Australian Venue Co.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Predecessor | Dixon Hospitality Group |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
| Products | Bars, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, event venues |
Number of employees | 8300+ |
Australian Venue Co. (AVC), previously known as Dixon Hospitality Group, is a privately held Australian company in the hospitality sector, managing more than 200 establishments across the country.[1]
History
In 2017, KKR purchased an 80% ownership interest in Dixon Hospitality Group,[2][3] which expanded the company’s holdings from five venues in Melbourne to a network exceeding 200 locations throughout Australia and New Zealand.
By March 2019, AVC entered into a joint venture with Coles Group, establishing Queensland Venue Co. Under this arrangement, AVC assumed operational control of Coles' Spirit Hotels and received the associated profits, while Coles retained management of liquor retail outlets and their revenue streams. As part of the transaction, AVC paid Coles $200 million.[4][5][6]
In August 2023, investment firm PAG reached an agreement to purchase KKR’s majority holding for $1.4 billion.[7][8]
Towards the end of 2024, AVC briefly announced it would prohibit Australia Day events in 2025 citing community concerns; however, following significant public criticism, the company rescinded this decision.[9]
Venues
AVC manages an extensive range of establishments including bars, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, and event venues throughout Australia. Their operations span multiple market demographics, from regional coastal areas to major metropolitan centers. Notable properties in their portfolio include:
Headquarters and staffing
The corporate headquarters of AVC is situated at Level 16, 242 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. The organization has a workforce exceeding 8,300 employees distributed across Australia and New Zealand.
External links
- ↑ "Explore Unique Venues + Function Spaces". Australian Venue Co. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ↑ "Australian Venue Co | Shop Ethical! company profile". guide.ethical.org.au. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ↑ "KKR set to sign $190m Dixon Hospitality Group deal; sources". Australian Financial Review. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ↑ Hatch, Patrick (2019-03-04). "Coles punts pubs and pokies in $200m joint-venture deal". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ↑ Hawtin-Butcher, Craig (2019-03-06). "Coles offloads hotels and pokies to Australian Venue Co". The Shout. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ↑ House, Alana (2021-03-06). "Australian Venue Co takes over Coles pubs in Queensland". Drinks Bulletin. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ↑ Thompson, Sarah; Sood, Kanika; Rapaport, Emma (2023-08-24). "PAG Asia pays $1.4b for KKR's Aussie pubs; lenders swarm deal". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ Klyne, Sharon (2023-08-25). "PAG Gets A$900 Million Loan to Buy Pub Operator Australian Venue". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- ↑ "Hospitality group apologises after reportedly telling pubs not to celebrate Australia Day". ABC News. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.