{{Short description|Australian company}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = EVT Limited | type = Public company | logo = EVT Limited logo.svg | image = Atura Hotel, Adelaide Airport 2019.jpg | image_caption = Atura Hotel, Adelaide Airport | traded_as = {{asx|EVT}} | founded = Listed in 1962 on the Australian Securities Exchange. Subsidiaries date to 1910.<ref>{{cite web | title= About Us – Overview | website= Amalgamated Holdings Limited | url= https://www.ahl.com.au/about-us/overview/ | access-date= 26 August 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150403020034/http://www.ahl.com.au/about-us/overview/ | archive-date= 3 April 2015 | url-status= dead }}</ref> | hq_location = 478 George Street | hq_location_city = Sydney | area_served = Australia, Germany, New Zealand. | key_people = {{unbulleted list|Alan Rydge (Chairman)|Jane Hastings (Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer)}} | industry = Entertainment, hospitality, travel | revenue = {{ublist|class=nowrap |{{decrease}} A$1.03 billion (2020) | A$1.30 billion (2019)}} | profit = {{ublist|class=nowrap |{{decrease}} A$-10.6 million (2020) |A$111.8 million (2019)}} | equity = {{decrease}} A$975.1 million | equity_year = 2020 | num_employees = 8,000–10,000 | website = https://www.evt.com/ }}
'''EVT Limited''' (stylised as '''EVT''') (an acronym of the words 'Entertainment, Ventures, Travel')<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.evt.com/ |title=EVT |website=EVT Limited |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref> is an Australian company which operates cinemas, hotels, restaurants and resorts in Australia, New Zealand and Germany.
It owns Event Cinemas, BCC Cinemas and CineStar, as well as golf courses and the ski resort Thredbo. Hotels owned by the group include the Rydges, QT, Lylo and Atura brands.
The company was formerly called '''Amalgamated Holdings Limited''' and, from 2015, '''Event Hospitality and Entertainment'''. It is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/company/EVT |title=EVT LIMITED |date=12 March 2023 |website=ASX |access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref>
==Structure and brands== For much of EVT's recent history it has effectively been controlled by billionaire Alan Rydge, whose family companies reportedly owned 45 per cent of the shares in 2004, and 60 per cent in 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/film-and-tv/amalgamated-notes-uncertain-picture-20111113-j3rp7 | title= Amalgamated notes uncertain picture | first= Neil | last= Shoebridge | date= 14 November 2011 | website= The Australian Financial Review | access-date= 25 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.crikey.com.au/2004/05/20/amalgamateds-german-movie-flop/ | title= Amalgamated's German movie flop | date= 20 May 2004 | website= Crikey | access-date= 26 October 2015 }}</ref>
{{as of| 2019}}, EVT owns the largest cinema chains in Australia and New Zealand. Its cinema brands include Event Cinemas, BCC, CineStar, Greater Union, GU Film House, Moonlight Cinema, and the Sydney State Theatre. Event also owns over 60 hotels worldwide, operating more than 10,000 rooms, under the subsidiaries Atura Hotels, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, QT Hotels & Resorts, Lylo and the Thredbo Alpine Village, making it Australia's fourth-largest hotel operator. Revenue is also generated from managing and leasing commercial property.<ref name="AnnRep2018">{{cite web | title=Annual Report 2019 | publisher=Australian Securities Exchange | url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190822/pdf/447r5h329bhnyv.pdf }}</ref>
{{as of|2017}}, the company had 62 hotels and resorts around the world, along with 75 cinemas in Australia, 54 cinemas in Germany, and 20 cinemas in New Zealand.<ref name="AnnRep2017">{{cite web | title=Annual Report 2017 | publisher=Australian Securities Exchange | url=http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20170915/pdf/43mc7xt2dc5h8v.pdf }}</ref> In 2014–2015 it was making most of its money from its cinema division,<ref name="Schlesinger 2014">{{cite web | url= http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/why-amalgamated-believes-in-diversity-20141001-jlhsf | title= Why Amalgamated believes in diversity | first= Larry | last= Schlesinger | date= 2 October 2014 | website= The Australian Financial Review | access-date= 25 October 2015 }}</ref> and described Event Cinemas as its flagship.<ref>{{cite web | title = About Us – Our History | website = Amalgamated Holdings Limited | url = https://www.ahl.com.au/about-us/history/ | access-date = 26 August 2015}}</ref> In 2014, it was the fourth biggest owner of hotels in Australia, offering 9,000 rooms across the country.<ref name="Schlesinger 2014" />
Most of its hotel and cinema brands are based in Australia, but some are in other countries:
* '''Australia''': Atura Hotels, BCC Cinemas, Edge Digital and Technology, Event Cinemas, Greater Union Cinemas, Moonlight Cinemas, QT Hotels & Resorts, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, State Theatre Sydney, Thredbo Alpine Village. * '''New Zealand''': Downtown Cinemas, Event Cinemas, QT Hotels & Resorts, Rialto Cinemas, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, Lylo * '''Germany''': CineStar Cinemas
==Corporate alliances== Event Hospitality and Entertainment owns and operates some of its cinema chains as a joint venture with Village Roadshow, established in 2003 under the name Australian Theatres.<ref name=abn/><ref name=hanson2019/>
Many of its hotels belonged to the Global Hotel Alliance until late 2021.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
==History==
===1911–1940s=== In 1911, ''The Christian'' was released. This was the first film produced by West's Pictures, which later became part of Greater Union. From 1911 to 1913, a series of mergers resulted in the formation of The Combine, a powerful alliance between exhibitor Union Theatres and the production and distribution company Australasian Films. The Combine imported many of its films and was blamed by independent competitors for a drop in the local production of films.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Film "Combine.": Australian's Complaint |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/54266788 |newspaper=The Register |location=Adelaide |date=17 June 1927 |access-date=29 November 2016 }}</ref>
In 1928, the company has sold off Australasian Films to John C. Jones, which later on absorbed into Columbia Pictures in 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1929-02-27 |title=John C. Jones To Take Over Australasian Films March 18 |pages=6 |work=Everyones.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1935-04-24 |title=Columbia Negotiates to Buy G.A.F. Distribution System |pages=5 |work=Everyones.}}</ref> In 1930, it reentered the theatrical market as the Union Theaters Feature Exchange by distributing features by British International Pictures.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1930-05-07 |title=Union Theaters Distribute British International |pages=7 |work=Everyones.}}</ref> Two years later, the company was renamed to British Empire Films (BEF), which served as the distribution arm of Greater Union. They distributed films of Cinesound Productions.<ref>[http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Organisation%3A%22%2FOrganisation%2Fkey%2F14900-1%22;querytype=;resCount=10 British Empire Films]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at National Film and Sound Archive</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1932-06-22 |title=Further Reconsideration For U.T.'s Affiliated Production Companies |pages=12 |work=Everyones.}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Groves |first=Don |title=AHL: 100 Years of Entertainment |publisher=Amalgamated Holdings Ltd. |year=2010 |isbn=9780958946612}}</ref>
In 1932, the box-office hit ''On Our Selection'' was produced by Cinesound Productions, a subsidiary which had been set up the previous year by Greater Union Theatres. In 1936, businessman Norman Rydge was elected chairman and managing director of Greater Union Theatres after buying a controlling interest. The company returned to profitability within three years.<ref>{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |id2=rydge-sir-norman-bede-11596 |last=Perkins |first=John |title= Rydge, Sir Norman Bede (1900–1980) |date= 2002 |access-date= 29 October 2016 }}</ref>
In 1942, Cinesound co-produced ''Kokoda Front Line!'', the first Australian film to win an Academy Award. A full-length version of a wartime newsreel, it won an Oscar for best documentary.<ref name="Schlesinger 2014"/>
===1970s–1980s=== In 1971, the company acquired the assets of MGM's Australian operations, and MGM's films would be distributed by the company's subsidiary British Empire Films in Australia for two years, with Disney included in the contract, before MGM gave up its contract to Cinema International Corporation in 1973.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Melnick |first=Ross |title=Hollywood's Embassies |publisher=Columbia University Press |date=2022-04-26 |isbn=9780231554138}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hanson |first=Stuart |title=Screening the World |publisher=Springer International Publishing |date=2019-07-26 |isbn=9783030189952}}</ref> The company also entered its relationship with Buena Vista International for the company's B.E.F. unit to distribute its films.<ref name=":0" /> In 1976, the company's film distribution unit changed its name from British Empire Films to GUO Film Distributors.<ref name=":0" />
In 1980, Alan Rydge inherited the company on the death of his father, becoming the youngest chairman of an Australian public company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/alan-rydge/ |title= #1476: Alan Rydge |date= 2016 | website= Forbes: The World's Billionaires |access-date= 29 October 2016 }}</ref> In 1982, the company's film distribution division was renamed to Greater Union Film Distributors after introducing a new logo.<ref name=":0" /> In 1984, the company was once again fully Australian-owned after gaining control of Rank Organisation's half share.{{citation needed|reason=interesting but unsourced info taken from article on Event_Cinemas#History, accessed 29Nov2016.|date=November 2016}}
In 1987, the company acquired Thredbo Alpine Resort.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thredbo.com.au/about-thredbo/history/ |title=Thredbo's History |website=www.thredbo.com.au |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref> Also that year, Greater Union merged its distribution unit with Roadshow Distributors, a Village Roadshow subsidiary to form a film distribution division consisting of two units, Roadshow Film Distributors, and Greater Union Distributors. The company as a whole merged into Roadshow five years later.<ref name=":0" />
In 1988, Rydge wanted to begin a hotels division and so recruited David Seargeant, who later became managing director.<ref name="Schlesinger 2014"/>
===2000s=== In 2003, Event Ltd partnered in a joint venture with Village Roadshow. Their joint entity was established under the name Australian Theatres.<ref name=abn>{{cite web | title=Historical details for ABN 33 595 052 153 | website=ABN Lookup | date=1 November 2014 | url=https://abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=33595052153 | access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=hanson2019>{{cite book | last=Hanson | first=S. | title=Screening the World: Global Development of the Multiplex Cinema | publisher=Springer International Publishing | year=2019 | isbn=978-3-030-18995-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KsOlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA224 | access-date=20 December 2022 | page=224}}</ref>
In 2004, Amalgamated Holdings Ltd (AHL) suffered a share plunge after writing off more than $70 million on its German cinemas.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/19/1084917651470.html | title= Amalgamated hurt by German subsidiary | date= 19 May 2004 | website= The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date= 22 October 2016 }}</ref> In 2005, Greater Union dropped its ban against cinemagoers bringing their own snacks and drinks after an investigation by the New South Wales Commissioner for Fair Trading.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.findlaw.com.au/news/3536/cinema-chain-scraps-snack-ban.aspx |title= Cinema Chain Scraps Snack Ban | date= 22 June 2005 |website= FindLaw Australia | access-date= 29 November 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-23/cinema-chain-pulls-food-ban/1598796 |title= Cinema chain pulls food ban |date= 23 June 2005 |website= ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date= 29 October 2016 }}</ref> The same year, the Rydge family expanded its compound on Point Piper by buying a sixth adjoining property.<ref>{{cite web |last= Chancellor |first= Jonathan |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/Property/Family-spreads-wings-in-Point-Piper-with-87m/2005/02/18/1108709435752.html |title= Family spreads wings in Point Piper with $8.7m |date= 19 February 2005 |website= The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date= 29 October 2016 }}</ref>
In 2009, Meredith Hellicar resigned from the company board after being criticised in a judgement by the New South Wales Supreme Court for her part in approving, while chairwoman of James Hardie, a press release which falsely claimed that a trust for asbestosis victims had been fully funded.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/exjames-hardie-chairwoman-resigns-20090424-ah6j.html | title= Ex-James Hardie chairwoman resigns | date= 24 April 2009 | website= The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date= 26 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/13/meredith-hellicar-could-be-forced-to-pay-up/ | first= Adam | last= Schwab | title= Meredith Hellicar could be forced to pay up | date= 13 August 2009 | website= Crikey | access-date= 26 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.smh.com.au/business/hardie-judgement-prompts-hellicar-to-retreat-20090424-ai6c.html | first= Danny | last= John | title= Hardie judgement prompts Hellicar to retreat | date= 25 April 2009 | website= The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date= 26 October 2015 }}</ref>
===2010s=== In 2010, Amalgamated bought a chain of cinemas in New Zealand and Fiji from Skycity Entertainment Group.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/amalgamated-holdings-to-acquire-skycity-cinemas-20091124-iwefg | title= Amalgamated Holdings to acquire Skycity cinemas | first= Trevor | last= Hoey | date= 24 November 2009 | website= The Australian Financial Review | access-date= 25 October 2015 }}</ref> The same year, it also acquired outdoor cinema operator Moonlight Cinema for $1.75 million from Prime Media Group.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/amalgamated-acquires-moonlight-cinema-20100728-10vql.html | title= Amalgamated acquires Moonlight Cinema | date= 28 July 2010 | website= The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date= 22 October 2016 }}</ref> In the financial year 2010–2011, Alan Rydge was among the wealthy Australians who donated to a secret fund set up for Sydney politician Malcolm Turnbull.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/pm-malcolm-turnbulls-links-to-secretive-fundraising-20160617-gplhmg.html |title= Turnbull's links to secretive fundraising practices |last=McColl |first=Gina |date=19 June 2016 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref>
In 2011, Amalgamated sold its 49 per cent share of a cinema chain in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.afr.com/real-estate/amalgamated-shares-soars-on-special-snow-dividend-20150820-gj3p6o | title= Amalgamated shares soars on special 'snow' dividend | first= Larry | last= Schlesinger | date= 20 August 2015 | website= The Australian Financial Review | access-date= 25 October 2015 }}</ref> The same year, its operations in Queensland suffered losses due to severe flooding in 2010–2011.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/economy/18196-20110113-companies-assess-flood-costs-amid-concerns-rebuilding-could-take-two-years.html | title= Companies assess flood costs amid concerns rebuilding could take two years | first= James | last= Thomson | date= 13 January 2011 | website= Smart Company | access-date= 26 October 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2013, the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney was sold to Moss Capital for an estimated A$15 million. Amalgamated had owned the park since 1996.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finding/commercial-investment/leisure/23949-moss-capital-buys-sydney-wildlife-attraction-.html | title= Moss Capital buys Doonside, Sydney wildlife attraction Featherdale Wildlife Park | first= Jonathan | last= Chancellor | date= 25 June 2013 | website= Property Observer | access-date= 27 August 2015 | archive-date= 19 September 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180919005230/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finding/commercial-investment/leisure/23949-moss-capital-buys-sydney-wildlife-attraction-.html | url-status= dead }}</ref> In 2014, a three-year plan was unveiled to build or redevelop 14 new cinemas.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://preview.brw.com.au/p/business/companies/netflix_can_kill_the_cinema_says_QwPRQv0xF6lBXy4DX0uaaJ | title= Netflix can't kill the cinema, says Amalgamated | first= Matthew | last= Smith | date= 30 October 2014 | website= The Australian Financial Review | access-date= 26 October 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101928/http://preview.brw.com.au/p/business/companies/netflix_can_kill_the_cinema_says_QwPRQv0xF6lBXy4DX0uaaJ | archive-date= 4 March 2016 | url-status= dead }}</ref>
In December 2015, Amalgamated Holdings Ltd changed its name to Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited. Its ticker code changed from AHD to EVT on the Australian Securities Exchange.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.asx.com.au/prices/company-name-and-asx-code-changes-2015.htm | title= ASX Code and Company Name Changes 2015 | website= ASX | access-date= 20 December 2022 }}</ref> In November 2016, David Seargeant gave notice that he would step down as managing director and CEO in the second half of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20161110/pdf/43cswprl03nkrv.pdf |title=ASX ANNOUNCEMENT: MANAGING DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO STEP DOWN |date=10 November 2016 |website=Australian Securities Exchange |access-date=7 December 2016 }}</ref> He was replaced by Jane Hastings.<ref>{{cite web | title=EVENT HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT LTD details | publisher= ASX | url= http://www.asx.com.au/asx/share-price-research/company/EVT/details | access-date= 9 December 2017 }}</ref>
In 2017, the company sold its two-thirds interest in a Fiji cinema joint venture.<ref name="AnnRep2017"/>
===2020s=== The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in mandatory government-ordered closures of cinema locations between March 2020 to July 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian government also converted many Rydges hotel locations to mandatory quarantine stations for international and domestic travellers.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
In 2021, EVT acquired the Jucy Snooze brand, a budget accommodation provider in New Zealand. Between 2022 and 2024, Jucy Snooze locations were rebranded to Lylo
In October 2022, Event Hospitality & Entertainment Limited rebranded to EVT Limited.<ref>{{cite web | title=ASX code changes | website=Australian Securities Exchange | date=25 October 2022 | url=https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/market-resources/asx-codes-and-descriptors/asx-code-changes | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027031612/https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/market-resources/asx-codes-and-descriptors/asx-code-changes | archive-date=27 October 2022 | url-status=live | access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref>
==See also== * Cinema of Australia – History
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == <!-- Per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> * {{Official website|https://www.evt.com/}} * [https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/company/EVT Australian Securities Exchange] * [https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/EVT:AU Bloomberg profile]
Category:Australian brands Category:Companies based in Sydney Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange Category:Holding companies of Australia