Episode Details

Welcome back to our monthly Hospitality Industry Update, where Tim sits down with Wes Lambert from ARCA to break down what’s happening behind the scenes in Canberra — and what it means for restaurant, cafe and bar owners across Australia.

In this March update, we unpack the latest economic and industry developments impacting hospitality right now — including the growing number of venue closures, global supply chain disruptions, rising operating costs, and the upcoming Payday Super changes hitting in July.
We also talk about what operators should be doing now to prepare for the months ahead, why experience-driven venues will continue to outperform, and where the industry may find opportunities despite the challenges.

If you’ve been too busy running your venue to keep up with everything happening in government and the economy — this is your quick industry briefing.

You’ll hear:
00:00 – Welcome to the March Hospitality Industry Update
 02:00 – Recap of the major policy issues affecting hospitality
 04:00 – Payday Super changes and what they mean for cash flow
 06:30 – Interest rates, mortgages and shrinking disposable income
 08:30 – Why experience-driven venues will still win
 10:00 – 1 in 9 restaurants closing: the reality of industry pressure
 12:00 – Global conflict and supply chain disruptions
 14:00 – Rising fuel, energy and supplier costs
 15:30 – Migration pathways and staffing updates
 17:30 – Government discussions around AI in hospitality
 19:30 – What operators should be doing now to prepare

Want to have a stronger voice for hospitality?
Join ARCA: arca.org.au
Concerned about how rising costs might impact your venue?
Book a call with the Foodie Coaches team: foodiecoaches.com