South Australia’s Palmer Hospitality Group has appointed Hugo Burton as CEO.
Burton is an executive with over 20 years’ experience spanning hospitality, private equity, and finance.
Prior to joining Palmer Hospitality Group, Burton held senior leadership roles including CFO and deputy CEO at GM Hotels, where he helped guide over $200m of sales and acquisitions, overseeing more than $120m in turnover across a portfolio of pubs and cafes.
Burton is described as an agile and people-focused leader who brings discipline, commercial savvy, and a deep understanding of what it takes to grow sustainable, high-performing businesses in competitive markets.
He expressed his enthusiasm to be joining the team.
“I am very excited to be joining Palmer Hospitality Group – it is a great, family-owned, South Australian business with some truly iconic venues. I am looking forward to working with Marty Palmer and the leadership team as we take the next step on the journey together,” he said.
The group has an extensive portfolio based entirely in South Australia spanning upscale dining, cocktail bars, and pubs including Adelaide’s The Highway Hotel, The Morphett Arms and The Warradale.
Palmer Hospitality Group also owns and operates Mclaren Vale Hotel which was named Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional at the 2024 AHA National Awards.
Earlier this year, Palmer Hospitality Group managing director Martin Palmer told Australian Hotelier the South Australian market captured the growing interest of interstate publicans last year, indicating the increased costs in other existing markets, but also a reflection of the vibrancy of South Australia’s pub industry.
Known for his approachability and commercial insight, Burton has been instrumental in driving financial performance, operational turnarounds, and strategic growth initiatives across several businesses.
He joins the team at a critical time as Palmer Hospitality Group plans to expand its portfolio beyond Adelaide in the year ahead, beginning with two recent acquisitions.
Palmer said: “We’ve made a strategic purchase in what they call the northern urban corridor, which is a major expansion point for Greater Adelaide.
“We’ve made a couple of strategic purchases, about 40km from the CBD, two hotels in Two Wells, which we should have taken over by mid-February. We see that as a long term, generational strategy in terms of getting out into the expansion zones as Adelaide grows.”