EVT Limited
Corporate brand
UnclaimedEVT Limited is an Australian entertainment and hospitality group operating cinemas, hotels, resorts, restaurants, property interests and alpine tourism businesses.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
EVT Limited is an Australian diversified entertainment and hospitality company whose principal activities are cinema exhibition, hotel and resort operation, tourism, restaurants and related property management. The company operates in Australia, New Zealand and Germany and is best known to consumers through cinema, accommodation and destination brands rather than through a single product line. Its cinema portfolio has included Event Cinemas, Greater Union, BCC Cinemas, CineStar, GU Film House, Rialto Cinemas, Downtown Cinemas and Moonlight Cinema. Its hospitality portfolio includes Rydges Hotels & Resorts, QT Hotels & Resorts, Atura Hotels, Lylo and the Thredbo Alpine Village resort. The group's roots lie in the early Australian film exhibition and distribution businesses that eventually became associated with Greater Union. The historical chain of businesses included Union Theatres, Australasian Films, Cinesound Productions and British Empire Films. These operations combined exhibition, production and distribution at different points in the twentieth century, giving the group an unusually broad connection to Australian cinema history. Cinesound's production of the wartime documentary Kokoda Front Line! received an Academy Award in 1943, although EVT's current business is primarily exhibition and hospitality rather than film production. The Rydge family became central to the company's modern development. Norman Rydge took control of Greater Union Theatres in the 1930s and restored the company to profitability. His son Alan Rydge inherited control in 1980 and later became a major shareholder and chairman. During the 1980s the group expanded its interests beyond cinema, including the acquisition of Thredbo Alpine Resort and the development of a hotel division. This diversification shaped the company that later operated as Amalgamated Holdings Limited and then Event Hospitality and Entertainment. Cinema remained the group's flagship activity through much of the 2000s and 2010s. EVT expanded in New Zealand through an acquisition from Skycity Entertainment Group, acquired Moonlight Cinema in Australia and maintained a joint venture with Village Roadshow through Australian Theatres. At the same time, its hotel and resort businesses grew into a substantial operating platform, with brands positioned across upscale, lifestyle, full-service and budget accommodation segments. EVT also derives revenue from property ownership, management and leasing activities. The corporate name changed from Amalgamated Holdings Limited to Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited in December 2015, accompanied by a change in its ASX ticker from AHD to EVT. In October 2022, the company adopted the shorter EVT name, reflecting its broader identity across entertainment, ventures and travel. The group acquired the Jucy Snooze budget accommodation business in New Zealand in 2021; those properties were progressively rebranded as Lylo between 2022 and 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic materially disrupted EVT's cinema and hotel operations. Government restrictions forced cinema closures in Australia and New Zealand during 2020, while several Rydges properties were used as mandatory quarantine accommodation. EVT subsequently continued operating across cinema, accommodation and leisure markets, with its portfolio spanning urban hotels, outdoor and destination cinemas, ski tourism and German cinema exhibition. Its current identity is therefore that of a listed, multi-brand leisure group rather than a conventional single-category brand.
History
EVT's history reaches back to the formative period of Australian cinema exhibition. In 1911, West's Pictures released The Christian, an early production associated with the businesses that later became part of Greater Union. Between 1911 and 1913, mergers involving Union Theatres and Australasian Films created The Combine, an influential exhibition, production and distribution alliance. The group later sold Australasian Films, returned to theatrical distribution in 1930 and established British Empire Films as a distribution arm. Greater Union expanded its production activities through Cinesound Productions, established in 1931. Cinesound produced On Our Selection in 1932 and co-produced Kokoda Front Line! in 1942. The latter, a feature-length wartime documentary, became the first Australian film to win an Academy Award. In 1936, Norman Rydge became chairman and managing director after acquiring a controlling interest in Greater Union Theatres. His leadership helped restore the company to profitability. The group continued to develop its distribution and exhibition interests after the Second World War. It acquired the Australian assets of MGM in 1971, renamed its distribution operation several times and formed closer commercial relationships with companies including Buena Vista International and Village Roadshow. In 1980, Alan Rydge succeeded his father and became chairman. The company regained full Australian ownership in 1984 after taking control of the remaining interest held by the Rank Organisation. Diversification accelerated during the 1980s. Greater Union acquired Thredbo Alpine Resort in 1987 and began building a hotel division. David Seargeant was recruited in 1988 to help establish that business. The company later combined parts of its film distribution activities with Roadshow Distributors and entered wider relationships with Village Roadshow. In 2003, its cinema interests and Village Roadshow's operations were placed in a joint venture called Australian Theatres. During the 2000s and 2010s, the company pursued acquisitions and portfolio restructuring. It wrote down more than A$70 million associated with German cinemas in 2004, acquired cinema operations in New Zealand and Fiji from Skycity Entertainment Group in 2010, and purchased Moonlight Cinema from Prime Media Group the same year. It sold a Middle Eastern cinema interest in 2011, disposed of Featherdale Wildlife Park in 2013 and announced a three-year program to build or redevelop 14 cinemas in 2014. A Fiji cinema joint-venture interest was sold in 2017. The corporate identity changed significantly in this period. Amalgamated Holdings Limited became Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited in December 2015, and the ASX ticker changed from AHD to EVT. David Seargeant announced his departure as managing director and CEO in 2016, with Jane Hastings succeeding him in 2017. In 2020, pandemic restrictions caused widespread cinema closures in Australia and New Zealand. Hotels were also affected, although some Rydges properties operated as quarantine facilities. EVT acquired Jucy Snooze in 2021 and subsequently moved the properties toward the Lylo brand. In October 2022, Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited was renamed EVT Limited. The modern group combines cinema exhibition in Australia, New Zealand and Germany with hotel and resort brands, outdoor cinema, alpine tourism, restaurants and property-related activities.
- 2022
EVT rebrand
[1]Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited adopted EVT Limited as its corporate name.
- 2021
Jucy Snooze acquired
[1]EVT acquired the New Zealand budget accommodation provider Jucy Snooze.
- 2020
Pandemic disruption
[1]Mandatory restrictions closed cinemas in Australia and New Zealand, and some hotels were used for quarantine purposes.
- 2015
Corporate name and ticker changed
[1]Amalgamated Holdings Limited became Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited, with its ASX code changing from AHD to EVT.
- 2010
New Zealand cinemas and Moonlight Cinema added
[1]The group acquired cinema operations from Skycity Entertainment Group and purchased Moonlight Cinema from Prime Media Group.
- 2003
Australian Theatres joint venture established
[1]The company entered a cinema joint venture with Village Roadshow under the Australian Theatres name.
- 1987
Thredbo acquired
[1]Greater Union acquired Thredbo Alpine Resort, strengthening the group's tourism and destination-leisure interests.
- 1980
Alan Rydge becomes chairman
[1]Alan Rydge inherited control of the company after his father's death and became chairman.
- 1942
Kokoda Front Line! wins an Academy Award
[1]Cinesound co-produced Kokoda Front Line!, which later became the first Australian film to win an Academy Award.
- 1936
Norman Rydge takes control of Greater Union
[1]Norman Rydge became chairman and managing director after acquiring a controlling interest in Greater Union Theatres.
Products and positioning
A diversified leisure, entertainment and hospitality group combining mass-market and premium cinema exhibition with hotels, resorts, restaurants, outdoor entertainment and destination tourism.
Cinema exhibition
Event Cinemas
Event Cinemas is EVT's principal cinema brand and has been described as the group's flagship operation. It presents mainstream film releases through conventional multiplex and premium cinema venues in Australia and New Zealand, supported by food, beverage and entertainment services.
Cinema exhibition
CineStar
CineStar is EVT's German cinema business. It forms the group's principal cinema presence outside Australia and New Zealand and operates as a distinct local exhibition brand within the wider EVT portfolio.
Outdoor cinema
Moonlight Cinema
Moonlight Cinema provides open-air film screenings in outdoor settings. EVT acquired the operator in 2010, adding a seasonal and destination-oriented cinema format to its indoor exhibition network.
Hotels and resorts
Rydges Hotels & Resorts
Rydges is EVT's established full-service hotel and resort brand, with properties in Australia and New Zealand. The brand covers urban and regional accommodation and has also included properties used for special operational purposes, including quarantine during the COVID-19 period.
Lifestyle hotels
QT Hotels & Resorts
QT Hotels & Resorts is EVT's lifestyle-oriented hospitality brand. It operates design-led hotels and resorts positioned toward experience-focused leisure and business travelers.
Hotels
Atura Hotels
Atura Hotels is an EVT accommodation brand serving contemporary urban and regional stays. It sits within the group's broader hotel platform alongside Rydges and QT and is designed around practical, modern hospitality.
Budget accommodation · 2022
Lylo
Lylo is EVT's budget accommodation brand in New Zealand. It developed from the Jucy Snooze business acquired in 2021, with the relevant locations progressively rebranded between 2022 and 2024.
Alpine resort · 1987
Thredbo Alpine Village
Thredbo Alpine Village is EVT's alpine tourism operation in Australia. The resort provides skiing, snowboarding and other mountain leisure activities, together with accommodation and destination services.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2022
Adoption of the EVT corporate identityStrategyBackground
The previous Event Hospitality and Entertainment name was longer than the company's established market abbreviation.
Action taken
The company changed its corporate name to EVT Limited.
Aftermath
EVT became the consolidated identity for its entertainment, hospitality and travel-related activities.
2021
Acquisition of Jucy SnoozeM&ABackground
EVT expanded its accommodation portfolio into the budget segment in New Zealand.
Action taken
EVT acquired Jucy Snooze.
Aftermath
The properties were progressively repositioned under the Lylo name between 2022 and 2024.
2015
Rebranding as Event Hospitality and EntertainmentStrategyBackground
The company had developed beyond its historical cinema and exhibition identity into hotels, resorts and other leisure activities.
Action taken
Amalgamated Holdings Limited changed its name to Event Hospitality and Entertainment Limited and adopted EVT as its ASX ticker.
Aftermath
The name emphasized the group's broader entertainment and hospitality portfolio.
2010
Acquisition of New Zealand and Fiji cinemasM&ABackground
EVT sought to broaden its cinema network outside Australia.
Action taken
Amalgamated Holdings acquired cinema operations in New Zealand and Fiji from Skycity Entertainment Group.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened the group's Australasian cinema footprint.
2004
Write-down of German cinema interestsOtherBackground
Amalgamated Holdings experienced a significant share-price decline after recognizing more than A$70 million in write-downs connected with its German cinema operations.
Action taken
The company recorded the write-down against its German cinema interests.
Aftermath
The event highlighted the financial risk of the group's international cinema expansion.
Write-down. More than A$70 million (2004)
Sources1 sources
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