Melbourne workers offered freebies, cocktails to return to the office

Melbourne workers are being lured with freebies to ditch the pyjamas and return to the office to get the CBD thriving again.

Melbourne city workers will be lured back to the CBD with perks including free cocktails, doughnuts and movie tickets in a bid to get retail thriving again.

The event, FOMO Fridays, will run every Friday, from May 14 to June 4, as part of a City of Melbourne campaign to encourage city workers to ditch the trackies and return to the office.

The new promotion includes giveaways and retailer discounts as part of the council’s $100m city recovery fund in partnership with the Victorian government.

Freebies include King & Godfree hampers in Carlton, cocktails in Chinatown and doughnuts in Bourke Street Mall.

City workers are being given more reasons to return to the office. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the Friday events gave workers another reason to return to their city workplaces and end the week on a high.

“FOMO Fridays is a great way to reward city workers returning and provide a major boost to retail and hospitality businesses across the City of Melbourne,” she said.

“Every extra person in the city is a chance for local businesses to get another dollar in the till.”

Myer is giving free express manicures and cupcakes, free bubbles is on offer at The Strand and GPO, and there’s a chance to win instant prizes at QV Melbourne.

Movie passes are up for grabs at the pop-up night market at The District Docklands, and there are freebies to score at Southgate.

Melbourne Central is offering gift cards, while retailers including Wittner shoes and Mouche jewellery are offering 20 per cent off.

Kino Cinemas is offering buy-one-get-one-free movie tickets, while Wilson carparks are also offering 25 per cent off.

Workers are being lured with freebies and cocktails to return to the CBD now COVID restrictions have eased. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

Melbourne venues like Madame Brussels and San Telmo are offering two-for-one cocktails, and city hotels are offering buy one night, get one night free accommodation.

Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said it was clear people needed extra incentives to come into the city and enjoy the best of what it had to offer.

“The Melbourne CBD is not the thriving hub it once was pre-COVID, and the city has suffered more than any other in the country throughout the course of the pandemic,” Mr Zahra said.

“Whilst office occupancy rates and foot traffic around the city is slowly improving, it’s clear people need that extra incentive to come into the CBD to shop, dine and enjoy the cultural attractions that make Melbourne so unique.

“Small and medium-sized businesses in the CBD continue to be impacted by the lack of international tourists, and they need all the help they can get.”

CBD businesses have struggled with fewer city workers back in the CBD. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Property Council of Australia Victorian executive director Danni Hunter said getting workers back to the city would help supercharge the CBD’s economic recovery.

FOMO Fridays is being run as part of a partnership between the City of Melbourne, the Victorian government, the Property Council of Australia and the Australian Retailers Association.

Originally published as Melbourne workers offered freebies, cocktails to return to the office