SA hotel owners call for a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions

Over 100 hotel owners have penned an open letter to the South Australian Premier, pleading with the SA state government to ease capacity limits at venues before many businesses are forced to close their doors.

The Hospo Owners Collective has written to Premier Steven Marshall and the transition committee requesting restrictions to be eased to one person per 1.5sq m and for dance floor limits to be raised from 50 to 100 people.

As JobKeeper comes to an end on 28 March, the group has also warned of notable job cuts in SA’s hospitality industry if changes weren’t made.

The group’s co-founder and Duke of Brunswick Hotel publican, Simone Douglas said current restrictions had “completely hamstrung” the sector, which employs approximately 26,000 people and  is worth an estimated $4.3BN to the state’s economy.

“You tell me what other business you can take away 50 per cent of your clients and still make a living.

“If there is no movement on capacity restrictions in the very short term, then you’re going to see a lot of businesses who have to make that very difficult decision (to close) because they’ve just been holding on, and holding on,” she said.

The open letter that was written by Ms Douglas.

It calls for clear guidance in any changes to future restrictions to mitigate a “holding pattern that is causing a great deal of emotional, mental and financial stress” and give operators the opportunity to “plan for their survival”.

“We are all in pain. I respectfully request that you give us some breathing room, some hope and a pathway to hold on to and move towards,” the letter states.

The groups demands were backed by Australian Hotels Association SA boss Ian Horne.

“Unless we can get the capacity up – and well before winter arrives – there will be business closures, particularly at the smaller end, particularly in regional areas and in the CBD,” he said.

Currently the SA government is investing $4 billion in economic stimulus measures to support local businesses and protect jobs.

16th March 2021