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and once you become a member, it’s
a free service. Basically, members can
get as much industrial relationships
advice as they want, about things like
wage rates, management contracts,
or even things like an unfair dismiss-
al. Other benefits are around negoti-
ations such as the case with banks.
We have negotiated
the best merchant
rate for our mem-
bers so when they
transact with a cred-
it card, the fees are
the lowest. We also
have cashback ben-
efits through a loyal-
ty program which we
offer for purchases
through our buying
platform”, explains
Richard.
As the peak representative body
of the accommodation industry, the
AAoA is deeply involved in everything
that can result in better outcomes for
their members. Skilled workers, for
example, is a key topic that is direct-
ly addressed by the association in the
form of specialized academies. In or-
der to make sure that enough skilled
people are available to work in the in-
dustry, the association has developed
the AAoA Academy to train prospective
employees so that they can cover the
necessities of the industry in serving
all of the incoming customers.
According to Richard, there is an excit-
ing future in terms of growth for the in-
dustry, both due to the increasing num-
ber of domestic visitors but also due
to a large influx of interest from Asian
countries. At the moment, the organi-
sation is also conducting a lot of work
in pre-employments programs as part
of the jobactive initiative of the Austral-
ian government. That involves training
people for two weeks
before they join the
industry and simul-
taneously offering
qualifications, certi-
fications, and diplo-
mas to people who
are already working
in the accommoda-
tion sector. After all,
one of the best ways
to reward those em-
ployees is to ensure
their long-term quali-
fications in the industry.
Overall, the AAoA has a crucial role in
the accommodation industry that con-
tinuously benefits its members. From
lobbying better regulations in the gov-
ernment to ensuring that the industry
can retain its viability in the long term,
the association ensures that its mem-
bers will continue to profit. As the tour-
ism and accommodation industry con-
tinues to grow, the AAoA will surely
follow alongside it.