How to enjoy Australia’s finest dining for less

A RECENT publicity lunch at a Sydney restaurant celebrated the longevity of a business that helps restauranteurs attract those who love eating out. It was fitting that this momentous occasion that hailed the work of the Entertainment Group was held at one of Sydney’s best restaurants, Catalina, in Rose Bay.

While most Australians probably don’t know the well-named Entertainment Group, they’d certainly know about their famous book that listed thousands of restaurants, and, in doing so, provided discounted price experiences that benefitted both customers and business owners.

The funds were raised from the involvement of over 15,000 unique businesses, comprising a number of Australia’s most prestigious eateries including ESQ, Glass Brasserie, NEL, Pilu, Pony Dining, Public Dining Room, Ormeggio, Berowra Waters Inn and Din Tai Fung.

One prominent charity to enjoy the support from The Entertainment Group is the McGrath Foundation, with McGrath co-founder Tracy Bevan (and a close friend of the late Jane McGrath) singing the praises of this restaurant guide business. Along with the generosity of others, the contributions of The Entertainment Group have helped provide the funding that has produced wonderful results for women challenged by breast cancer. “We have 233 breast care nurses so are well on our way to our goal,” she told attendees at Catalina. “I remember when we were setting the foundation up, Jane said ‘If I could help just one family’ — I can imagine her great big smile at the knowledge that we’ve so far helped 143,000 families.”

 

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To other pluses, according to the company’s number crunchers, “the average family saves over $960 per year using their Entertainment Membership…” — and in some offers, diners could get up to 50 per cent off at a number of premium restaurants.

At a time when eateries are feeling the backwash from 13 interest rate rises and their impact on recreational spending, these discounts provided by The Entertainment Group are timely. For those not feeling the economic pinch, this guide is now a subscription digital offering and the company’s CEO Heidi Halson thinks the business model “…is a community-building service that brings together the best dining experiences, travel, shopping and entertainment for a ‘quid quo pro’ arrangement that both raises critical funding and allows Australian people to discover new spots.”

Halson loves the fact that her business not only helps diners in tough times but adds support to restaurant businesses. All up, it helps create a “dining with a conscience” experience.

Maureen Jordan

Maureen Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) and a Law Degree (Honours) and has carved a niche in the media to balance her world of work and family. Her company, the Switzer Group, owns divisions in media and publishing and financial services. During her 25 year involvement in media and publishing, Maureen has held Editor in Chief roles for esteemed publications such as Charter Magazine for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and has authored several books including Women Entrepreneurs, which she wrote for the Federal Office of Women, Small Business Start Up Guide published by Allen & Unwin and Finding And Managing Your Mortgage, Wiley Publishing. As group publisher of Switzer Media & Publishing, Maureen has initiated and managed the publication of specialty books, magazines and content for some of the country's leading organisations. Clients include Optus, the Mortgage & Finance Industry Association, IBM, Hewlett Packard, the Commonwealth Bank, Telstra, AMP, IP Australia, Yahoo 7, the University of NSW and law firm Griffith Hack. Switzer Media & Publishing holds the Australian & New Zealand licence for Harper’s Bazaar and Maureen is the Publisher of both the monthly magazine and the Harper’s Bazaar website. Such is Maureen's commitment to business that in 1996 she was inducted into the Australian Business Women's Hall of Fame in Melbourne, as well as being a finalist in the Sydney Business Review's Business Women of the Year 2003. Early in her career, Maureen taught in both the secondary school system - public and private - as well as teaching at the University of New South Wales. Maureen's knowledge of small business and the economy, combined with her legal skills as a solicitor, has enabled her to not only put a firm footing under her own long-established business, but has also given her the credibility to assist others.

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