Australian Venue Co teams up with Sod to streamline its online presence

With customer expectations higher than ever and a ballooning online presence across channels, Australian Venue Co enlisted Sod to help streamline and optimise its extensive network of websites and apps.

In today’s digital-first and rapidly evolving consumer landscape, hospitality groups and businesses face mounting challenges in maintaining a strong digital presence across multiple venues. From keeping menus and booking systems updated to ensuring seamless integration with essential business operations, managing hundreds of individual websites is a complex and resource-intensive task.

With over 250 venues across Australia, Australian Venue Co is one of the nation’s larger hospitality groups. Well-known venues include Friday’s in Brisbane, Shenannigans in Darwin, Victoria Park Hotel in Perth, Waterloo Station Hotel in Adelaide, and The Squire’s Landing in Sydney.

Australian Venue Co (formerly Dixon Hospitality Group) faced a challenge that is common in the industry: how to manage an extensive portfolio of venue websites that strikes the right balance between maintaining group-wide brand consistency while allowing individual venues to retain their unique identity.

Many hospitality groups in the industry also face technical challenges in integrating websites with booking platforms, point of sales systems, and loyalty programs, which can lead to operational inefficiencies. It also can negatively impact user experience, which can directly impact customer revenue and profitability.

Central but personalised and flexible

Working with Sod, a 30-person digital consultancy and agency specialising in UI and UX design, Australian Venue Co designed and implemented a centralised digital platform. This system lays the foundation for the network, enabling consistency across all venue websites while allowing for location-specific content, making it easier to maintain each venue’s unique identity.

Automated performance monitoring and security protocols have also been put in place to maintain site functionality and prevent disruptions.

“Managing digital content at scale while keeping each venue’s identity intact is a challenge for any hospitality group,” said Aden Skene, Group Digital Manager at Australian Venue Co. “Sod’s approach has helped us significantly improve efficiency, reduce manual updates, and enhance the overall customer journey.”

Simon Blangiardo, Co-Founder at Sod, said that the firm is delighted to have helped Australian Venue Co lift its online game. “Today’s consumers expect seamless, intuitive digital experiences. Research shows that 69% say a confusing or poorly designed website makes them less likely to place an order. In an industry where margins are tight and competition is fierce, an optimised digital presence is no longer optional, it’s essential.”

Blangiardo highlighted how the advancements achieved at Australian Venue Co are reshaping how venues interact with guests. “Venues are increasingly using digital tools not just to manage content, but to create more personalised interactions, improve operational efficiencies, and strengthen customer relationships.”