The PAX Hospitality Podcast

PAX

A podcast meant to be shared. For the hospitality industry, created by the team at PAX.

  1. Aug 9

    Hot Takes with Kate Hemat-Siraky

    In this episode of the PAX Hospitality Podcast, Leon sits down with "triple-header" guest and people culture expert Kate Hemat-Siraky to dismantle the most common excuses in modern hospitality management. Moving away from rigid frameworks, this episode focuses on "hot takes" regarding the current economic squeeze and the perceived labour crisis. Kate, a seasoned HR professional with experience navigating the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and COVID-19, provides a strategic masterclass on maintaining culture during survival mode without spending a dollar more. This conversation challenges the industry's frustrations with recruitment and the "generation gap," backed by startling statistics that suggest the problem might lie with leadership disengagement rather than a thinning talent pool. This is an essential listen for operators looking to move fast, empower their teams, and leverage transparency as a competitive advantage in a wild market. (00:00:00) Season three launch and introduction of guest Kate Hemmat Siraky (00:03:51) Navigating the current economic climate and rising hospitality costs (00:09:12) Protecting business culture during survival mode and financial troughs (00:18:41) Practical strategies for reducing overheads through team empowerment (00:23:01) The harsh truth about recruitment: Process versus market difficulty (00:31:38) Debunking the "thinning talent pool" myth with labor statistics (00:45:34) Challenging the generation gap and addressing manager burnout For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-3-episode-1. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at. If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne. If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ]Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. For more on Kate and Zest People, go to https://zestpeople.com.au/ Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  2. Aug 2

    Happy Hour: Gareth Whitton of Tarts Anon

    Welcome to Season 3 of the PAX Hospitality Podcast. This season, we're shaking things up. Every other episode will take on a brand new format called 'Happy Hour'. Happy Hour is an audio-only format where honest, unfiltered conversations take centre stage. But don't worry, every even episode will continue on in the same style you know and love. We’re kicking things off with a raw conversation with Gareth Whitton, the powerhouse behind Tarts Anon.  Pull up a chair as we have a yarn over a beer, discussing the highs and lows of running a small business. Gareth opens up about the realities of navigating the current economic climate, the importance of fostering a supportive team culture, and his newfound joy in fatherhood - from teaching his son to play cricket to competitive Mario Kart. Whether you’re a hospitality veteran or just looking for honest insights on life, business, and balance, this episode delivers a refreshing look at what it truly takes to stay authentic in an ever-changing industry. Grab a drink and join the conversation. (00:00:00) Introducing the new Happy Hour series (00:03:00) The craft of high-quality malt (00:04:30) Disenchantment with the craft beer scene (00:07:30) Gareth on business viability and growth (00:13:40) Hiring the successor: finding support (00:19:40) Fatherhood, Nintendo Switches, and altruism (00:23:40) Bonding through cricket and core memories For more information on PAX , visit pax.melbourne Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. For more information on Tarts Anon, visit Tarts Anon Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

    Happy Hour: Gareth Whitton of Tarts Anon
  3. Jul 26 ·  Bonus

    Re-Release: Marketing - Practical, Measurable and Not Just Pretty

    Not long to go before Season 3! To bide your time, here's another one of our favourite episodes from Season 1. Originally released on Dec 21 2025. In this episode, Leon and Loren run a practical, no-nonsense primer on hospitality marketing — the kind that turns work into revenue rather than vanity metrics. Rather than lofty brand theory, the conversation breaks marketing into an operational framework: Pre (how you attract customers), During (the customer experience and frontline sales), and Post (retention, review management and re-engagement). The aim is simple: make marketing mechanical, measurable and owned by the whole business — not just an agency or the “marketing person.” Loren and Leon walk the listeners through the four core areas that matter during the pre-customer stage — identity, Google Business/SEO, website & UX, and database/EDM strategy — and explain how small practical changes (correct Google categories, an obvious menu, auto-opt-in marketing) can produce immediate, tangible results. They also unpack the connective tissue between content, digital performance and ops: content is only valuable if it converts and the ops side (the team on the floor, booking flow, product delivery) is primed to deliver on the promise. The episode finishes with concrete, easy wins (audit your Google listing, fix your menu UX, consolidate review feedback, check your reservation flow and tidy your social profiles) and a reminder that marketing in hospitality is iterative — a series of “one-percenters” that compound. Leon and Loren promise to dig deeper across future episodes; for now, this is a practical roadmap for owner-operators who need usable marketing, not more theory. Topics Covered: Marketing as a system, not a vibe – Treating marketing as practical, mechanical work across three stages (Pre / During / Post) rather than just “content.”The boring basics that move the needle – Identity clarity, Google Business optimisation, clean menu/UX, and database capture aka the unsexy work that drives bookings.Content with commercial purpose – Creating channel-specific content that leads to measurable actions (bookings, clicks, sign-ups), not vanity metrics.Front-of-house as the marketing engine – Equipping floor teams with clear language, mission, and tools. Every interaction builds the brand and drives revenue.Feedback loops that improve product – Aggregating reviews, spotting recurring themes, closing the loop with ops, and turning complaints into upgrades.PAX acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and to all First Nations People.

  4. Jul 19 ·  Bonus

    Re-Release: Insolvency - When Push Comes to Shove

    In between Season 2 and 3, enjoy this re-release of one of our favourite must-listen episodes from Season 1. Originally released on Oct 13, 2025. In this episode, Leon sat down with Phillip Spry (Director, Mawson) to demystify what happens when a venue slides from strain to financial distress—and how to avoid becoming part of the predicted contraction.  Rather than fear, the focus is clarity: a plain-English definition of insolvency (“can’t pay debts when they’re due”), the day-one reality of administration (what administrators actually do, when trading can continue, and why preparation matters), and the habits that quietly tip operators over the edge—thin margins, vanity metrics, and hope-as-a-plan.  Philip walks through the single most powerful tool owners ignore: a rolling 13–16 week cashflow runway that shows when the cliff arrives and which levers (creditor terms, cost cuts, capital) could bridge it. The conversation also covers staff entitlements, creditor negotiations, and why character and communication often decide whether suppliers back you.  Finally, Leon and Philip map life after crisis—how some founders come back sharper and more disciplined, and why the goal isn’t just survival but a cleaner, more sustainable business on the other side. Topics Covered: What insolvency really means in plain language — and why “can’t pay debts when they’re due” is both simple and dangerously vagueHow administration works day-to-day, from the moment an administrator steps in to what it takes to keep tradingThe common triggers in hospitality that tip venues over the edge — from seasonality and thin margins to vanity metrics that hide deeper issuesWhy a cashflow runway is the single best diagnostic tool for whether you can trade out, restructure, or need outside helpHow to think about life after crisis — postmortems, reinvention, and why some operators emerge sharper, more disciplined, and more sustainable

  5. Jul 5

    Live from The Pinnacle: Secrets to Scaling Your Hospitality Business

    The season 2 finale is also our first live episode! Recorded at the The Pinnacle, Fitzroy, Leon is joined by industry experts Nathen Doyle (Agree to Agree Group), Drew Bowering (GM, OpenTable Australia), and our own Loren Daniels (Head of Sales & Marketing at PAX).  This episode tackles real-world business challenges from restaurant owners facing thin margins and operational plateaus. The panel dives into real case studies - from restaurants struggling with high labour costs despite being busy, to established operators wondering how to scale without losing their identity.  You'll gain forensic insights on balancing rent-to-revenue ratios, optimising menu engineering, and systemising your business to move beyond being the daily bottleneck. You'll learn how to audit your systems, empower your team, and realign with your true mission for long-term hospitality success. (00:03:00) The 'We're Busy But Broke' Problem (00:05:30) Rent-to-Revenue: The 5% Rule (00:10:45) Using Data to Find Revenue (00:13:30) Systems as a Worthwhile Investment (00:27:00) Strategies for Scaling Your Business (00:33:30) Introspection and Business Coaching (00:43:00) Moving Beyond the Founder Bottleneck For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-2-episode-10. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at.  If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne.  If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ] Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  6. Jun 21

    Unlocking Restaurant Event Sales

    In this episode of the PAX Hospitality Podcast, Leon sits down with sales and business development specialist Loren Daniels to discuss the critical shift in modern restaurant revenue. Gone are the days when hosting events was simply a "nice to have." Today, it’s a necessary component of financial stability. Loren breaks down the archaic mentality that keeps many venues stagnant and provides a clear, actionable blueprint to transform your event sales engine. From optimising your online presence and refining your offer to mastering the art of conversion and post-event follow-up, this conversation covers the full spectrum. Whether you are dipping your toes into the private dining space or looking to level up your existing strategy, this episode provides the framework needed to unclog your sales funnel and drive consistent, high-margin revenue. Tune in to turn your venue into a year-round powerhouse. (00:01:00) The shift to event revenue (00:03:00) Big industry statistics and data (00:06:00) Treating events like sales engines (00:08:00) Redefining your event strategy (00:11:00) Optimizing your online findability (00:16:30) Speed and conversion tactics (00:26:30) Capturing repeat event revenue For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-2-episode-9. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at.  If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne.  If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here. Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  7. Jun 7

    Building a Great Culture: Where The Hell Do I Start?

    In this episode, Michael replaces Leon on hosting duties, and along with Sean Whitford, PAX's Leadership & Development Manager, we get into hospitality's often-overlooked technical side and explore why traditional training frameworks are failing modern teams. Moving past the 'sink or swim' mentality, they introduce the concept of the "Role Blueprint" - a specific, task-by-task framework that replaces generic checklists with individualised growth pathways. Sean, an expert in team development, argues that while skills can be taught, motivation is internal; therefore, leaders must prioritise environment over ego to keep staff engaged beyond the critical six-week mark. Michael discusses the pitfalls of vibes-based hiring and the necessity of regular, low-stakes check-ins to prevent turnover. This episode provides actionable strategies for building cohesive teams that over-index on success by focusing on the individual rather than the process. For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-2-episode-8. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at.  If you're keen to understand how you can work with Sean to build a customised L&D blueprint for your venue, get in touch hello@pax.melbourne.  If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ] Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

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A podcast meant to be shared. For the hospitality industry, created by the team at PAX.

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