Justin Hemmes’ hospitality empire is hit with bombshell allegations

CCTV footage showing pub patrons engaging in sexual activity in a lift was edited into a video and shown at an awards ceremony for the Merivale hospitality group.

The video, in which the identities of those involved were not disclosed, showed guests having sex in the elevator and urinating in public at various locations of the catering group.

The video was shown on multiple screens at the Merivales Awards at the Ivy in Sydney’s CBD, accompanied by the text ‘Big Brother is always watching’.

The video was unveiled as part of an ABC investigation into Merivalea multi-billion dollar company owned by Justin Hemmes, which operates 81 restaurants, pubs and bars on the east coast of Australia.

Two female attendees who leaked the footage reported that the screening was met with uncomfortable laughter and “shocked noises.”

“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” said someone.

They left Merivale shortly after the event, saying the film was a “reflection” of the group’s culture, which was recently described as “toxic” by former employees.

“Maybe some of the girls in the videos were very drunk and maybe even raped,” added another.

But a Merivale spokesman said the footage was played ahead of a “private, invite-only event” and that “no complaints have been received regarding the film reel in question”.

‘The Merivale sites are extensively monitored by CCTV and signage is clearly displayed to visitors and staff,’ a spokesperson told the ABC.

‘At our establishment, there is camera surveillance in the public space. This is legally established and standard practice in large catering establishments.

‘Merivale has the right to capture these images and there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy for the visitors present.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, Merivale is not aware of any complaints filed by ‘the Merivales’ in 2017.’

That wasn’t the only serious accusation levelled against the hospitality giant on the ABC programme.

Jess Helsinki, a female customer at the Ivy Hotel, alleged that an employee tried to force her and her friend to have sex with VIP guests.

Mrs Helsinki told the ABC They were looking for their group of friends when a male employee approached them and said he would help them.

However, alarm bells went off when he led the men through a service elevator to a VIP area and then told them to sit on either side of a group of men.

“The man next to me leaned over and said, ‘When did you get into this industry?’” Helsinki said.

He clarified that he was referring to the sex industry, saying the worker told the group that the two were “sex workers” and that they would “spend the night with them.”

Jess Helsinki, a female patron of the Ivy, alleged that an employee tried to force her and her friend to have sex with VIP guests

Ms Helsinki attempted to raise the matter with Merivale management but was told that an internal investigation had ‘not produced any information to support the allegations’.

Management suggested she take the matter up with the police. The matter is still under investigation.

In another case, reported on Wednesday, a former Coogee Pavilion employee alleged that a colleague drugged and raped her in his home one night in 2018.

“He was much bigger than me and he was like pushing me against the wall,” she said.

“I made it clear all the time that I wanted him to stop, but he didn’t.”

The woman, who was 22 at the time, reported the incident to the company but said she had to continue working with the person she accused for “another month or two.”

The woman alleged that management told her “there was nothing we could do for her” because she had not filed a police report.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Merivale for comment.