By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Speaking to Australian Hotelier for the 2017 Annual Industry Leaders Forum, Bruce Dixon reflected on the company’s stellar growth in 2016, and on what’s to come this year.
Describing 2016 as an “exciting and auspicious year” for Dixon Hospitality, CEO Bruce Dixon reflected on the rapid expansion of the hospitality group, and the philosophy behind its growth.
“Location is critically important and increasingly we have focused on a concentration in specific precincts. For example in Melbourne’s CBD, Dixon has a number of pubs in close proximity (Duke, Dutchess, Crafty Squire, Beer DeLuxe, Imperial Hotel), much like the concentration in the Barangaroo/Kings St Wharf area in Sydney (12-Micron, Untied, Beer DeLuxe, Cargo Bar, Bungalow 8, The Loft), which we see as becoming Sydney’s premier dining and entertaining destination in the next couple of years.”
The above-mentioned Untied and 12-Micron in Sydney’s Barangaroo precinct are the latest offerings from Dixon Hospitality, with Untied – a rooftop bar – opening at the end of January and the 12-Micron restaurant slated to open in March.
While the group is expected to launch an IPO this year, Dixon would not confirm or deny, but rather offered up a hypothetical as to what the thinking behind floating the company would be.
“We have grown rapidly in the past 12 months and believe that growth will continue given the landscape of the hospitality industry in Australia. If we were to proceed with an IPO, the thought behind an IPO has always been that it would enable the company to access capital and continue to take advantage of opportunities to grow and expand along the eastern seaboard,” he explained.
It also seems that Dixon Hospitality has no intention of slowing down, with the CEO stating that there was much more to come from the group in the year ahead.
“There will be plenty of things happening in 2017 – the company won’t stand still. There’s so much opportunity out there to be involved in great projects with great people, and the culture at Dixon is nimble, fast-moving and adventurous. So there will be plenty of things happening.”