Restaurants, tour operators welcome voucher scheme expansion

A State Government plan to expand its popular tourism voucher program to restaurants, tour operators and ticketed events has been welcomed by industry groups, but some businesses say they might not benefit from the “one incentive fits all” scheme unless the JobKeeper payment is extended.

Pandemic mental health stress hitting SA pubs

SA hotel operators have reported a big impact on their own and staff mental health due to the pandemic, with the industry body saying stress and anxiety about shutdowns, restrictions and job security confirmed the need for online help services and possible phone counselling.

A proposed open-air dining arrangement for a Melbourne lane. Image: AAP/Victorian Government

Desperate Melbourne restaurateurs choke on outdoor dining plan

A $100m plan to help Melbourne’s cafes and restaurants survive tough lockdown rules by boosting open-air dining has run into widespread industry criticism, with the city’s notoriously fickle weather cited as just one objection.

Pandemic dining discount taken off UK tables

The British government is urging diners to keep going out to eat after the end of a popular government scheme offering half-price food in restaurants.

Wage theft a restaurant menu staple

The collapse of George Calombaris’ restaurant empire was prompted by a $7m wage underpayment scandal. Other celebrity chefs have been caught out, too. The bitter truth of Australia’s hospitality industry is that staff exploitation is not the exception but the norm, argue Richard Robinson and Matthew Brenner.

Coffee chain's hefty bill for misleading conduct

The District Court has handed the director of SA-based chain Funk Coffee & Food a $600,000 bill for misleading a franchisee about the turnover of a city café – but he’s vowed to appeal the judgement.