RBA puts payment industry on notice to protect shops, restaurants
It was a similar view from the Australian Restaurant and Café Association. “Our fear is the government will ban surcharging – passing those merchant fees on – but not stop banks and payment service providers charging restaurants and cafés the same percentages,” said its chief executive, Wes Lambert, warning of “tremendous unintended consequences”.
Small businesses facing higher card acceptance costs
Wes Lambert is the CEO of the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association, an industry group representing hospitality businesses nationwide.
Speaking to SmartCompany, Lambert says any move to ban surcharging should come with reduced card acceptance fees for “mom and pop” businesses.
“We can’t have the balance of the scales go back to the banks, against small business, to save consumers,” he says.
“What we don’t want is this to just end up as a menu price increase, which then goes into inflation.”
Lord Mayor Nick Reece’s ‘long lunch’ tax reform plan to lure workers back into the city
Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert said reforming the FBT would make a “huge difference” when it came to getting more people into the city’s restaurants, bars and cafes.
“This is a great … campaign we can really get behind whether it’s a long lunch or drinks after work, this would be a big boost to the hospitality sector,” he said.
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In response to “same job, same pay”, we would argue that in the restaurant and cafe segment of accommodation & food service, that it’s not the same job, 18, 19 and 20 year olds, especially those working in the kitchen, haven’t built up that experience and the process and expertise of working in a kitchen and front of house. And that takes time.
ABC Radio National-The Money
Australian’s love affair with paying by card – and not cash – has now surpassed 90% of transactions. But each time we tap our card, the merchant incurs a cost that’s passed onto you, the customer, to the tune of billions of dollars a year.
As part of a Review of Retail Payments Regulation, the RBA is expecting the industry – the banks, card companies and payment terminal companies – to cut processing costs by using what’s called ‘least cost routing’.
Brad Kelly, Managing Director of Consulting Company, Payment Services
Wes Lambert CPA, FGIA, CAE, MAICD, CEO of the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association
Hospitality industry calls Victoria’s new gas laws misleading
Victoria’s hospitality is fighting back against the Allan government’s new laws around gas, which they say are designed to phase out gas by stealth.
Restaurants and café owners believe the move by the government could send more businesses to the wall.
The Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association called the move “deeply disappointing”.
“Without proper compensation or support, thousands of hospitality businesses now face potential closure, massive losses, or costly conversions to electric appliances,” chief executive Wes Lambert said.
“These changes could devastate Victoria’s hospitality sector, which is already struggling to survive.”
Foodie chiefs sound alarm over tsunami of new Brisbane venues
Australian Restaurant and Catering Association CEO Wes Lambert said most of the 100 eateries to open in the next three months would be by experienced operators, who he believed would survive, but perhaps at the cost of smaller businesses.
“May of the new openings are by medium and large restaurant groups around the country that are extremely experienced, so we expect that there could potentially be further consolidation until economic conditions improve,” he said.
Catering to changing tastes
Wes Lambert, CEO of the newly formed Australian Restaurant & Cafe
Association (ARCA) says consumers expect to be able to use “hospo tech” to make bookings, order from the table/kiosk, pay their bills and also are utilising social media to discover venues.
“We work directly with multiple partners to bring those advancements to the industry,” he said.
Cafe, pub splurge short-lived as consumer pain persists
Pubs, restaurants and cafes reaped the benefits of early Father’s Day celebrations but the boost was likely temporary as financial pressures keep a lid on consumer spending.
Melbourne rally takes toll on businesses
Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association (ARCA) chief executive Wes Lambert said he knew of “dozens” of businesses in the area that had closed or restricted trade on Wednesday as a result of the protest.
“In the midst of an economic crisis, it is unacceptable that anarchistic behaviour can disrupt the city, forcing businesses to close and causing unnecessary hardship,” he said.