Randhawa gives serve to hoteliers
‘No point charging exorbitant fees’
A GOLD Coast tourism heavyweight has attacked hoteliers whining about Commonwealth Games occupancy rates, saying any operator missing out only has themselves to blame.
Village Roadshow’s Bikash Randhawa said their Sea World resort was tracking “exceptionally well” at above 80 per cent occupancy for the Games and had “kept it real” on pricing.
Its looming Easter weekend bookings were also “at capacity”.
“Our bookings are slightly higher than they were this time last year. We didn’t go out there and price gouge.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people did not book because of some of the stupid rates at one point. Operators need to look at their strategy and prices and can’t blame anyone else for their outcome,” Mr Randhawa said.
He wasn’t alone, with the city’s largest accommodation operator Mantra revealing yesterday its 23 properties were almost “at capacity” and expecting to be fully booked for the Games.
Some councillors expressed shock this week when Gold Coast Tourism revealed Games occupancy across the city sat at 70.6, with some saying they thought it would be higher.
But tourism bosses believe a last-minute surge in bookings will see that overall figure rise and plan targeting the drive market to convince them to stay overnight rather than commute.
Mr Randhawa said Village had worked closely with Games organisers and were very happy with demand: “I have heard some operators are struggling but realistically they need to look at their rates.
“We are the tourism capital of Australia and for us there was no point in beating the heck out of our rates and charging exorbitant fees. We want BIKASH RANDHAWA
the Games visitors to say they had the best experience and go home and say how good it was.”
GC Tourism’s director of corporate affairs and strategy Dean Gould told councillors on Tuesday he was hopeful of a late surge but admitted some hoteliers had “sat on rooms hoping to get El Dorado sort of prices and found that was not the case”.
The Bulletin can reveal alternative accommodation such as AirBnB – in which residents rent out rooms – were expecting to soak up 9900 visitors during the Games.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said room pricing was ultimately the “key determinant” but no single factor was behind the 70.6 per cent figure and he noted AirBnB rooms had jumped.
“There are many instances of hotels 100 per cent full. There are other places with less attractive prices which will have rooms empty. That is their commercial decision.”
Mr Winter revealed about 86 per cent of Games tickets sold nationally were bought by Queenslanders and in NSW.
Of those, 30 per cent were Brisbane, 20 per cent Gold Coast, six per cent other parts of southeast Queensland and 15 per cent in NSW.
“So 71 per cent are potentially drive market. Our focus is to convert those 70 per cent plus who hold tickets in the drive market to stay overnight rather than go down and up.”
Mr Winter said they had been telling accommodation operators since June last year to “price rooms accordingly”.
Mayor Tom Tate was optimistic of a late surge: “Every Australian knows the Games are on and everyone knows we are a welcoming, fun and vibrant city. I have no doubt the hotels will continue to fill as the countdown clock ticks on.”
Games and Tourism Minister Kate Jones agreed saying the trend these days was for people to book late.
... SOME OPERATORS ARE STRUGGLING BUT REALISTICALLY THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR RATES