Not many industries have been impacted as heavily as hospitality over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we know you understand the need to react quickly, better than most.

In response to the unfolding situation in Melbourne, the Hospitality Unites Live Summit element (part 1 of the 2-part event), scheduled for Monday 21 June at Half Acre, Sth Melb will no longer host in person attendees. We’re still dedicated to uniting the industry – we’ve got the thought leaders, the agenda and the community ready, so we’re picking up the Live Summit and taking it online. 

Hospitality Unites will now be a 2-day Virtual Summit, fully online and free. 

“It was of course a difficult decision, we have spent months planning an in person Live Summit dedicated to supporting and reconnecting those on the ground in Melbourne hospo, to help unite the industry in person again,” said Andrew Lawson, HU Product & Event Manager. 

“As always, our aim is to provide a platform for our industry to unite and have meaningful business conversations safely. We know the community we’re working with, our team included, have been so looking forward to the Live element.  

But we recognise that with the current lockdown and uncertain immediate future in Melbourne, getting your business back up and running is your priority, rather than attending an in-person event. Coupled with this understanding and government restrictions, we have made the decision not to run a large-scale public event in Melbourne in June 2021.” Lawson continued. 

Diversified Communications Australia, organiser of Fine Food Australia and Hospitality Unites, is still currently running and planning for COVIDSafe large scale live events in other states across Australia who are less impacted at the moment. We are determined to meet in person in Melbourne as soon as it is safer to do so – so stay tuned over time for Live HU industry event announcements! 

Day 1 of the now 2-day Virtual Summit will still host a similar agenda to what has been planned – industry pioneers will tackle discussions on Technology for Growth, Scaling your Business and Innovating – just from a studio, focusing not only on Melbourne but now the national industry too.  

“We’ve curated leading pioneers like Kay-Len Tan (Head Chef, Tonka), Nicholas Stone (Founder & CEO, Bluestone Lane) and Julien Moussi (Director, Only Hospitality Group), for discussions that will drive meaningful business conversations, so we’re genuinely excited that going fully virtual gives us the opportunity to reach national and international audiences on both days of the event – anyone can join from anywhere.” Lawson concluded. 

You can view the speakers and updated Virtual agenda here. 

We’d like to thank our sponsors including Major Partner Mr Yum, speakers and partners including Principle of Hospitality and Bread + Butter Media for their unwavering understanding and support in taking things virtual – we’re all looking forward to bringing this event to you together.  

For those who have already purchased tickets to the Live Summit, please bear with us as we work through refunding and changing your tickets to 2-day Virtual registrations – we will be in contact with you shortly. 

We hope you can join the initiative online, whether it’s one or two sessions, or 2 whole days! You can register here or find out more about HU here. 

Warm Wishes, 

The Fine Food/Hospitality Unites Team
Siobhan, Andrew, Katelyn, Mon, Chloe, Lauren, Jacqui, Jerrie & Holly.