2024 Program Overview

Just as the hotel industry remains dynamic, so will the Pub Leaders’ Summit conference program! Expect a wide range of topics covering various facets of pub operations, including F&B, modern marketing, increasing venue profitability and more.

Monday 9 September 2024

Day One comprises of a half-day Hotel Study Tour across Sydney visiting a range of iconic venues offering insight into how our most dynamic operators are running their venues. Transportation is included in your ticket—venues and timings to be confirmed.

From 1:30pm	The PLS Study Tour is for publicans and venue operations staff only. Due to limited numbers, suppliers are unable to register. Study Tour Pass can only be bought in conjunction with the Pub Leaders Summit Pass.
Venue 1	The Log Cabin in Penrith was named Metropolitan Hotel of the Year at the AHA NSW Awards in 2023. Destroyed by fire in 2012, the Log Cabin site was acquired by Laundy Hotel and two local families in 2020, rebuilt and reopened in 2022. Located on the banks of the Nepean River, the hotel now offers scenic views and a massive outdoor space, it’s also home to Sinclair’s, a premium restaurant that heroes produce in each dish that has grown within 50km of the pub. It’s a breathtaking space – expect more awards on the horizon.
Venue 2	Oran Park Hotel is the much-anticipated greenfields venue by esteemed Sydney pub operator, Momento Hospitality. Not yet open, Study Tour attendees will get a sneak peek into the venue before it opens to the public! Set to be the largest hospitality destination in New South Wales, Oran Park Hotel’s first stage will comprise an expansive indoor-outdoor bistro and lounge; pizzeria; children’s play area; and an interactive sports bar with multiple large screens, pool tables and darts. The second stage will introduce a dedicated meeting and events floor on level two, and a luxe rooftop bar, Jinja, on level three. Be one of the first people to visit the venue on the Study Tour!
Venue 3	Flight Club Sydney opened in June this year and is the first Flight Club franchise located on Australia’s eastern seaboard. In 2021, NightOwl Entertainment opened their first ‘Flight Club’ branded venue in Perth. The concept is a social darts experience which has taken the world by storm after first opening in a UK pub before expanding across Europe and the USA. NightOwl had been searching for a flagship Sydney location for over three years, before finding the ideal location in The Rocks and undertaking a significant $10m renovation.

*Program subject to change

Tuesday 10 September 2024

Day Two is the full-day conference and showcase portion of the Pub Leaders Summit program. Join us to hear from leading operators and industry stakeholders on pressing topics, and experience the latest products and services designed to assist your pub operations.

8:30am – 9:00am	Registration and Showcase Networking including refreshments
9:00am	Opening
9:15am – 10:15am	Keynote: The Outlook for Consumer Spending and The Pub Market Craig Woolford will talk through the factors that will impact consumer spending over the year ahead and cut-through on the noise around the outlook for topical economic issues such as interest rates and taxes. Craig will also provide a perspective about the issues impacting pub revenue and profitability. Craig Woolford, MST Marquee Brought to you by:
10:15am -10:45am	Modern Marketing: AI, TikTok and Placemaking Moderated by: Vanessa Cavasinni, Managing Editor, Australian Hotelier & Club Management Alexandra Barron, Group Marketing Manager, Applejack Hospitality George Redmond, Director, Stanley House Studios Andy El-Bayeh, CEO/Co-Founder, Example Jodie Tiernan, Director, Public House Albury
10:45am – 11:00am	Lessons from the UK Alex Derrick, Founder, The Rose & Crown In conversation with Paul Wootton, Managing Director, Food & Beverage Media
11:00am – 11:30am	Morning Tea
11:30am – 11:45am	How Can I Make My Venue Profitable? Alistair Jarvis, Managing Director, Profitability Partners
11:45am – 12:15pm	Adaptive and Viable Business Models Moderated by: Vanessa Cavasinni, Managing Editor, Australian Hotelier & Club Management James Thorpe, CEO, Odd Culture Group Stephen Ferguson, CEO, Australian Hotels Association Ben McDonald, Managing Director, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Stephen Hunt, Managing Director, Hunt Hospitality International
12:15pm – 12:30pm	Cyber Security in Hospitality – Top 5 Threats and Top 5 Actions Alex Hoffmann, Retail and Entertainment Industry Lead, CyberCX
12:30pm – 1:00pm	Does Your Data Breach Pass the Pub Test? Lauren Clancy, Client Partner and Technology and Cyber Lead, Porter Novelli
1:00pm – 1:30pm	In Focus: Entertainment Moderated by: Vanessa Cavasinni, Managing Editor, Australian Hotelier & Club Management James Thorpe, CEO, Odd Culture Group Mark Sturdy, Managing Director, Entain Venues Paul Walton, Managing Director, ALH Hotels Holly McMahon, Group Operations Manager, Applejack Hospitality
1:30pm – 1:40pm	Pub Trivia Brought to you by:
1:40pm – 2:40pm	Lunch
2:40pm – 3:10pm	In Focus: Shifting Beverage Consumption Moderated by: Paul Wootton, Managing Director, Food & Beverage Media Jodie Tiernan, Director, Public House Albury Luke Redington, Group Beverage Manager, Momento Hospitality Daniel McBride, Owner/Director, Working Holiday James Curran, Group FOH Operations Manager, Kickon Group
3:10pm – 3:25pm	Evolving Consumer Expectations and How Pubs Can Rise to the Occasion Eleanor Knight, Head of Future Growth, McCain Foods
3:30pm – 4:00pm	Getting Stuck In: The Dining Experience Moderated by: Paul Wootton, Managing Director, Food & Beverage Media Jamie Gannon, Group Executive Chef, Laundy Hotels Joshua Hillary, Food and Beverage Director, Solotel Alex Derrick, Founder, The Rose & Crown Eleanor Knight, Head of Future Growth, McCain Foods
4:00pm – 4:30pm	Buying in: Next Gen Leadership Moderated by: Vanessa Cavasinni, Managing Editor, Australian Hotelier & Club Management Craig Shearer, Founder & Director, Kickon Group Bianca Dawson, Chief Training & Development Officer, Australian Venue Co. Jacqui Corbett, Chief Operating Officer, Momento Hospitality Ben Stephens, Chief Operating Officer, Solotel
4:30pm – 4:45pm	Future Leaders Scholarship Announcement and Closing Presented by
4:45pm – 6:00pm	Networking Drinks Presented By

*Topics and program subject to change.