Hotel leaders gather for workforce strategy

Migration changes, global uncertainty and current and emerging workforce issues were top of the agenda at the recent Accommodation Australia Victoria (AA VIC) Strategy and Policy Forum.

Representatives of more than 100 hotels reflecting the diversity of the state’s regulated commercial accommodation sector came together at the Australian Hotels Association’s Victorian headquarters in Melbourne last week.

AA Vic general manager Dougal Hollis said the session helped break down some of the complex and challenging issues facing hotels at the moment.

“Given the complexity of issues discussed, this session was important to provide members requisite confidence AA has appropriate strategies in place to protect and promote their interests,” he said.

AA National CEO James Goodwin spoke about the current fragility of national and global economies and how these settings are “impacting travel behaviour and discretionary spend.”

He also reinforced the importance of AA maintaining focus on ensuring “Australia’s visitor economy demand drivers are strong.”

Australia’s migration settings need significant attention and AA National Policy Director, Jenny Lambert detailed the impacts of significant increases in temporary visa applications, changes to skilled occupations lists and related Federal Government priorities, led by concerns regarding a lack of suitable student accommodation within university precincts.

Ferntree Migration Director and Principal, Catherine Burnett, also outlined strategies for members to address their various visa holder workforce needs, particularly given recent increased flexibility afforded to Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa holders regarding their place of work.