An energy playbook for hospitality and venues businesses

What is a small or medium hospitality business

Single‑site venues and small groups that rely on refrigeration, cooking equipment, hot water, HVAC, and lighting, but do not need complex procurement.

Common examples

• Cafés and quick‑service restaurants

• Bars and small pubs

• Casual and family dining

• Boutique function rooms and event spaces

Typical profile

Quarterly bills, time‑of‑use tariffs, and quick savings that do not disrupt trading or service quality.

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What is a commercial and multi‑site venue operator

Larger venue groups with multiple kitchens and bars, extended hours, significant refrigeration and HVAC loads, and varied site formats. These operators benefit from structured procurement and a portfolio energy strategy.

Common examples

• Multi‑site restaurant groups and franchises

• Hotel, pub, and club groups

• Large function centres and entertainment venues

• Stadium and precinct operators

Typical profile

Monthly billing, interval metering, demand charges across sites, and procurement via tender to secure competitive rates over 1 to 5‑year terms aligned to risk appetite and contract goals.

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Challenges for small and medium venues

• Refrigeration, cooking equipment, dishwashers, and hot water driving base load

• HVAC and lighting costs across long trading hours

• Bills that shift with seasons, events, and peak service periods

• Limited time to compare plans and understand fees

• Older equipment that wastes energy

How Zembl helps

Energy bills, Energy insights, Energy solutions: we compare and secure competitive rates, surface usage insights, and help implement practical efficiency actions with minimal disruption to service.

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Challenges for multi‑site venue operators

• Managing energy across multiple formats, kitchens, and trading hours

• Aligning contract end dates and network charges across the portfolio

• Balancing guest comfort, food safety, and compliance with cost control

• Limited visibility of usage by site or zone

• Limited internal resources to run tenders and manage rollovers

How Zembl helps

Procurement strategy and usage insights tailored to multi‑site portfolios. We coordinate onboarding and keep contracts on track.

Two recent success stories

$9,300 electricity bill savings for Dagwood Kitchen and Bar

Venue cutting annual costs through expert comparison and a better‑fit plan.

El Jannah streamlines energy costs across multiple locations

Quick‑service restaurant group improving portfolio costs with structured procurement.

FAQs for hospitality and venues

Where is energy used most in hospitality and venue operations?

Energy is mainly used for refrigeration, kitchen equipment, lighting and air conditioning. Hotels and large venues also rely heavily on lifts, laundry services and heating and cooling systems that run for long hours.

Why do hospitality energy bills spike during peak seasons?

Bills increase when refrigeration, HVAC and kitchen equipment run for longer periods during busy seasons. Hot weather also pushes cooling systems harder, which increases electricity usage and demand charges.

How can small hospitality venues reduce their energy costs?

Small venues can reduce costs by comparing energy plans regularly, switching off idle equipment, upgrading to efficient kitchen or refrigeration appliances, managing HVAC settings and reviewing contract terms before expiry.

What drives high energy usage in large hotels and entertainment venues?

Large hotels and venues have high consumption from commercial kitchens, HVAC systems, lighting, lifts, refrigeration and laundry operations. Running these systems at the same time can significantly increase peak demand charges.

How can multi-site hospitality groups improve energy efficiency?

Multi-site groups can align contract end dates, benchmark usage across venues, review tariffs, upgrade older equipment and use energy insights to understand demand patterns. This helps reduce both operating costs and peak load penalties.

Talk to a Zembl energy expert

We help hospitality and venue operators act with confidence. Share your latest bill or, for multi‑site portfolios, recent interval data and a site list. We will compare options, present clear recommendations, and coordinate the change once approved.