Bendigo hospitality sector rebounds with new venues and record visitor spending

Bendigo's hospitality sector has rebounded strongly from the pandemic period, with visitor spending on food and drink reaching a record $95 million in the past year as the city's restaurant, bar, and cafe scene expanded and matured into a destination hospitality offer that draws Melbourne day-trippers and overnight visitors specifically for its food and wine experience.

The sector has benefited from the combination of population growth — which provides a local market base — and increasing cultural tourism drawing visitors who extend their stays to enjoy Bendigo's dining options. Restaurant bookings data from Dimmi and OpenTable show Bendigo restaurants achieving occupancy rates competitive with inner-suburban Melbourne venues on weekends, a significant change from the historically quieter weekend trade that characterised regional city hospitality.

A cluster of 12 new venues opened in the Bendigo CBD over the past two years, spanning fine dining, wine bars, casual Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese restaurants reflecting the city's growing multicultural community, and several venues from well-regarded Melbourne operators who have expanded to Bendigo in response to patron demand from the city's significant visitor base. The Bendigo Hotel's $4.5 million renovation and reinvention as a food and events destination was particularly notable, transforming a heritage pub into a 350-cover dining venue with an extensive wine list and a kitchen serving modern Australian cuisine.

Hospitality industry training at the Bendigo TAFE campus has expanded its commercial cookery and hospitality management programs to address the workforce demand from the growing sector, with 140 additional enrolments in the past year.

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