How are the hospitality success stories of Melbourne forging ahead through a year of exceptional economic and cultural challenges?

Tonight, industry leaders will share the most effective policies, procedures and philosophies they’ve implemented to fortify their businesses at the sold-out Good Food Symposium panel discussion at Melbourne Town Hall.

The topic, Prepare to thrive in ’25: How to position a hospitality business for success, aims to arm industry novices and veterans with practical tips and advice as they head into the busy summer season, and beyond.

For those who didn’t score a ticket, the event was live-streamed here.

What is the Good Food Hospitality Symposium?

The Symposium is a free, ticketed event bringing the hospitality community together for a solutions-focused panel discussion led by Good Food writer and restaurant reviewer Dani Valent.

Presented by Lightspeed, it’s the second edition of a new, ongoing Good Food initiative developed in response to the daunting number of cafe, bar and restaurant closures this year. We’ve covered many of them, from the high-end (such as hatted CBD restaurant Izakaya Den) to the casual, but it was the story of Sydney cafe Cornersmith that really struck a chord with readers.

When co-owner Alex Elliott-Howery told Good Food, “hospitality is a bit broken”, ahead of Cornersmith’s March closure, it paved the way for other business owners to speak up, show solidarity, and share their struggles.

“They felt just like we did: that they were the only losers who couldn’t figure it out, that the margins are getting tighter, and it’s so hard to make it work,” said Elliott-Howery.

The overwhelming response made it clear: “The industry is desperate to talk about these issues, and now,” said head of Good Food, Sarah Norris.

What can we expect?

At Melbourne’s second panel discussion, a group of five leading chefs, restaurateurs and industry professionals will discuss what’s become this year’s other big hospo discussion point: workplace culture.

Earlier this year, Good Food and the Sydney Morning Herald published a series of articles uncovering a culture of sexual harassment within one prominent Sydney hospitality group. Further stories revealed an industry-wide systemic sexual harassment issue, but there are also operators bucking that trend by fostering a positive and safe workplace culture.

The panellists will share the benefits of having an empowering place to work, and how culture can help attract and retain staff. They’ll also discuss how to find time to work on culture when your to-do list is already jam-packed, optimising small budgets and the importance of processes and systems.

Afterward, our host will turn it over to the audience for questions.

Tonight’s Symposium panellists are:

• Dani Valent (host) – Good Food writer and restaurant reviewer
• Joe Durrant – director, The Recreation (The Recreation is a Lightspeed customer)
• Petrina Baker – director, Baker and Frost
• Kantaro Okada – director, Tsunagu Project
• Christy Tania – owner and executive chef, GLACE Dessert
• Pete Learmonth – product manager, Lightspeed