00 wage · increase based on the State minimum wage for an adult. Surprisingly, only four other organisations in total made submissions to the Commission. These included: Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WA) Recommending an increase to the adult rates of pay in 2011 on the following basis: · an $11.00 increase to the minimum wage and award wages; and · proportionate Increases to juniors, trainees and apprentices. Minister for Commerce Recommending an increase in line with CPI for inflation Unions WA Recommending an increase to the minimum wage by $42.50 per week WA Council of Social Services Recommending an increase to the minimum wage by $42.50 per week (as a minimum) The decision by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission will be announced mid June 2012 following the Federal minimum wage decision.

FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE (APPLICABLE TO CONSTITUTIONAL CORPORATIONS)

A decision on the Federal Minimum Wage is expected to be announced in early June 2012.

RESTAURANT FINED $72,000

Following an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Federal Magistrates Court imposed a penalty of $72,000.00 against the operators of a Melbourne restaurant.

The restaurant sponsored a cook on a 457 visa and paid a flat rate of $752.00 per week (despite working between 60-70 hours per week). The cook was underpaid his minimum hourly rate, shift allowances, annual leave entitlements and penalty rates for overtime, night, weekend

and public holiday work which resulted in an underpayment of $24,217.00 over a ten month period. Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson said the penalty illustrates that the Courts are taking a dim view of employers who exploit their staff. “We treat cases involving the exploitation of vulnerable foreign workers very seriously,” he said. The Fair Work Ombudsman also found that restaurant had failed to keep proper employment records and issue pay slips to the employee. Source: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2012/04/Pages/20120405-taj-palace-penalty.aspx

REDUCING WATER GOOD FOR THE HOTEL

BUSINESS There are many reasons why saving water is good for the hotel business. The rising cost of water is one, with a further increase approved by State Government to come

into effect on July 1 2012. This will see the cost of water rise to $2.011 per kilolitre. Add to this the cost of discharging water to sewer and the true cost of water is well over $4 per kilolitre. The Water Corporation recently commissioned HFM Asset Management to review water use in hotels to learn more about how hotels use water, what is efficient water use and identify low cost opportunities for hotels to save water. Thirteen hotels in the three, four and five star market in the Perth CBD participated in the review. The results show that hotels are proactively reducing their water use with a decline in water consumption of approximately 13 per cent from 2006 to 2011. An indicative NABERS Water Rating for business hotels supports this with those in the review being rated above average with a 3.4 rating. This shows that generally hotels in WA are performing efficiently. To find out about water saving options or to read the full HFM report or a hotel case study visit the Water Corporation’s websitewatercorporation.com.au From Jessie Cochrane, Water Efficiency Project Officer, Water Corporation

NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENT PERTH The Australian Hotels Association (WA) has welcomed the announcement on Tuesday 22 May 2012, that the FESA headquarters site in the Perth CBD has been

earmarked for a premium hotel development. “The State Government has retained the services of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels to seek Registrations of interest for hotel/ mixed use development for the current FESA headquarters site on the corner of Hay, Irwin and Murray Street in the Perth,” said AHA(WA) chief executive Mr Bradley

Woods. “With well known high occupancy rates in the Perth CBD this is a welcome announcement from the State Government. “The support of State Government together with changes to the planning laws and plot ratio requirements currently before the City of Perth, make this is a prime freehold site with excellent development potential well suited to a premium hotel. “The property on the corner of Hay, Irwin and Murray Street Perth, the current FESA Headquarters, is a 7,350sqm site in close proximity to a number of the city’s corporate headquarters, entertainment precincts and leisure amenities. “The AHA envisages that the hotel will feature a substantial number of guest rooms along with the most modern facilities which business travellers and tourists now expect in a CBD hotel.”

________________________ IN THE NEWS Gateway to Asia planned A $300 million airport plan to make Port Hedland Australia’s new gateway to Asia should have been drawn up 20 years ago, says WA equity firm Centauri. It will soon submit to Port Hedland council a plan which would see its under-resourced airport become an international hub. Direct flights from Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo would bring tourists direct to Hedland, where smaller aircraft would take visitors to the hotspots of Broome, Ningaloo Reef and Karijini National Park without having to land at Perth. Centauri project manager Drew Searle said yesterday WA needed to get on the front foot. From the West Australian, 30 May 2012 State Budget 2012-13: Building the State - Heritage grants increased Owners of heritage places recognised for their significance to the State will be able to access more support to conserve their properties under new measures announced in the 2012-13 State Budget. Heritage Minister John Castrilli today announced the Heritage Council’s Heritage Grants and Incentives Program has been increased by 25 per cent, with an additional $1.046million allocated over four years. From Minister for Heritage media release, 30 May 2012 Craft brewers preaching moderation: Hahn Educating consumers to drink less, but drink better beer, is an important platform of the new Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA), James Squire brewmaster Dr Chuck Hahn has told TheShout exclusively. Hahn, one of the CBIA's new board membersin the category of national

craft brewery, told TheShout that he believes health authorities are supportive of growing craft beer "because it does preach moderation". "We make some good quality 'national' beers, they're refreshing and they're enjoyable," he said. "But people are drinking less of them now because they are drinking more of our real flavoursome beers. We're trying to get people to really taste these craft beers rather than drink volumes of them." From The Shout, online, 28 May 2012 New phone app leads fans to watering holes Sports fans and the venues airing the action have been gifted a handy tool – Fox Sports Local – the smart phone app that tells people which pub is showing the big match. The app works around the concept that when people are out on the town they can easily locate venues showing live sport and get given directions how to find them. Once inside the venue, they can then use the app to check-in via Facebook and Twitter to let their mates know where to go. Only those venues that subscribe to the Fox Sports Venues pay television package are featured in the new technology. It is currently available for free on the iPhone App Store and in Marketplace for Windows Phone. From The Shout, online, 28 May 2012 Hotel occupancy predicted to grow to highest in decades Australian hotel room occupancy rates are predicted to continue to grow over the the next three years to their highest in decades, as post GFC incertainty for the tourism industry continues to ease. In its latest Tourism and Hotel Outlook Deloitte Access Economics forecasts rates will grow to 68 per cent, which its says is consistent with expected growth in international visitors, strong domestic business travel and a roll out of new hotel developments. Deloitte Access Economics' Lachlan Smirl said Australia's "underlying economic drivers remain strong". "Demand in capital cities in particular has grown and will continue to grow, strongly," he said. "But the stock of rooms, or room nights available, has grown just 2.8 per cent over the last four years. Looking forward growth in demand is projected to continue to outstrip growth in supply. Room nights sold are forecast to grow by 2.3 per cent a year, with room nights available to grow by just 0.7 per cent a year. It's surprising therefore that room rates and occupancies are on the up." For country hotels the outlook is not quite so strong. "A clear gap between hotels in regional areas and capital cities will remain," he said. "We forecast regional occupancy rates to reach 60 per cent by the end of 2015 compared with 80 per cent or higher in many of the mainland capital cities. From Hospitalityu magazine, online, 28 May 2012 Rethink over cash for cans Environment Minister Bill Marmion has given his strongest indication yet that people could be paid to recycle bottles and cans after saying he was growing more supportive of the idea.

Mr Marmion conceded yesterday the Barnett Government could be forced soon to look at new ways of boosting WA's recycling rate amid the State's continually poor track record. Mr Marmion confirmed that a glass recycling factory had been forced to close at the end of last year because of ongoing questions about its viability. Mr Marmion said the setbacks were disappointing and had prompted him to start looking more seriously at whether WA should set up a container deposit scheme similar to that in South Australia. Under such schemes, manufacturers such as beverage giants Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion are hit with a levy for each can or bottle they produce. Consumers are then paid a small amount - usually between 5¢ and 10¢ - for every container they deliver to recycling points. From The West Australian, 26 May 2012 State Budget 2012-13: Building the State - $1.2million for tourism development Western Australia will be promoted as a key international holiday destination with new funding for aviation and marketing. Tourism Minister Kim Hames said an additional $1.2million over two years was available for use in WA’s tourism markets with good growth potential, like China, and on improving air access through route development. “This boost will build on the success we had with this program during 2011, which contributed to a 57.5 per cent increase in visitors from China,” Dr Hames said. “It is crucial we continue to market WA internationally as the high Australian dollar and low airfares out of Australia mean the tourism industry needs Government assistance to prosper,” the Minister said. From Minister for Tourism media release, 26 May 2012 Tips For Optimizing Your Hotel's Pinterest Page Following Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest is the third most popular social network, but have you been giving Pinterest the attention it deserves? As pin-tastic Abby Heft outlined in her post about how Pinterest works, Pinterest is a great way to present your property in a very visually captivating way, share travel and industry knowledge, and engage with your online community. Just as it applies to all other social networks, it's not enough to simply set up an account and then sit back and relax. You also have to ensure that the right audience discovers your account and that you regularly interact with that community. From ehotelier.com, online, 25 May 2012 Regional airports to share in $8.9million Improvement works at regional airports across the State will soon be under way, following the announcement of $8.9million for regional airport upgrades.

The funding comprises $6.9million through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program and $2million through the Department of Transport’s Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS). Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the funding would contribute significantly to improving regional airport services. “This year, 36 regional airports will share up to $8.9million for infrastructure upgrades, maintenance programs and infrastructure planning studies to provide improved air transport access for communities, safer emergency evacuations and greater tourism opportunities,” Mr Buswell said. From Minister for Transport media release, 25 May 2012 Alcohol minimum pricing bill get passed by the Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament has passed the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill making way for its preferred minimum price of 50p per unit. The implementation of the policy will start in April next year at the earliest. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “This is a landmark moment in Scotland’s fight against alcohol misuse. I am delighted that Parliament has passed the Bill and minimum pricing will now become law. It has been a long road to get to where we are now and we have worked hard to convince those who were in doubt that this was the right policy for Scotland. I’m glad that my parliamentary colleagues have done the right thing today in voting to make these proposals a reality.” From The Publican’s Morning Advertiser (United Kingdom) 24 May 2012 Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia Enter A$6m Marketing MOU to Support Traditional And Leverage Emerging International Markets Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia have signed a strategic A$6 million marketing memorandum of understanding aimed at using the airline’s growing network of international alliances to boost visitation from ten of Australia’s key overseas markets. Under the new arrangement, the two parties intend to collectively spend A$6 million over the next three years on a range of joint marketing activities focusing primarily on the USA, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Continental Europe and the fast-growing Asian markets of China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Singapore. The arrangement will feature marketing on traditional and digital media platforms as well as event and sponsorship activities, principally targeting the United States – Australia’s fourth largest and still key Trans Pacific corridor for leisure and business travel. From Tourism Australia media release, 24 May 2012 Pub red card for soccer player A British soccer player found guilty of a nightclub assault that left a Bunbury man nearly blind in one eye has been banned from all pubs and clubs in WA for three years. Ross Diamond, 30, was handed a

prohibition order by Director of Liquor Licensing Barry Sargeant banning him from entering or working in licensed premises in WA until May 2015. The prohibition order legislation allows Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan to apply to Mr Sargeant to stop people visiting or being employed in licensed premises in WA. Diamond was found guilty last week of causing grievous bodily harm to Jack Wauhop, 25, during a brawl at Bunbury’s Exit nightclub in April last year. The brawl began after Mr Wauhop claimed he went to the defence of his cousin, reality TV star Renae Wauhop. She told Bunbury District court last week her cousin was bashed when he tried to protect her during a fight on the dance floor. From the West Australian, 24 May 2012 Wine now outsells beer at some NSW clubs Wine is making headway as the beverage of choice at NSW clubs, with some venues reporting wine sales increases of 60 percent this financial year. Clubs are giving praise to a range of initiatives for the jump in sales, including wine dinners with wine makers, regional wine tasting nights and education for staff so they can give confident, well-informed advice to members when ordering from the bar. ClubsNSW CEO, Anthony Ball, said "Once upon a time you'd be hard pressed to get more than the house white and the house red at a lot of clubs. "But now there's definitely a growing demand from our members to have wine lists with lots of options, both in terms of price and wine varieties. From Hospitality Magazine, online, 23 May 2012 Australia’s most expensive hotels no longer in Sydney HOTEL prices in Perth are set to skyrocket and overtake the Harbour City over the next three years on the back of the mining boom. Hotel room rates in Perth are set to climb by 14 per cent a year to reach an average $249 by 2014, the latest Deloitte Tourism & Hotel Outlook shows. Meanwhile, average rates in Sydney are expected to grow by a more modest 4 per cent, rising to $210 over the same period. Darwin hotel prices are also tipped to grow strongly to $131, while average prices in Brisbane will be $208, Melbourne $201 and Adelaide $159. With fewer hotels in development, it will also become harder to get a room, with occupancy rates set to grow up to 88 per cent in capital cities in the next three years - the highest in decades. Outback tourism also faces tough times ahead as holidaymakers continue to shun regional holidays in favour of city breaks. The number of visitor nights spent outside capital cities has dropped by six per cent since 2000.

From News.com.au, online, 22 May 2012 Parents seek hard line on grog supply Nine out of 10 WA parents want the State Government to get tough on underage drinking with laws to prevent the supply of alcohol to children, research shows. An independent survey of 1600 adults commissioned by the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth found 91 per cent of parents of school-aged children supported secondary supply laws recommended by health groups and Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan. Only 3 per cent opposed laws that would ban the supply of alcohol to children without parents’ permission. The survey, by Painted Dog Research, also showed 96 per cent of parents wanted well-resourced alcohol and drug education for all school students. From the West Australian, 21 May 2012 City dishes up dining revival A slew of multi-million dollar, high end restaurants and bars – all part of the city’s massive Brookfield Multiplex BHP development – are set to open in the CBD. Combined, the six restaurants and six bars around the newly created Brookfield Place, will represent the biggest shift the hospitality sector has experienced in the CBD. In one fell swoop, it will also transform the Perth dining scene and reinvigorate the CBD’s undercooked food and wine sector. The anchor tenant and, far and away the largest investor, will be the Print Hall complex tucked in behind the former The West Australian building on St George’s Terrace. It will house it’s own bakery and cafe, coffee roasting facilities, grand dining restaurant, a modern-Asian restaurant called Apple Daily Eating House, a $2.5 million wine cellar of over 20,000 bottles, a champagne and oyster bar and an, as yet unnamed, roof top bar set amidst a glamorous urban vista of skyscrapers. From the West Australian, 19 May 2012 Former Perth resort operator fined for underpaying employees The former operators of a resort near Perth have been fined a total of $23,100 for underpaying three employees. Matthew Marinko Pavlinovich - who formerly owned and ran the El Caballo Resort at Wundowie, just east of Perth - has been fined $3850. Pavlinovich’s private company MMP Management Services Pty Ltd, through which he operated the resort, has been fined a further $19,250. The fines, imposed in the Federal Magistrates Court in Perth, are the result of a prosecution by the Fair Work Ombudsman. From Fair Work Ombudsman media release, 18 May 2012 Online alcohol sales spark under-age concerns

Health experts have raised concerns about under-age drinkers' accessibility to alcohol through online liquor stores in Australia, calling for more research into the phenomenon. In a study into the age verification processes of internet alcohol vendorspublished in the US this week,under-age online purchases were successful in 45 out of 100 attempts. In Australia, online liquor stores such as Dan Murphy's protect against under-age purchases by only accepting delivery orders made with a credit card. From Brisbane Times, 12 May 2012

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