- Quality Hotel Lighthouse in Bunbury listed
- Choice Hotels Asia Pacific reported occupancy above pre-pandemic levels
- Demand likely to continue through to end of the year
The regional hotel sector is performing admirably as travel continues to pick up.
Choice Hotels Asia Pacific has reported a surge in bookings and loyalty program members for Q2, and CBRE have listed a Bunbury hotel following the recent opening of the Busselton-Margaret River Airport.
Bookings above pre-pandemic levels
Choice Hotels has recorded a major uplift in bookings, with the company stating, for Q2 2022, its direct online bookings rose 38 per cent compared to the same period in 2021, and leapt 155 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac CEO Trent Fraser said the traditional seasonal slowdown over winter months hadn’t come this year. Bookings through the month of July and in August showed no indication of slowing down, he said.
“Australian occupancy rates in Q2 are 15 percentage points above 2019 levels. That’s a significant gain on pre-pandemic trading conditions and goes against early winter slowdowns experienced in the past.”
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac CEO, Trent Fraser
“Choice Hotels Asia-Pac properties in New Zealand have been slower to return to normal, with occupancy levels returning to just above pre-pandemic levels during Q2,” he said.
One of the factors driving occupancy in city metro markets is the construction boom, supplying a steady stream of blue-collar bookings seeking apartment accommodation while travelling to work on jobs.
“Our Quality and Comfort brands suit this market perfectly, providing room to work and relax, with great locations that give guests easy access to work sites and to a range of dining options. Having access to kitchen facilities is important for this group who are working away from home,” Mr Fraser said.
The company also saw the loyalty program reach 500,000 members, with 25,000 new members joining in the year to June.
Bunbury Lighthouse Beach Hotel
Previously known as the Lighthouse Beach Resort, the Quality Hotel Lighthouse in Bunbury has been listed by CBRE. The hotel is located about an hour north of the new Busselton-Margaret River Airport.
Situated on a one-hectare site in Bunbury, the 71 guest suite hotel includes function facilities, an indoor swimming pool, sauna and spa, guest laundry, and a restaurant and bar.
“An incoming owner could easily plug this property into their existing portfolio and continue running under the existing long-term management, or an experienced owner operator could take a more hands-on approach and maximise future profitability,” said CBRE’s Ryan McGinnity.
“Coupled with the added benefit of recent extensive refurbishments including reception, function facilities, restaurant and bar and 65 of the 71 guest rooms, leaving little to no capital expenditure required for an incoming owner.”
