Luxury accommodation adapting to domestic market
Luxury accommodation providers across Nelson are adapting to the domestic market after the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to all overseas bookings.
Bob Haswellowned Rotoroa Lodge in the Nelson Lakes for 20 years, entertaining stars from Hollywood to Bollywood and billionaires from across the globe. He sold the lodge 19 years ago and still caters to the luxury crowd through his self-contained villa, Clifftops Retreat, in Ruby Bay.
The luxury villa, with a price tag of $845 a night, was predominantly frequented by overseas visitors before Covid-19 changed the international tourism market in New Zealand.
Fantail and tui flit about on the lawn in front of the villa, which has a sweeping view across Tasman Bay.
Winter was typically quiet on the booking front, but Haswell said when domestic travel restrictions were relaxed in level 2, he received a number of bookings from ‘‘wellheeled’’ Kiwis who could no longer travel overseas but still wanted to get away.
A couple from Europe who have been stuck in New Zealand since the lockdown began had booked in at Clifftops for a week, and a retired Queenstown couple had just departed after a four-day stay.
When Covid-19 saw the closure of New Zealand’s borders and the international market fall away overnight, Haswell said he got in touch with agents who usually deal with overseas clients, to promote the villa to New Zealanders, who were essentially a captive market.
‘‘We have never had the occasion where Kiwis simply can’t go anywhere else if they want to travel.’’
Haswell said bookings from late June through to summer were strong, but he was mindful he only had one villa to fill. Overseas guests were booking from December into mid-2021, but it was still a case of ‘‘wait and see’’ as to when the borders would re-open.
Nearby Te Koi lodge owners Ian and Ali Metcalfe said they had been ‘‘absolutely bowled over’’ after losing all their bookings for April and May, when the luxury Bronte Peninsula retreat had been fully booked.
The couple purchased the coastal property near Mapua in 2017 and have extensively renovated it, to the extent it was crowned the World’s Best New Hotel at the Boutique Hotel Awards in London last November.
The couple also own an international travel company which Ian said had been ‘‘destroyed’’ as well.
‘‘In 40 years of business we have never experienced anything like it, we can’t control it.’’
Ian said they had a ‘‘huge number’’ of existing international bookings up until 2022 which were still coming in as guests and remained hopeful the borders would open before long.
‘‘We’ve had a lot of enquiries from Australian agents, hoping the trans-Tasman bubble will connect.’’
Metcalfe said they had put together a number of packages along with local artisans and producers, at heavily discounted rates.
The lodge was known for its cuisine and executive chef Ali Metcalfe was preparing to film cooking school classes for their international client base. Classes would also be on offer for locals in the coming months.
It was also seeking Tasman District Council approval to open the dining room to the public for the first time, to do lunch and dinner three days a week.
‘‘We are adapting, we will survive, and we’ll look at the world in a whole different way when our borders open.’’
Further north, Split Apple Retreat general manager JJ Luck said the wellness retreat was usually closed over winter, but had opened for the domestic market after the onset of Covid-19.
‘‘The phone has been ringing, it has been fantastic and Kiwis from all around the country are coming to stay.’’
Luck said many of those guests had overseas travel booked before Covid-19, but instead had to look at destinations closer to home.
Located near the Abel Tasman National Park, many guests were choosing to explore the park.
Nelson Regional Development Agency visitor destination manager Gisela Purcell said luxury accommodation providers were almost totally dependent on international visitors and the current climate was tough, but it was also an opportunity for locals to experience them – whether it be for a meal or to celebrate a special occasion.
‘‘You don’t have to travel far, right on our doorstep are these amazing properties.’’
Purcell said it was hard not knowing when the borders would re-open for international tourism, but the number of enquiries coming in from Australia was encouraging.
She said the luxury lodges were all run by wonderful people, often with a focus on fine dining, which meant they supported small producers, wineries and artisans across the region.
‘‘Lots of local businesses benefit from those lodges doing well.’’